The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1884-02-07
FORTY-ElGHTH CONGRESS-.
1NsIN AZ Es
WASHINGTON. Feb 4

VAou1N0ION, EoD. o.
The Chair laid before the Senate commu-
nieation from the Secretary of the Interior.
transmitting information as 10 mortgages exc
cuted by the Texas Pacific Railroad Company
on the lands granted it by Congress.
At 2 o'clock the Senate resumed the consid-
Grafton OF the Mexican land grant titles bill in
debate, in which Messrs. Bayard and Ingalls,
took part.
The committee on claims this mornipg re-
ported favoraby on the bill to repay the State
OF Georgia $27 ,l75, money advanced by said
Stale for the defence of the frontiers against
Indians, from 1875 to 1873 Placed on the cal
endar.
Mr. Logan introduced bill which was re-
ierred to the cOhmittee on military affairs to
increase the efficiency of the army of the
United States
Mr.. Buffers resolution of yesterday, calling
for the proceedings of the Proteus inyestiga-
tlon, was agreed to.
Mr. IRgalls moved to strike out the clause
giving the United States Supreme Court the
power to amend the proceedings of the lower
court. Rejected
Mr.. Plumb spoke at some length in favor of
an amendment offered by himself, giving the
Surveyor-General of New Mexico the right 10
hear and determine causes arising under the
act, and relinqaishing the title of the United
States IN certain cases where occupancy had
existed for fifty years.
Mr.. Miller of California, from the commits
tee on fereign relations, reported favorably
buO plil W pEOVlu6 IOr executing treaty ktiDu-
iatlon5 relating to the Chinese. Calendar.
Mr.. morrill, introduced bill to provide for
the erection of public building at Montpelier,
VI.
Mr.. Plumb offered a resolution directing the
Secretary OF War to report to the Senate the
number of pay stations and Ike duties OF civil
ian engineers employed by the government
also the stations aud duties of engineer officers
of the army. Agreed to.
The Senate then took up the bill to nrovide
for the completion Of the Capitol terraces and
stalrways connected therewit1.
Mr.. Morrill, said the bill appropriated S777,-
$50, based upon the plan proposed in 1874, and
upon which plan 5000 had already been ex-
pended on the norIh and south sides aud front
OF the Capitol, and when the plan should be
completed, be ssid it would make all parts of
the Capitol grounds harmonious, substituting
marble way for aa earth way approach to the
capitol, and making the base of the Capitol
Mt IN with the appearance of the strnctnrs and
dome. The new arrangement would also at-
ford much additional accommodation, now
very much needed. Ten new committee rooms
would be provided, and large number of otE-
or rooms for the storage of documents, ETC. The
completion would be effected in two years. and
although probably not over one-half of tho ap-
preparation will be required this year it was
necessary to make the whole appropriation
now In order that the contracts may be made
After debate the bill pissed.
The Senate went into executive session and
afterwards adjourned.
HOUSE.
Mr.. Cosgrove of Missouri entered motion to
reconsider the vote by which the House yes
terday rejected tie resolution empowering the
committee on expenditures in the interior de-
partment to send sub committee to examine
the work on Hot Springs Creek.
Mr.. Lewis of Louisiana, offered a reso 'uton
referring to the court of claims for investiga-
tion and report all claims for cotton seized by
Union authorities during the civil war. Re.
ferred.
On motion of Mr.. Russell of Massa-
chusetts 10000 extrascopies of the Morrison tar
if bill were ordered printed.
The House then went into committee of the
whole on the "pluro pneumonia" bill.
Messrs. Lanhan and Reagan of Texas and
Hunt of Louisina opposed the bill, denouncing
the remedy proposed as worse than the disease
and claiming that many of its provisions were
unconstitutional
Mr.. Eaton of Connecticut also opposed the
measure upon constitutional grounds.
Mr.. Anderson of Kansas claimed that ac-
tion was necessary to preserve the entire ami
NAL industry from annihilation.
The discussion was continued at great length
by Messrs Peters and Perkins of Kansas, Law
renee of Pennsylvania, Cannon and Rowell of
illinois and Nutting OF New York in favor of
and by Messrs. Cox of New York and Gibson
of West Virginia against the bill The areu-
ment of the oponents was chiefly against the
constitutionality Of the bill, holding that the
matter was one which belonged entirely to
states and not to TIE federal government.
Mr.. Gibson while discaiming apy reflection
on the COMMITTEES said the bill was fraud on
Its face and intended to perpetuate a great
wrong upon the people. II proposed to create
a force OF officers who should take the place of
collectors or internal revenue and search every
mans farms; and he was utterly astonished
that the committee had put such unlimited
power in the hands of subordinate powers and
opened to such wide extent the doofs Of
the treasury.
Pending further action the committee rose
and the House adjourned.