Daily Kennebec journal., 1884-03-29
FORTY-EIGHTR CONGRESS,
First session.


Mr. Piatt gave notice that at thaconclusion
OF tne morning business On Monday next he
would ask unanimous consent to address the
Senate upon bill recently introduced by him
to organize the patent Office into a separate
department
Nr. Miller called up the Senate passed bill
authorizing the secretary of the navy to offer
reward of S25, 900 TO be equitably paid or
distributed 10 any ship or ships or person or
persons not in the military or naval service
OF the United States, who shall discover or
rescue or satisfactorily ascertain the fate of
the Greely expedition. The bill as passed
contains provisos proposed by the committee
on foreign affairs, that such proclamation
should not be made in terms that would in
voive the United States in any future liability
beyond the said reward, or that would induce
any unprepared vessel to incur extraordinary
peril or risk; also the proviso proposed by
Mr. Hoar that theidetermination of the secre-
tary of the navy as TO the right of any person
to the said rewa ard or share thereof shall be
conclusive upon all parties.
The hour of two o'clock having arrived the
chair laid before the Senate the educational
bill, and Mr.. Lamar addressed the Senate in
support of it. He had no doubt of its consti-
tutionality. 1t was the aid to States that vas
unconstitutional. The unccnstitutionality
OcSdu WutFt tutTe WIS an Intervention oil the
general government in the rights and func-
tions of the State. The measure was fraught
with almost unspeakable consequences to the
people of the South. Apart from the ques-
ton of money involved it would give a com
mon school education in that section-an
impetus that it had never before known. 1t
would stimulate the people to grapple with a
difficulty in the presence of which they had
stood appalled, This magnanimous measure
would infuse new hope into the people of the
South. 1t would be a manifestation of re-
spect and affection for them and would dispel
the impression that past events may have
produced tending to show that this govern
ment stood in an attitude of austere severity
toward them. He quoted the opinions of
northern educators, going to show that the
South had shown extraordinary energy in the
establishment and support of common schools
and had been impartial in the administration
of them in respect to races. Among the
opinions was one expressed by Mr.. May of
Boston, who had said that the educational re
vival in the South today was as great re-
vival as that which took place in New Eng
lard in the days of Horace Mann.
Mr.. Hoar interposed to say he was happy
to hear testimony to the fact that the name of
May deserved to be ranked with Mann him
self for hat he had done for common school
education.
Mr. Lamar continued his speech to some
length, followed by Mr.. Cullom, who would
like to- see the appropriation confined to the
Southern States exclusively, and so adjusted
as to begin with only about 81, ,0OO, 900 TO use
for few years as the money could be profit
ably applied, and then diminished year by
year as the States themselves became able to
carry on the work. He would make the total
appropriation $40, 1000, 900 instead of $685.
0O0,OOO of the bill.
Mr.. George made strong argument in
favor of the constitutionality of the bill, bas-
ing it on the general welfare of the clause.
He said he had once believed that the State
had right to secede from the Union. He
believed now that the right had then existed,
but had been irrevocably lost-lost among the
clang of arms and the horrors of war. He
had once denied that the government was a
judge of its own power, yet that had been
established. ''Those opinions" said Mr..
George, II have surrendered, however unwil-
lingly. will not feed on dry husks and the
remains of constitutional theories, which
however respectable they may have been.
They now no longer control or influence the
government or the destines of the great ma
ton
At the conclusion of Mr.. Georges remarks
a motion to adjourn was made, which Mr..
Blair opposed, and by calling yeas and nays
defeated it, only to be disappointed however,
by the success of a motion made to go into
executive session. He expressed wish that
the session might be prolonged in order that
the debate might progress as far as possible,
as he did not wish the friends of the measure
put in a position of seeming to having wasted
time, yet vote would soon be necessary.
The Senate went into executive session
and adjourned.
HOUSE.
Mr. Anderson introduced a concurrent res
oluton for the final adjournment of Congress
at IL o'clock the second day of June, 1884;
referred to the committee on ways and means.
After transacting some unimportant mis-
cellanous business, the House proceeded to
the consideration of private bills.
Mr.. Talbot, from the committee on naval
affairs, reported bills to carry into effect the
recommendations of the board of admirals
in the cases of Commanders Henry Goss. J.
H. Sands and Chas. ID. Sigbee; referred to
private calendar.
tl.l5 the House went into committee of
the whole on the private calendar.
Two hours was consumed in the discussion
of the bill for the relief of certain soldiers of
the late War from the charge of desertion,
and it was finally laid over without action.
At 4 10 the committee rose.
Several petitions were presented and re-
ferred
Mr.. Randall of Pennsylvania moved that
when the House adjourns it be to Monday
next.
About twenty members opposed the motion
and thev manifested their opposition by rails
ing point of no quorum, and it was only by
casting the speakers vote that the motion
was carried.
The House then took q recess till 7.30, the
evening session to be for the consideration of
private bills
At the evening session % pension bills were
passed. Among them were one giving pen
sion of $50 per month to the widow of Gen.
James B. Steadman, and = bill granting a
pension to Mrs. Sarah Ezely, who served As
a soldier for three years under the assumed
name of Franklin Thompson, and when sick
and about to be sent to the hospital. deserted
to escape detection.
Adjourned to Monday.