The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1884-02-29
FORTY.EIGHTH CONGRESS-.
SENATE.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 28.
Bills were introduced by Mr.. ingalls, to re-
lieve members of the original Fitz John
Porter court martial of obligations OF secrecy
as to the votes of such members.
The President pro tenn. designated Messrs.
Conger and Coke to be visitors on behalf of
the Senate to the United States military
academy at West Point.
The Senate then resumed consideration OF
the bill to authorize the construction of steel
vessels for the navy the debate being between
Messrs. Jones of Florida, Miller of California,
Butler. Hawley, Bayard and Hale
Mr. Hale offered as substitute for the
amendment of Mr. Mcpherson the following !:
"And said vessels shall be designed and
constructed in all respects in accordance with
and subject TO the conditions and provisions of
the navy appropriation acts Of August 5, 1882,
and March 8, 1888, authorizing the construc-
ton of four steel cruisers"
Mr.. Mcpherson objected to the offer of an
amendment at this time, and it went over to
be considered later.
After considerable debate vote was taken
on Mr. McPherson's first amendment, reduc-
ing the number of proposed ships from seven
to four, and the amendment was defeated
yeas IL, nays "a.
Question recurring on Mr.. McPhersons Sec
ond amendment, which provided the condi-
tions under which the contracts should be
made, Mr.. Hale offered the amendments above
set forth.
Mr.. Sewell offered as substitute for both
the amendment of which he gave notice yes
terday, providing that the vessels be built at
one or more of the government navy yards.
The Chair stated that the substitute was not
in order.
Mr.. Hale's amendment to the amendment of
Mr.. Mcpherson was agreed to.
The question then recurred on Mr.. McPher-
sons amendment, and as so amended it was
agreed to.
Mr.. Jones of Florida, offered an amendment
providing that the construction of the vessels
should be apportioned between the different
navy yards of the country but pending debate
the Senate adjourned.
HOUSE.
In the House this morning, Mr.. Deuster of
Wisconsin, rising to question of privilege,
sent to the clerks desk and had read a resolu.
ton adopted by the executive committee of
the Liberal Union of the German Parliament
expressing its appreciation of the action of the
House of Representatives in adopting resolu-
Uions in honor of Edward Lasker.
The Speaker stated that the question was
not one of privilege.
By unanimous consent Mr.. Deuster was per-
mitted to continue. Mr.. Deuster said that the
executive committee of the Liberal Union ex-
pressed the sentiments OF the people of Ger
many. The spectacle as here present was Pc
culiar as seen through American eyes. Prince
Bismarck the autocrat of the German empire,
was the embodiment OF an idea antagonlstic to
American institutions. The fact that he had
returned the Lasker resolutions might stand to
the prejudice of the German people, but the
resolution of the Liberal Union contradicted
that assumption. From the cis-Atlantic
standpoint death broke down all political feel
ing, and in the presence of the open grave the
4 universal brotherhood of man was the inspira-
! tion of the hour, The same was true of the
| Germans as people, and if they were misrep-
resented by man in place of power, they
! had no other method of setting themselves
right before the world than by the resolution
of the Liberal Union In presenting this reso-
luton in his official place, as a member of
this body, as a native of Germany and an
adopted citizen of the United States he de-
sired to express his earnest conviction that the
action of the Liberal Union was a true index
of the feeling of united Germany and that the
action of Prince Bismarck would not rise
above the dignity of matter of personal vexa-
alton, in no way affecting the kindly relations
now existing between the two nations.
The resolution was referred to the committee
on foreign affairs.
The House then resumed consideration OF
the pleuro-pneumonia bill, the pending amend
ment being that striking out the fourth Sec
tion, the quarantine section. The amendment
was agreed to-yeas 155, nays 118.
The bill was then passed, yeas loo, nays
127.
The House then proceeded to pay an appro'
pirate tribute to the memory OF Hon. ID. T.
Haskell, the late representative from Kansas.
Eulogies were delivered by several members
and at 3.15 as a further mark of respect for the
deceased the House adjourned.