The Portland daily press., 1884-04-09
CONGRESS.
SENATE.

WASHINGTON, April D.
Mr.. Hswley from the committee on military AZ
fairs reported favorably the bill for relief of Gen.
VIM. W. Averill. 1t was placed on the calendar.
Bills were introduced and appropriately referred
as follows:
BY Mr.. Garland to provide uniform mode Of
procedure in civil in the courts OF the United
States.
The Senate proceeded to the calendar of cases I'M
objected to. The bill for the relief of officers and
of the monitor who participated in the action
with the rebel ironclad Merrimac being objected to
by Mr.. Cockrell went over.
Several bills for private relief we're objected to
and went over
The Senate then agreed to take up the naval ap-
preparation bill, and many of the amendments pro-
posed by the Senate committee were agreed to. On
reaching the provisions relating to ordinance long
discussion of the defenseleGs condition Of our sea
coast and inferiority of the navy was begun.
Mr.. Morgan claimed that the sea coasts OF the
United States we're in more defenseless cond1t1on
world.
Mr., Bayard favored purchase by the government
of large steam hammer and the es tablishment OF
foundry which would leave the government in 3
position not to be entirely at the mercy of private
enterprise. The government foundry with power
full hammer could be worked to advantage at the
same time that private enterprise was encouraged.
Mr.. Jones of Florida favored appropriations Tor
advance but thought a navy was the first thing
necessary.
Mr.. Hale gave notice of an amendment to be
hereafter moved appropriating $3.50, 900 for pur-
chase and erection of plant for casting, forging,
rough boring and tempering guns up to 100 tons
ready for delivery at gun factories including cost
OF the process of liquid compression if adopted.
MIR. Vest lamented the absence of a navy and
commercial marine Italy, the land of maccaroni
and lazzaroni he sad had the largest war ship and
largest gun on the ocean. while this great nation
mad cookie shells and naval pleasure boats and no
guns that amounted to anything. Yet we were
called upon to expend more money to be paid to
the same contractors, John Roach for instance who
was now building for us vessels which high author
tiles pronounced defective. Mr.. Vest was not
willing to give money to the present Seer etary of
the Navy to be by him handed over to John Roach
floor of the Senate, that Secretary had at one time
been paid lobbyist. Mr.. Vest proceeded to speak
on the merchant marine, the decay OF which he
said was due to policy which sustained such men
as John Roach. No other civilized nation existed
that had not abandoned that policy.
AT this point Mr. Vest gave. way for motion to
go into executive session. it stated that the
foreign relations committee wished to submit some
matters.
The Senate then went into executive session and
afterward adjourned
HOUSE.
In the Honse Messrs o'Neill and Randall presen-
ted resolutions from the vessel owner and captains
association of Philadelphia, urging an appropria-
ton for sustaining photographic Offices. in seaport
cities and for publishing plot Charts. 1t was re-
ferred.
The House them as a special order, went into
committee of the whole on bills relating to terri
tories.
The first bill taken up was one to authorize the
appointment of commissioner by tho President to
run and work boundary lines between portion of
the Indian Territory and the State of Texas in
nection with similar commission to be appointed
by the State of Texas. The land involved lies be-
tween the north and south forks of the Red River,
east of longitude 100 degrees west from London,
and consists of 240O square miles.
Mr.. Reed of Maine said that according to the
terms of the treaty of 1928 between the United
Red River las laid down 10y Mellishe's map" Mel
fishes map made reference to the north fork of
the Red River and the boundary must be deter
mined by that map. He therefore thought that the
land in dispute belonged to the Indian Territory.
Mr.. Culbertson of Texas said shat the whole dis
pute was whether the Tooth degree of longitude
crossed the Red River exactly where the makers of
the treaty had supposed.
Mr.. Reed offered a substitute authorizing detail
of one or more army officers, who in conjunction
with such persons as may be appointed, shall as
certain at what point the Tooth degree oflopgtude
crosses the Red River in accordance with the
treaty of 1928.
Mr.. Bedford of Colorado, addressing himself to
Mr.. Reed, lectured that gentleman, who came from
"the bow of New England" for interfering with
Western measures and assured him that ''if you
manage your section of. the country, we will
try to manage ours, and made his customary APP
peal to the Southern men to unite with those from
the tI1 West land we viii put you (the East down."
The substitute having been rejected the committee
rose and the bill was passed, 1913 to 81.
The next bill passed was one declaring that the
Supreme Court of every territory shall consist of
chief Justice and three associate Justices and pro-
vidiDg that every territory shall be divided into
four judicial districts, and district court shall be
held in each by of the justices of the Supreme
Court. The bill requiring the governor of the ter
ritories to be resident of the territory to which
pointment, was opposed by MIR. Kasson of Iowa, and
Mr.. Eaton of Connecticut, and advocated by Ma
ginns of Montana, Brents OF Washington Territory;
and Tillman of South Carolina
Mr.. Hart of Ohio moved to recommit the bill
with instructions to the committee on territories to
except from its provisions the Territory of Utah.
The motion was lost, and the bill was passed.
The Speaker laid before the House letter from
the Secretary of War, recommending an appropria-
ton of $129, AGO for the erection of barracks etc.
at Davis Island, N. Y, and the House adjourned.