The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1884-03-14
F0RTY-EIGHTH CONGRESS-.
SENATE.

SENATE.
WASHINGTON, Mar. 13.
The chair laid before the Senate a commune
cation from the Attorney General giving in
formation regarding the failure of Pacific
RAILROADS @ to comply with certain acts OF Con-
Mr.. Harrison, from the committee on terri
tories, reported favoraby and placed on the
calendar bill for the admission Of Dakota as
State.
A joint resolution was reported from the
committee on agriculture, appropristing $780,
OO0 to be made Immediately available for the
/, suppression of the foot and mouth disease
among cattle in Kansas. 1t went over, Mr..
Plumb giving notice that he would call it up
tomorrow.
Mr.. Sewell called up the Fitz Jchn Porter
phi before the morning hour had proceeded
beyond 1890. Mr.. Miller of New York said
that the Senate had yesterday put aside i'm
.portant public business to take up this bill for
private relief. The Senate, however, agreed
to take up the bill.
Mr.. Manderson said the bill was restraint
upon the proper independence of the execu-
tive. The speaker could not see upon what
grounds the case should be reopened. Mr.
Manderson was loudly applauded when he
completed his remarks.
Mr.. Logan then addressed the Senate.
Mr.. Logan said the question involved was
that OF disobedence of orders. Pope had
expected that he would be attacked and he
had properly ordered Porter to be on hand
by daylight, and Porter had no option or dis
cretion in the matter. His duty was to obey.
Porter had in his letters said that he did not
intend to obey Pope except when he had to.
Ihere had been combination and determinas
tion that Pope should not succeed. He charged
here, and defied contradiction, that Fitz John
Porter was the canse of the loss of the first
battle of Bull Run.
loud applause in the gallery, instantly re-
pressed by the presiding officer, Mr.. Frse.l
Mr. Logan scoffed at the excuse given by
Porters friends that the night was dark, and
showed how many battles had been won after
night and marched in total darkness. With
reference to Gen. Grants efforts in Porthr's
behalf, Mr.. Logan asserted that no man had
greater respect for Gen. Grant than himself,
but Grant was not a lawyer Mr.. Logan con-
tinued at great length and said in conclusion
that II this bill passed and this wrong were
done 1t would be declaring to the world that
those who failed in the hour Of trial were the
men who should now be honered, and that the
glory of the Union army could as well be
maintained by honors lost as by honors won,
and that the principle would have most de-
moraliZing effect upon the army and country.
Mr.. CoDger expressed desire to amend the
bill by striking ont the word "the" and insert
ing the words ian additional before the
words retired list of the army his object
being, he said, to save from disgrace the regu-
lar retired list of the army and have a separate
retired list provided for Gen. Porter and those
like him.
The chair declared that the bill was not sub
ject to amendment at this time except for
additional sections.
Mr.. Riddleberger said the fighting General
Porter had done after his SO called disobedi-
ence of orders had been such as to wholly
negative the idea of treason. The bill was
thea passed-36 to %.
The result was received with mingled ap-
plause and Kisses from the gallery.
The vote was as follows:
Yeas-Ravard Rrown Rutter Call Cockral1
Coke, Colquitt. Fair of Colorado Farley, Garlsnd,
Gibson, Gorman Groome, Hampton, Harris Hoar.
Nevada Lamar, Mcpherson, Maxey, Morgan,
Pendleton. Pike, Pugh, Riddleberger. Sabine,
Salisbury, Sewell Slater, Vance, Voorhees,. Walker.
Nays Aldrich, Allison, Blair, Bowen, Conger,
Cullom, Dawes Dolph, Edmunds, Frye, Harrison,
Hawley, Hil ingalls, Logan, Mcmillan, Mander-
son. Miller of California Mitchell Morrill,, Palmer,
Platt, Sherman, Van Wyck and Wilson-25.
During the svote the following pairs were
announced with votes winch would have been
cast by the Senators named had thsy voted:
Beck aye with Hale no; Cameron of W Iscon-
sin aye, with George no; Miller of New York
no, with Vest aye; Sawyer no, with Kenna
aye.
Before the preamble was passed Mr. Hawley
expressed the hope that the majority would
spare the Senate from a vote annulling the
decision of the court MARTIAL which was as
lawfully constituted an authority as the ST.
preme Court of the United States.
Mr. Conger remarked that it was disgrace
enough to have been a member of the body
which would pass such bill.
The preamble recites that the board of Off
GERS convened by the President to examine and
report upon the case Of Gen. Porter stated
that justice required the President to annul
the findings and sentence of the court martial
in Gen. Porter's case and restore him to the
position of which the sentence deprived him.
such restoration to take effect from the date
of his dismissal from the service; that the
DraCr r1nnk Er1 81 IL. A.
tence as disqualified Gen. Porter from holding
office, and that in order to do Justice to Gen.
Porter it was fact, etc.
The bill then authorizes the President, by
and with the advice and consent of the Senate,
to appoint Gen. Porter to the position of
Colonel in the army, of the same grade and
rank held by him at the time of his dismissal,
and authorizes the President in his discretion
TO place Gen. Porter on the retired list as of
that grade; Gen. Porter, however, to receive
appointment under the act
Adjourned.
HOUSE
In the House today Mr.. Belmont of New
York presented resolutions from the Metro
politan Museum of Art and one from the New |
York Art Students League favoring the Bel
mont bill for the abolition of duty on works of
art. Tt was referred.
Mr.. O'Neill OF Pennsylvania presented a
memorial from the Philadelphia board of |
bill for the construction of additional steel |
cruisers. It was referred.
The House then went into committee of the |
whole on the postofice appropriation bill, the |
pending amendment being one increasing the
appropriations for the payment of letter car
riers and for the incidental expenses of the |
free delivery service, from $3,600,000 to $4,- |
100000.
After debate the amendment was adopted,
122 to 90.
Mr. Hewitt of New York offered an amend
ment providing that the periodical publications
OF other than daily newspapers when delivered
within the city wherein they are pub
lshed shall be charged with the same postage
as is now or may be imposed by law on such
publications eiewhere than in the city of pub
licaton.
Mr.. Hoar moved to strike out the proviso
that land grant railroads shall receive for
mail transportation but fifty per cent. of the
compensation allowed to other roads.
Considerable discussion was had upon these
amendments, and finally the committee rose
for the purpose of limiting debate on the
pending paragraph, and at 5 o'clock the
House adjourned.