The Portland daily press., 1884-04-10
FORTY-EIGHTH CONGRESS.
SENATE.

SENATE.
WASHINGTON. April 8.
MIR. Hia, from the committee on post offices and
post roafs, reported fayorably the original bill to
estahlisla postal telegraph system. Mr.. Hill re-
| markedthat the committee were unanimous Jas to
thetfrH ten sections of the BILL which relate to do
ing work by contracts with existing companies, but
thatthe minority of the committee were opposed to
thesection relating to the construction or purchase
otiines by the government. The provision relating
to the liability of the contracting company for fail
Fre to correctly and promptly transmit messages
mas been amended by limiting such liability to five
hundred times the amount paid for the transmission
Two new features have been added to the bill. The
first authorizes the contracting company to employ
the postmaster as its agent and operator any pos
tal telegraph Office where the telegraphic receipts
are insufficient to pay the salary of an operator and
TO pay him commission not exceeding so per cent.
OF tne charges on messages transmitted from the
ence. Inc second requires the Postmaster General
20 secure provisions in the contract which shall pro-
tect postal kilograms against discrimination in the
order Of transmission in favor of kilograms received
at such of the eompanys offices are not operated
under the provisions Of the bill.
Mr.. Harrison, from the committee on finance re-
ported adversely the bill to refund excessive duties
caused by extraordinary generalization of the Aus
trian form in 1873. Placed on the calendar.
The bill promoting Capt. Thomas G. Coz bin, U. s.
N, Getred) to the rank of Rear Admiral in the
same list, taken up and after some remarks in
definitely postponed
The Senate then resumed the consideration of the
naval appropriation bill and Mr.. Vest continued his
i remarks, The popular impression Mr.. Vest said,
was that the late civil was the beginning of the
impression was not correct. The decline had begun
slx years before the war. The loss of American
shipping from lS4o to 1852 was for the period be-
1oIe Inc war 10 4l-1O0 per cent during the war,
81 S-100 per cent and since the war ID ri Der
cent. Referring to the shipping bill reported to the
Senate BY Mr.. Frye, from the committee on COM
merce Mr.. Vest said that it was like Empiri cism
which mistook deep seated disease for mere Gu
taneous eruption.
After reference by Mr. Vest to the increased cost
OF running American vessels as compared with 9TH
era, Mr.. Frye inquired how that would be remedied
by putting vessels under the American flag,
Mr.. Vest replied that he would repeal the infa.
nous navigation laws.
This gave rise to running debate, in the course
Of which Mr. Frye said that If ships could be pur-
chased today anywhere in the world under the laws
OF the United States no American citizen would
dream of making the purchases and therefore free
trade in ships would amount to nothing, because
they could not be run in competition in wages.
Mr.. Vest said that free ships were not the only
thing necessary. He would reform the whole pro-
tectiye system which had struck down the Ameri-
can merchant marine.
Mr.. Frye-By increasing American wages?
MIR. Vest denied that the tariff gave America
work1ngmen higher wages, except as 1t paid with
one hand and robbed with another by taking it out
Mr.. Hale suggested that there was nothing in the
naval appropriation bill that related to the mer-
chant marine. Referring to MIR. Vests statement
that 1885, 600 900 had been expended on the navy
since the war, Mr.. Hale said that not dollar of it
had been spent in new ships. What we wanted was
new ships
Mr.. Mcpherson, in the course of his remarks said
that while the government persisted in keeping the
present Secretary Of the Navy it could not wonder
at the lack of confidence in the navy department
Mr. Hale, after referring to the efforts made by
the secretary to increase the efficiency of the navy
said that what had kept England neutral during the
late war was the immense power which America
had shown in imprOvsing a navy. Mr.. Hale de-
Tended the Secretary of the Navy from dispersion
and asked If e0Uld his ON sip
gle thing that the Secretary had done in the admin
istration OF his office that ever suggested suspicion
Mr. Bayard inquired if the steel cruisers provis-
ion had been engrafted on the appropriation bill,
the Senate already having passed bill making spe
cial provision for them.
Mr.. Hale replied that the bill had gone to the
House and that the House seemed disposed to let it
lie entom6ed The committee on appropriations
had therefore, in accordance with repeated prece-
dent, concluded to put provision for the building
OF cruisers into the appropriation bill.
MI Bayard did not deem it proper for either
Mr. est, while recognizing the ability of the Sec
rotary OF the Navy said that he believed the parti
san bias of the officer such lead him to do
things in public capacity that the interests of the
country would not warrant.
Mr. Hale asked whether Mr.. Vest meant that that
officer had in the administration of his Office done
anything of the character indicated.
Mr. Vest said that he could not put his finger on
any one act of that officers administration that
would subject him to criticism.
Mr.. Edmunds stated that he had been much in
terested in accounts given in the Senate of the
He read letter from james Buchanan, dated Sep
TENDER, 1853, ad dressed to Hon. Henry A Wise of
Virginia, in which he said that "We Americans
boosted much of our navy. but what was 1t in COM
parisoi with the navies of England or France?''
Suppose those powers should determine to prevent
US from interfering in Cuba in the time should
arrive when we ought to interfere, they had naval
power to carry outItheir determination We should
c6 iss' N.Y. buchanan s further recommended that
part OF the surplus in the treasury should be ex-
pended in constructing a navy" Mr.. Edmunds
said that was all this Senate wanted to do
The Senate then went into executive session. and
When the doors were re-opened adjourned
HOUSE.
The bill amending he act regulating the removal
of causes from state to federal courts was made a
continuing special order for April IL.
A bill was passed providing for the adoption of
the revised international regulations for prevent
ing collisions at sea.
Mr.. Hopkins of Pennsylvania offered the follow
ing preamble and resolution which was referred to
the committee commerce:
Whereas, it is charged that the present system of
transporting live stock by railroad companies is bar
barious and destructive that 10 per cent of the an
imals perish in consequence of this treatment and
the flesh of the remainder is unfit for human food;
and whereas it charged that the flesh of animals
SO treated intending that of the dead and dying is
sold to people, and cannot when dressed be distin-
guished from sound meats, aad is the soui ee of
many and various Diseases and, whereas, it appears
by report of the committee on agriculture of TINS
House, that the loss by shrinkage alone in weight
of ANIMALS caused by this system of transportation
amounteI to the immense of So COG, 600 on; the
business of 1870, and must now be nearly or quite
$4,000, 900 per annum; and, whereas, it has been
charged that some railroad by system of favoritisn
give TO small number of persons known as the as
ISOLATION of Eveners bonus or gift of almost Sl5
on every car load of beef cattle shipped from the
West to the East, and said sum being part of the
actual legitimate cost of transportation, but is on
the contrary collected by the transporters and paid
over to the so called E7eners a gratuity;
and, whereas the losses and charges above const-
tute In the aggregate an enormous tax on a neces-
sary article OF food which must be borne BY the
producer and consumer alike diminishing the Just
profit OF meat growers of the West and placing meat
food on many instances beyond the reach of Door
men in the East and whei it is charged that the
act Of Congress requiring railroad companies to un-
load stock in tansitu every % hours Is habitually
violated; therefore
Resolved-Thst the committee on commerce be
instructed to inquire whether these evils do in
fact exist and to what extent they may be remeded
by law, with power to send for persons and papers
and with directions to report at any time by bill or
otherwise.
The Speaker hsving ruled that the unfinished
business was the Oregon Central land grant bill Mr..
Stockslager OF Indiana, under the order made Mon
day, asked the House to consider public building
bills, and moved to take from the Speakers table
for reference to the committee of the whole the
Senate :bill for the enlargement OF the New Haven
post oice, but as the yeas and nays lwere call for
he withdrew the motion.
He then moved to go into committee on the pub
lie building bills which was agreed to. Discussions
of points OF order consumed most of the afternoon
and but two bills we're acted upon, those making
appropriations for buildings at Keokuk, Ia, and
Waco, Texas, which were favorably reported
At $50 p. m. the House took recess until II g.
m. tomorrow.
BANK TROUBLES.
ST....,s<s... OF .ne eswuutou. va, Hank.