Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-01-16
IN THE SENATE AND HOUSE.
Detailed Report of the Proceedings in
Both Bodies

Detailed Report of the Proceedings in
Both Bodies.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 15.-In the Senate
to-day numerously signed petition from
citizens Of Kansas was presented by SEN
ator Plumb, praying for the passage of a
constitutional amendment comforting the
right of suffrage on women, and several
petitions were presented by Senator Blair
from citizens of Minnesota, praying that
colonies of families may be allowed to Law
out villages on public lands in order to
establish cooperative industrial societies.
Mr.. AnthOny's resolution of some davs
ago regarding retaliatory legislation by
the United States to meet the exclusion
of American meats from foreign countries
was brought up.
A long debate followed, in which a good
deal of opposition to the proposed retalia-
tory legislation was made on the ground
that as we have no system of official or gov
ernmental inspection of food products in
/ this country, we have no authoritative
data upon which to dispute the statements
OftOreign governments that our meats are
unhealthy. Senator Logan was the princi-
pal advocate of the resolution, but several
Senators opposed him in the debate.
Finally Mr.. Miller, of New York,
thought the whole discussion premature
He understood that in a few days the
1 state Department would send to the Sem
ate the entire correspondence relating to
the question involved, and with that Mr..
Miller had no doubt would come recon-
mendatiOn from the President that sys-
TEN of inspection of export meats should
be established. The convention of cattle
men had been sitting in Washington for
some days, with whom the Commissioner
Of Agriculture had been in conference.
and, as a result of their efforts, Mr. Miller
had no doubt that measures would be
taken to prevent the spread of pleuro-
pneumonia. These measures would not
be i'll the direction of retaliatOry, but
rather preserYative, legislation. He
therefore hoped that the matter would 90
over for the present.
The morning hour expiring the matter
went over. The Senate then went into
an executive session, and, ON the doors
being reopened, an order was made desig-
mating Senator ingalls,, of Kansas, to pre-
side at the opening of the Senate to-mor-
row in case of the absence of President
pro tenn. Edmunds, who expects to attend
meeting of the Board of Regents Of the
Smithonian Institution, of which he is
member.
The Senate went into executive session
to-day at 80 O'Clock. A large number
of minor nominations were taken up and
confirmed, after which consideration of
the Mexican treaty was resumed. The
proposition to sit with open doors was
defeated, upon division, by a small ma
jority.
The discussion which followed was gen.
eral in character and not of great inter-
est. The opponents of ratification raised
the question of the power of the Senate,
under the Constitution, to take action
which would be in effect modification of
the revenue laws, and argued that such
action required the concurrence of the
House. 1t was also said in opposition
to the treaty that the MeXicans were
people of simple habits and primitive
tastes, that the country was thinly inhab-
tied and that at best it would afford but
a very limited market for our manu-
features. The friends of the treaty replied
| at considerable length, meeting the con-
stltutiOnal objections with precedents
and pointing ont in detail the advantages
to be reaped from reciprocal trade rela-
tiOns. The cultivation of coffee in Mexico
would, it was said, be stimulated, and the
/ price to the American consumer be
greatly reduced thereby. Coffee. to be
sure, was now upon our free list, but
| Brazil had placed a heavy export duty on
it, and this would in time be taken off in
order to compete with the product of
Mexico. Then the spread of the gospel
and of the highest form of civilization
were among the things not tn ho disro-
garded in considering the matter. The
doors were opened at O'Clock, and the
Senate adjourned.
IN THE HOUSE.
In the House to-day, Mr.. Green, of
North Carolina, offered a resolution au-
| thOrizing the Committee on Public Health
to inquire into the truth of the allegation
OF adulteratiOn of food, and if it is shown
/ that such practices exist, to suggest what
/ legislation is necessary to correct the
wrong, and giving the committee authori-
| ty to employ chemical and medical eX-
/ perts. 1t was referred to the Committee
/ on Public Health.
Mr.. Mills, of Texas, from the Committee
on Ways and Means, reported as a sub
stitute for the resolutions offered by
Messrs. Hewitt and Belmont, of New
| YORK, a resolution requesting the Presi-
dent to furnish the House with any infor-
nation in his possession, including re-
ports from the United States COnsuls,
special agents of the Treasury Depart
ment, appraisers Of customs, and the de-
clslons of the departments, concerning
under valuation, false classification
and other irregular practices in
the importation of foreign goods, wares.
and merchandise since January 1, 1882,
and at his discretion prior thereto, and
! further requesting him to recommend
what legislation, if any, in his opinion, is
| needed to prevent frauds on the revenue
resulting from the cases above specified.
The resolution was adopted.
Mr.. Cobb, Of Indiana, Chairman of the
Committee on Public Lands, reported a
bill declaring forfeited certain grants of
land made to certain States in aid of the
construction of railroads. 1t was referred
to the committee of the whole. The bill
was described in the dispatches of the
14th inst.
Mr.. King, of Louisiana. Chairman of
the Committee on Mississippi Levees, re-
ported bill to close the gaps of the
levees of the Mississippi river and for the
improvement of the navigation of that
river. 1t appropriates $1,000,000 to be
expended in accordance with the recon-
mendation of the Mississippi River Com
mission. It was referred to the commit
tee of the whole.
Mr.. Money, of Mississippi, Chairman of
the Committee on Post Offices and Post
Roads, reported a bill making all public
roads and highways post routes.
Dir. Townshend, of Illinois, introduced
a bill authorizing the President, during
the recess of Congress, to prohibit any
imports injurious to the public health
from those countries which, on the same
ground, prohibited the importation of
American goods. 1t was referred.
Mr.. Curtin, of Pennsylvania, offered a
resolution requesting the President to
furnish copies of the correspondence in
regard to the reported arrest in Russian
Poland of ReinhaTdt Wagner, citizen of
the United States. 1t was adopted.
Mr.. Cox. of New York, Chairman of the
Committee on Naval Affairs, reported
back the resolution calling on the Secre-
tary of the Navy for information as TO
whether any officer of the navy has re-
ceived or accepted any gift or present
from any Prince or foreign State without
the consent OF Congress, and also as to
whether any United States officers or sail
ors rendered any service to the British
navy in the recent bOmbardment of Alex
andria. 1t was adopted.
Mr. Mills, of Texas, offered resolution
directing the Committee on judiciary TO
report whether the President, by and with
the consent of the Senate, can negotiate
treaties with foreign governments bv
which duties levied by Congress can be
changed or abrogated. 1t was adopted.
This is directed against the pending Mex
lean treaty.
Mr.. Shelley, of Alabama, offered a reso-
luton directing the Committee on Rivers
and Harbors to inquire into the necessity
of making immediate appropriations for
continuing important river and harbor
lmpros ements where work has been. or is
about to be, suspended for want Of an an
preparation. 1t was referred.
Mr.. Willis, Of Kentucky, Chairman of
the Committee on Rivers and Harhoro