National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1884-04-23
Several Bills on the Private Calendar Passed
in the Senate,
And the House Discusses and Passes the
General Appropriation Bill.
The Pleuro-Pneumona Bill 10 Come Up as Unfinished
Business in the Senate To-Day.
Lots OF Tariff Talk Upon the Morrison
Bill In the House.
THE SENATE.

Mr.. Conger offered n resolution, which was
agreed 10 without debate directing tho secretary
of war to cause inquiry 10 be made and report TO
the senate MS to tho amount and value OF all aids
and grants of any kind from the United States 10
the state OF Michigan for the Portage lake and
Lake Superior ship canal up TO the present time
computing the value OF all lands donated therefor
by the general government ut the rate Of sl25 per
acre also, to all other receipts whether by tolls
or otherwise, from said canal and the costs and
charges for the construction and operations OF the
canal, and also to report from the best inforina-
tion obtainable upon what terms and conditions
1t would be Just and proper for the United States
to purchase and take possession of said canal and
use 1t as free waterway for commerce; further
to inquire and report upon what terms the Portage
Lake and River Improvements company VIII sur
render and convey to the United States for the
similar free use of commerce all their rights aud
title TO the Portage lake and river improvement
so-cRlled, and the approaches thereto.
hMr. Plumb called up the resolution hcretof orc
reported from the committee on rules admitting
to tho floor OF the senate the commissioner of
agriculture. An amendment was offered by Mr
Plumb placing that officer in the order of mention
next to the heads of departments on the list OF
persons entitled to admission. After some debate
the amendment was agreed to, rs was also ON
amendment offered by Mr. Morrill, giving similar
right OF admission tothe secretary of the Smith:
sonlan institution. The resolution as so amended
was then agreed TO. In the course of the debate
Mr. Plumb indicated that he saw no reason why
the commissioner of agriculture had been ex-
Ger, ho said. represented one of the most impor-
tant Interests In the country.
MT Frye, chairman of the committee on rules,
replied that the committee had not excluded any
body, but having been directed to construe rule
the senate which prescribed that heads Of de.
partments should be admitted, the committee had
felt obliged to construe that expression as apply
ing only to members Of the cabinet, and az the
rules were now strictly enforced the commissioner
ofagriculture came in that way 10 be excluded.
Tue strict observance OF the rule, Mr.. Frye
thought, was a matter tor congratulatlon. Under
tue old order OF things, he said, the retiring
of the senate were accessible to people who had
no business in them that a senator could not be in
them for two minutes without being visited by a
MIR. Williams said the commissioner of agricul-
ture was as much entitled to admission to the
floor of the senate as the secretary Of war or the
one. hall ofth American people.
Mr.. ingalls, remarked that for years past there
had been continual importantly by various per-
SONS for admss ion to the floor. This was attribu-
table to the common desire Of men to intrude
themselves where they were not wanted. If
there was any place intended exclusively for q
certain class fpeOpe that was the place where the
average American wanted to 10 and he generally
got there. (Laughter.[ There had for years been
a constant din and uproar for tho admission Of
the commissioner Of agriculture to the floor of the
senate, but the difficulty was that the space Of the
wished to get there could not be accommodated
The committee on rules had had no intention Of
stigmatzlng the commissioner of agriculture
or affronting the great interests he represented
MIR. Plumb replied that II was all very well to
treat with contumey and sneers the interests of
agriculture, but he saw no reason for it. If the
commissioner of agriculture felt hurt because of
his exclusion from the floor he lMr. Plumb had
not heard OF ~ but II was frequently desirable in
the interest of intelligent Legislation that senators
should be able to consult the commissioner in the
senate chamber.
matters requiring immediate attention in connec-
ton with our foreign affairs rendered short ex-
ecutiVe session desirable, and accordingly, on his
motion, the senate at LII p. IN. went into execu-
tive session.
AT 1926 the doors were reopened aud Mr. Hoar
moved that dispensing for the day with the
special order tine pleuro-pneumonia bill the sem
ate should take up aud consider bills under the
eighth rule-under the operation of the five
Mr. Plumb said that at the suggestion of several
senators, who thought that differing opinions AS
70 some Of the Provisions of The pleuio pneumonia
bill might be harmoniZed by to-day, he would not
object 10 the bill going over for the day.
MIR. Beck inquired Of Mr.. Frye when he ex-
pected TO bring up the shipping bill.
Mr.. Frye replied that he was ready and anxious
TO bring 1t up at the earliest moment. He hoped
the pleuro. pneumonia bill would be taken up
business to- day in order that 1t may be disposed
OF rs soon as possible, and 30 give earlier oppor-
tunity for the consideration OF the shipping bill.
placement of the calendar which would result
from this arrangement
The senate then, proceeding to tho considera-
ton of bills on the calendar under the eighth
rule, took up on motion of Mr.. Jackson, the bill
to give the assent Of congress TO the construction
Nashville, Tenn, over the Cumberland river. The
bill was read u third time ana passed.
Mir. Voorhees, moved to take up the bin grant
widow of Rear Admiral McDougall, who was now.
he said, in her old aye and almost entirely de-
prived of sight. This motion led to a short dis.
cussIon Of pension matters, and resulted, sub
Stitule for the action moved by Mr.. Voorhees,, in
the !aking up Of the pension bills in their order
Several OF the bills were passed without debate,
among them the Dill deferred 70, granting pen
widow of Rear Admiral David s. McDongall.
On motion Of Mr.. Manderson, the senate then
read third time and passed the bill 10 authorize
the Marsh National tank, OF Lincoln, Neb., Ia
change It's name TO that Of the Capital National
bank OF Lincoln, Neb.
On motion OF Mr.. Logan, the bill to define the
tile aud duties of certain officers of the medical
department OF The army was then taken up.
After the making OF some verbal amendments
offered by Mr., Logan, Mr.. Hawey said he would
like TO have little time TO consider the bill, and
so objected 10 its present consideration. 1t went
eve.
the pleuro.pneumonia and the shipdiug bills, he
would call up the Utah bill.
ON motion of Mr. Cameron, of Wisconsin, the
senate took up the bill to accept aud ratity certain
agreements made with the Sioux Indians and To
grant right Of way 10 the Chicago, Milwaukee and
b. Paul Railway company through the Sioux res
eryaton in Dakota.
Mr.. Cameron said 1t granted n right Of way
through land that under the bill recently passed
by the senate, would be thrown open for settle.
ment.
The bill was read third time ana passed with.
out debate.
On motion of Mr.. Cameron, of Wisconsin, the
senate then took up similar bill-to accept aud
rAtify certain agreements made with the Sioux
Indians and to grant right of way to the Dakota
Central Railway company through the Sioux res
ovation.
The bill was read third time and passed with.
out debate.
The chair laid before the senate the pleuro.
pneumonia bill, so that 1t may come up as un :
finished business to-day.
The senate then, at b35 p M, on motion of Mr.
Harris adjourned.