Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-01-15
AT THE NATIONS CAPITAL
THE SENATE CONSIDERS THE
MEXICAN TREATY.

louisiana sugar Growers Working
Tooth and Nail to Prevent its Ratifi-
cation-Brewster Cameron Gives Mr..
Springer's Committee Some More Sig
nifieant Inside Facts.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 1.-THE Senate
in executive session this afternoon
took up the Mexican reciprocity
! treaty, discussion of which continued an
hour and a half. Only one vote was taken,
that being upon motion to recommit the
treaty. 1t is understood that the purpose
Of the motion was to defeat the ratification
by delaying the treaty in the committee
until after the 20th Of this month, upon
which date, if not ratified, it fails. The
motion was made in the interest of the
sugar producers of Louisiana. who are
foremost in opposing the treaty, but was
probably supported by all the enemies of
the treaty and the result may be regard
ed as a test Of its strength in the Senate.
The motion to recOmmit after some dis
cusslOn, which hardly entered into the
merits of the main question. was upon a
division lost by considerable majority.
Further discussion followed. in the course
Of which the general economic features
Of the treaty We're commented upon chiefly
by its opponents. 1t was argued that the
benefits to be derived by the United States
were exceedingly small. The list of
articles TO be admitted by Mexico included
but few that were not already on her free
list and none of our great manufactures
Of fabrics. 1t was also said that Cuba
was not far from Mexico, and that Cuban
sugar and tobacco would find free entry
through Mexico into the United States.
A motion was made to open the doors and
continue the discussion in public. This
was opposed on the ground that many
delicate questions respecting our rela-
tiOns with foreign countries and the effect
upon them Of the ratification of this treaty
were likely to arise which it would be un-
wise to discuss in public. Pending a de-
clsiOn the session closed.
LAND FORFEITURES.
At meeting OF the House Committee
on Public Lands to-day, the Chairman.
Mr.. Cobb, submitted a report declaring
forfeited the land grants to the Gulf and
Ship Island, Tuscaloosa and Mobile, Mo
bile and New Orleans, ElytOn and Boards
Bluh, Memphis and Charleston, Savan-
nah and Albany, New Orleans and State
Line and the Iron Mountain of Arkansas
Railroad Companies that had not complied
with the terms Of the grants by building
roads. The report was adopted and or
dered to be presented to the House. Mr.
ing opinion in the special case of the Gulf
and ship Island Railroad Company. The
question of the forfeiture Of the Texas Pa
citic Territorial land grant was then taken
up.
Roger \. Pryor, on the part of the
Southern Pacific Railroad Company,
made an argument against the forfeiture.
He cOntended, as a question of law. that
Congress had no right to declare the pro-
posed forfeiture that being a judicial
proceeding. }. and argued as a question of
fact that it would be an act of Injustice
to do so.
BREWSTER CAMERON's SECRETS.
Brewster Cameron appeared before the
House Committee on Expenditures in the
Department of Justice again to-day. He
gave list Of all the persons discharged
from service in the department during
the past few years on account of any
fraudulent action on their part. and also
list Of those persons who resigned under
other pressures brought to bear upon
them. He said that Manuel Wilson, an
attache OF the United States Marshals
office in Alabama, had threatened the
Special EXaminer who was investigating
the accounts Of the office. This same
man, Mr.. Cameron said, had been nOmi-
mated for another office.
Another Alabama official named Bing-
ham was also reported to have offered re-
sistance, .and sto have been nominated
for another office. Mr.. Cameron said that
it was probable that an investigation
would soon be made of nineteen United
States officials in South Carolina for al
legged official misconduct. The commit
tee, before adiOurning, informed the Wit
ness that he might be wanted to give
further testimony.
THE MISUNDERSTANDING CONTEST.
Mr.. Chalmers appeared before the
House Committee on Elections this morn
ing, in his own behalf, in the contested
election case of Chalmers vs.. Manning.
+. W. Watson appeared in behalf Of Mr..
Manning. The arguments We're not
completed and the committee adjourned
to meet again tomorrow, when Gen.
Hunter will appear for Mr.. Manning and
5. W. Harris for Mr.. Chalmers. The
case is being considered on its prima facie
right.
EXTENSION OF THE BONDED PERIOD.
Senator Beck introduced in the Senate
to-day a bill identical in its provisions
with that introduced in the House by MIR.
/ Willis, of Kentucky, to provide for the
extension for two years of the bonded
period on distilled spirits in warehouses
on December l, 1888.