Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1884-01-11
PORTY-EIGnTa COSGRESS.
First Session.
SENATE.
W.surxs1nx Jan. 10.

rP4D0nleEEc
for The creation of a United States postal tel
earaph company under direction of the post
Office department; the creation Ut the once
of fourth assistant postmaster general, this
official 10 be president of the board of direct
ors Of the company anil for the establishment
Of postal telegraph Offices at the post ofnces
throughout the United States and the trans.
mission of correspondence by such postal
telegraph.
Mr.. Sawyer introduced bill to prohibit
the mailing of newspapers containing lottery
advertisements.
A communication from the secretary OF the
interior was received, transmitting copies OF
ALI leases contracts etc., touching the lel-
lowsrone Park IL states that the only au-
thoritv regarding hotels granted siace last
session, is contained in the lease executed
March 9th, 1888, TO Col c. ID. Hubbard and
others.
Petitions were presented as follows:
Bv Mr. Sherman, from the ex soldiers and
sailors of the Union army, asking for grants
of land.
Bv Mr. Voorhees,, from the posts of the
grand army of the republic praying for the
passage of bill not pending, relating to
statutory Limitation in regard to the arrear-
ages of pensions.
Bv Mr. Hawlev. from the letter carriers
asking for an annual vacation.
BY Mr.. Cullom, providing for the con-
struction of a canal from the Illinois river
near Hennipen, Illinois. to the Mississippi
river at or below Rock Island and appropria-
ting one million dollars for the purpose.
Mr. Van Wyck's resolution directing the
temporary suspension OF the issuance of
land certificate to the New Orleans Pacific
X. X. Co., was then taken up.
Mr. Ingalls, thought the wording of the
resolution seemed 10 imply that the secretary
of the interior denied the power or authority
of Congress over the land; referred.
Mr.. Van Wyck disclaimed any such intsn-
ton and presented substitute for the pre-
amble to his resolution. The new preamble
and resolution were agreed to as follows:
Whereas, 1t is claimed by the New Orleans
& Pacific r. Co. that in as much as the
attorney general has decided in the favor of
said company as to the lands demanded by
them end the secretary of the interior has
felt constrained to accept said opinion and
said company also claim that Congress has
no further control over said lands or de-
mands of said company, therefore,
Resofred, That the secretary OF the inte-
rior be requested to suspend action in issuing
certificates or patents for said lands to said
company till Congress at this session shall
determine.
Mr.. Voorhees, offered the following which
was agreed to:
Resoired, That the secretary of the treas
ury is hereby directed to inform the Senate
whether since January, 1864, duties or ton
mage have been collected in any port of
treaty provisions or unauthorized by law.
and if so the amount and date of such exac-
tioE and the name of the vessel or vessels on
which such unauthorized duty has been i'm
posed.
Mr. Voorhees, also offered the following
which was agreed to.
Re5oired, That the secretary of war be and
is hereby directed to inform the Senate the
number of soldiers in the late war for the
Union who served one year, the number who
served two. who served three and the amount
of bounty paid each class; also that he in
form the Senate Of the amount of money
which would be required to equalize the
bounties of those who served in the war
The Senate then resumed consideration of
the new rule. The pending question was on
motion of Mr.. Vest 10 strike out from rule
| &c the clause providing for a committee on
| internal improvements to consist of nine SEN
| ators, to which shall be referred all subjects
| relating to the Improvement of rivers and
| harbors and also the bill known as "the
| river and harbor bill''
debate followed which soon drifted into
| discussion of the causes of the decline of
| American and the increase in British ship
| ping.
MIR. Maxey declared that the change was
| due to the existence in the United States and
| the absence in England of a protective tariff.
Mr.. Morrill, asked why it was that the COM
merce of Great Britain did not suffer deteri-
sation from 1924 to 1916. when the English
maintains the doctrine of protection
Mr.. Maxey said he was dealing simply
| with facts, and that il was since 1916 that
| the trade Ct Great Britain had so enormously
increased.
Mr. Morrill, inquired whether it was not
also fact that the repeal of the laws was the
greatest measure of protection that the man
ufacturers of England could at the time have
received
Mr.. Maxey did not know it, but he did
know that the repeal of those laws was but
the beginning of great movement which re-
suited in the repeal of all the protective stat
utes OF England
Mr.. Beck said there would never be any
revival of American shipping until men were
allowed to buy ships where they pleased
Compulsory pilotage dues and other restric-
tons might be removed, but such removal
would have only comparative slight effect.
Mr.. Morrill, said the question of our COM
merce was certainly a grave affair, but in the
store it to the position it had he'd in its best
days.
Mr.. Frye was delighted to hear the opin-
ion of the other side of the chamber expressed
so unreservedly for free trade. There has
been some doubt as 20 just where the demo
cratic party stood with regard to free trade.
Mr.. Morgan said that there was not lead
ing man of the democratic party in the
United States. certainly not in either house
of Congress, who had thus far given express
sion to the idea that he is a free trader in the
sense in which the gentlemen from Maine
(Mr. Frye would imply.
Mr.. Morgan spoke at length on the injus-
tice of the high tariff and the suffering caused
thereby.
AT the conclusion of his remarks Mr..
Vests motion was agreed to.
Mr.. Miller moved to amend by inserting
clause referring the appropriation bills for
agriculture to the committee on agriculture.
Not agreed 10.
Without coming to vote on the rule the
Senate went into executive session and when
the doors reopened adjourned.
HOUSE.
Mr.. Clardy Of Missouri who has been sick
since the beginning of Congress, today ap-
Rparpl and fnae he