The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1884-02-26
FORTY-EIGHTH CONGRESS-.
SENATE.

| SENATE.
/ WASHINGTON, Feb 25.
I Ihe chair laid before the Senate today COM
munication from the Secretary of War trans
I mttting the report of the Chief of OrdinaBee
showing the number, calibre weight and value
Of all Cast iron cannon on hand, condemned
and unfit for use.
A communication was laid before the Senate
from the Secretary of the Navy transmitting
the report of the board appointed to examine
into the torpedo machinery of the Destroyer, an
English vessel.
Mr. Logan, from the committee Oh judiciary,
rep, rted two original resolutions, which were
agreed 10, relating to railroad lands, one call
! lug on the Secretary OF the Interior to inform
tbs Senate whether anv railroad companies
mentioned in the Pacific Railroad sinking fund
act OF Nav Z, 1875 had failed TO comply with
the requirements of the said act, and when
and in what respect they failed, and whether
they subsequently, complied, aud, further,
whether ssd companies had paid dividends,
and to what amounts, aud what steps. If any,
had been taken TO enforce the provisions OF said
act.
The second resolution called on tho Attorney
General TO furnish similar Information.
Mr. Ransom offered joint resolution to ap-
proprate 500, 900 for the relief of sufferers by
the recent great wind storms in the Southern
States. He said over five hundred people were
killed and many thousands wounded, and the
suffering resulting from the storm was swful.
1uIs OEOHn SuppulhEu Inc f6SOiublOu III AtsAuB
words. He thought it case clearly calling for
the interposition OF Congress.
MIR. Pugh also supported 1t. He thought
that whatever claim was good for the relief OF
the sufferers by the Western floods was good
for the sufferers by the wind storm.
Mr.. Harris said while he would be personally
ready to aid to the utmost extent OF his power
in contributing to the relief of the distress
caused by the hurricane, he would not vote 3
dollar out OF the treasury for any such purpose,
as hal hal al hah hod
to do so. Part of Tennessee had suffered by
reason of the storm, but he had no intimati0n
Of a call for the aid Of tho national govern
ment.
Mr.. Morgan said he had not been informed
Of any request of the people OF Alabama for
government aid in this matter, and he would
reserve his Judgment upon 1t until he should
hear of some such request. He thought the
new line of policy dangerous one. He sym.
pathized with the opinions of the Senator from
Tennessee (Mr Harris) with regard to 1t. We
should probably hear later OF loss of shipa at
sea by the sane storm, and might be asked to
extend our benevoience SO as to take such
losses also into account. He was not now pre-
pared to say whether the matter under consid-
limit.
Mr.. Brown inquired If there was any distinc-
tion between this case and the case of the suff-
erers by the Western foods.
Mr.. Morgan said he did not wish now to dis
Cuea tLo uhtt6E. Ii WAS enough MIN 1OE LDS
present to say there had not been any wish of
the people of Alabama expressed through the
press or otherwise for the bestowal Of pu blic
charity on them.
Mr.. Garland thought there was no doubt Of
the constitutionality OF the measure. He would
take opportunity, when the resolution should
be reported back from the committee. to give
his reasons for supporting it on constitutional
grounds.
Mr. Ransom said he had not received any in
| formation from his State that he should ask
| for the helping hand OF the government, but
| the case was urgent and SO plain that he he hsd
| no doubt Of his duty in the matter. The resolu.
ton was referred to the committee on appropri-
| ations.
The Senate then resumed consideration OF
! the currency bill, and Mr.. George addressed
the Senate in opposition to the bill as reported
| from the committee on finance.
Mr.. Vests amendment was rejected-14 to
| So
Mr.. Plumb offered the following amendment:
"The organization of banks having o paid up
capital of 500 600, or less, shall be permitted
on deposit of not less than $4,000 of bonds OF
the United States. drawing not less than four
! per cent. intere t."
MIR. Bayard did not feel warranted in accept
ing the amendment, and it was rejected by q
| viva vooe VOTE
| The bill as modified by the amendment Of
| MIR. Morrill, was then passed -43 to H.
The presiding officer (Mr. Haie) then laid be-
| fore the Senate, so that it may come up as M
| finished business tomorrow, a bill to authorize
| the construction OF additional steel vessels for
1 the navy.
MIR. Mcpherson offered, for the purpose OF
| having printed, an amendment to be proposed
to the bill reducing he number of steel vessels
to four, and providing that all vessels shall be
built under contract by the lowest bidder after
sixty days advertisement in five OF the lead
ing newspapers of the United States, and that
no vessels shall be accepted except upon the
strictest compliance with the requirements OF
contracts, plans and specifications.
The Senate then went into executive session,
and afterwards adjourned.
HOUSE.
| In the House to-day MIR. Ellis of Louisiana,
| rising TO question of privilege, sent to the
| clerks desk and had read from the New York
! Sun of Saturday extracts from a document
| said to be in possession of the Post-ofice De-
partment, stating that George r. Brott gave q
| fee of several hundred dollars to E. J. Ellis
| for services iu securing Star route contract
| on the Donaldson roate. MIR. Ellis entered his
solemn and unequivocal denial Of the whole
| story.
A joint resolution was passed filing the
vacancy In the board of regents of the Smith
| sonian Institution by the reappolntment of
| Noah Porter of Connecticut.
MIR. Gibson of West Virginia introduced q
| joiut resolution appropriating $4,000 for dis
| tribution OF seed among the Sufferers from
| Ohio foods. 1t was referred.
MIR. Clements of Georgia reported resolu-
\ tion requesting the President to transmit to
| the House all communications between the
| United States and Russia with regard 10 the
condition and treatment of Hebrews in Russia
and especially in relation to the Hebrew citi-
zens Of the United States. 1t was adopted
The following bills were introduced
By Mr.. Oates of Alabama, to prohibit aliens
| and foreigners from acquiring title to or own
| ing land in the Uoited States.
By Mr.. Belford of Colorado, resolutiDn
| calling on the Secretary OF State TOR informa-
tion touching alleged subsection of naturalized
| German American citizens to military duty
| while temporarily residing in Germany.
By Mr.. Finnerty of Illinois, u joint resolution
| declaring that Congress laments the death of
| Wendell Phillips as national bereavement
| which at once deprives the American rostrum
OF superb intellect and human freedom of q
| devoted friaDd.
| By Mr.. Milliken of Maine, granting 100
| acres Of land to men who served In ,he Union
| army in the war of the rebellion.
| The House went into committee on the
| pleuro pneumonia bill.
| Mr.. Hatch Of Missouri supported the bill,
and took occasion to condemn the Democratic
| party for lack of originality in selecting Chi
cago as the place for the national convention,
and criticized Mr. Eaton's knowledge of con.
stitutional law.
| Mr. Hatch offered an amendment providing
that the number OF persons employed in the
| bureau OF animal industry shall not exceed 20
persons at any one time. Adopted
After some remarks BY Messre. Cox of New
York, Gibson of West Virgins, and May aud
| Wise of Virginia, concerning the criticism
| upon Mr.. Cox made by MIR. Wise few DAYS
| ago, the committee rose and the House ad-
| journed
| ALABAMA CLAIMS.