Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1884-03-12
WRTY-EIGHTn CONGRESS.
First session.
sen ATE.
WASHINGTON. March

4
! Mr., Allison presented as a memorial jsint
resolution of the legislature of the State of
Iowa. urging that the national government
avail itself of the power granted by the con-
stitution TO regulate commerce between the
States, and praying Congress to pass laws in
/ pursuance Of that power for the regulation of
railroad fares and freights, at such figures as
will allow a reasonable return and no more
on the amount of cash actually expended.
| Bills were introduced as follows:
| BY Mr.. Miller of New York. providing for
the suspension of the coinage of the standard
silver dollar for two years, and the issue of
/ one and two dollar treasury notes.
BY Mr.. Blair, to prohibit the manufacture
and sale of intoxicating liquors in the Dis
trict of Columbia.
| Mr.. Logan called up the House message
on the military academy appropriation BILL
and moved the non-concurrence in the House
amendmentssand the appointment of a COM
mittee of conference; agreed TO.
AT the conclusion of the morning business
the Senate at | O'Clock, on motion of Mr..
Miller of California, went into executive ses-
sion on the Mexican treaty.
| When the doors were reopened the Senate
adjourned.
Ou VI blusiSs- a plii " as
passed to change the name of the West Wa
terville National Bank of Oakland, Me-, to
the Messalonskee National Bank.
| Mr.. Morrison reported favorably from the
ways and means committee, bill to reduce
| the import duties and war tariff taxes. The
new tariff bill was accompanied with writ
ten report.
| Mr.. Mckinley submitted the views of the
minority, and the House, at LIS p. NJ. went
into committee of the whole on the post
Office appropriation bill, the general debate
to be limited to three hours.
Mr.. Bingham of Pennsylvania took the
floor in opposition to the bill. If the repub-
licans had been guilty of too much economy
in this branch of the service when in power,
which he denied, it was an example to be
Stunned and not to be pointed at as preced-
ent 1t was the purpose of the democrats to
go before the public and claim that they had
cut down the expenses of the postotfice de-
partment but if they did so it was without
due regard to the demands of the service.
Mr.. Holman of Indiana defended the bill
and denied that it in any way tended to Grip
pie the service.
Mr. Skinner of New York criticised the
bill because it struck at nine of the proudest
cities of the country by reducing the salaries
of postmasters; because it struck at $50 pro-
delivery system; and because it contracted
the railroad mail sy stem.
Mr. Townshend of Illinois, deprecated
the bringing in of politics to the consideration
of a bill of this kind. He compared the bill
with the bill of last year, to show that the
republican party in the last House made
poor pretense of economy in order to throw
the necessity of passing the deficiency appro-
priation upon the present Congress.
Mr.. Townshend then proceeded to arraign
the republican party for past offenses in the
administration of the government for the
past fifteen years. No American citizen
could read the records of that party without
his face crimsoning with shame for his coun-
try.
Mr.. Belford thought the gentleman who
tried to lecture about the republican party
should remember that his own party had not
the courage to consider either the wool, tariff
or whiskey bills.
the bill having been read by sections, Mr..
Horr of Michigan moved to increase to Sl2,-
$50, 900 the appropriation for the compensa-
tion of postmasters.
Pending the action the committe rose.
On motion of Mr.. Findley of Maryland,
bill was passed permitting the admission to
the American registry of any foreign vessel
which has been either wrecked or damaged
within the navigable waters of the United
States or on the high seas, provided that the
vessel shall have been purchased by citizen
of the Unitee States and repaired IN the
United States at cost equal to double the
amount of the value of the vessel when pur-
chased.
Adjourned.