Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1884-02-01
FORTYBIGRTR CONGRESS.
First Session.
SENATE.
WAsHIxerox, Jan. 81.

In the Senate this morning a food Of Pc
titions were presented from dozen or more
States, praying for a prohibitary liquor Law
in the District of Columbia and the terrific
RES. The petitions were referred TO the COM
mittee On education.
The Senate has refused by vote Of 20 to
% to concur in the report of the committee
of conference on the Greedy reliet expedition,
and resolved TO appoint a new conference
committee
The chair laid before the Senate a commun-
icAfion from the attorney general. STATING
that his clerical force was insufficient to
supply the papers called for by Congress and
asking for further aid of that character and
respectfully urging An appropriation for his
department for the current fiscal year be made
once.
Petitions from various States, praying for
the enactment BY Congress of prohibitory
laws were presented and referred TO the COM
mittee on education and labor.
Bill were introduced and appropriately re-
ferred as follows:
By Mr. Blair, to pay employees of the gov
eminent wages hitherto withheld in violation
of the eight hour law.
Bv Mr. Plat, to relieve commercial trav-
ellers from license taxes.
The resolution offered yesterday by Mr..
Plat was then taken up and agreed TO, dl-
recting an investigation by the Senate COM
mittee on post offices and post roads into the
cost of telegraph correspondence and how
such cost has been affected by contracts be-
TWEEN the Western Union and other companies
and by large stock dividends.
The Senate then resumed the considera-
ton of the question Of agreeing to the report
of the conference committee in the bill pro-
fo ha ~
Mr.. Hale said that he was aware there was
much impotence felt by the senators at the
poor result which followed the last arctic ex-
petition He deplored as much as anyone
the poverty of these results, but hoped the
disappointment in that respect would not in
terfere to delay or restrict the expedition now
contemplated. The danger of the absent
men was daily increasing and everything
possible should be done at once to hasten the
preparation and departure of relieving
party. To deprive the President of the
right of selecting men best fitted for the SER
would be unwise. The President acting
through the secretary of the navy ought to
have the right to search the entire navy and
select the calmest and most judicious men.
Mr.. Hoar inquired what was the nature OF
the expedition which this one was intended
to relieve.
Mr.. Hale replied that the object of the ex-
petition was to establish meteorological sta.
tons in the arctic regions.
After further debate in which Senators
Frye, Salisbury and Mcpherson and Others
joined, the Senate refused, % to 81, to agree
to the report of the conference committee.
The Senate resolved to insist on its amend
ment and ask the House for further cOn-
ference. and il appointed a committee for the
purpose of comforting with such a similar
committee us the House may appoint.
The Senate adjourned till Monday.
HOUSE.
The committee on public lands reported
back resolution calling on the secretary OF
the interior for information as to whether
roads connected with the Atchison system
were completed within the ten years provided
by law, and if not, under what authority the
list of lands was certified to Kansas; adopted.
At the conclusion of the morning hour, the
House took up the bills reported from the
committee on public lands, the first being
that declaring the forfeiture Of certain grants
of lands made to certain States to aid in the
construction of railroads.
Mr.. Ellis of Louisiana, from the commit
tee on appropriations, reported back a joint
resolution appropriating $50, 900 for the sup.
port OF certain destitute Indians In Montana,
with the Senate amendment increasing the
amount to 800, 900. After some debate the
Senate amendment was non concurred in.
The House proceeded with the considera.
ton of business on the calendar, the first bill
being to declare the forfeited land grant ir
certain States to aid in TIE construction Of
railroads. The bill was passed without de
bate yeas 25l, nays Mr.. Barr of Penn
sylvania.
The speaker laid before the House mes
sage from the President transmitting the re.
port of the secretary of state with accom-
panying papers, relating to the restriction OF
the1importation of American hog products
into Germany and France.
immediately, clash of jurisdiction arose
as to which committee was entitled to the
report of the secretary of state; Mr.. Town
send Of Illinois favoring the committee or
commerce, Mr.. Hatch of Missouri the com.
mittoe on agriculture, and Mr.. Curtin of
Pennsylvania the committee on foreign af
fairs. 1t was finally compromised to the sat
isfaction of all parties by ordering the mes
sage printed and laying it on the table. The
House then adjourned.