Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1884-12-22
AT THE CAPITOL TO-DAY
DULLNESS PREVAILS IN FHE SENATE.
ITEMS FROM COMMITTEE ROOMS: Etc.
The Eenafp.

The Senate.
When the Senate was called to order to-day
twenty-eight members Of that body were present,
but the number soon increased to more than a
quorum, and the regular business was proceeded
with.
The chair laid before the Senate message from
the President transmitting supplementary report
or the gun foundry board. 1t was referred to the
committee on military affairs.
Several petitions, numerously signed, were pre-
sented, demonstrating against the ratification of
Mr.. Frye introduced bill to authorize the Secre-
tary Of the Treasury to compensate clerks and en-
ptoyeS for extra work performed in the exchange
or bonds In the Treasury department.
There was so little morning business to be done
that oy quarter past twelve the Senate had dis
posed OF ali that offered and proceeded to its cal
endar Of cases not objected to. which subject TO
the hve minutes limttationtu debate.
on motion OF Mr.: Beck. private pension bills that
had already passed the House of Representatives
were taken up, and number OF them passed
THE LIQUOR BILL CALLED UP.
Mr.. Blair called up the bill providing for a COM
mission 10 examine into the liquor traffic. He said
it was the bill already passed four times by the
Senate, but not acted On by the House OF Repre-
SentativeS
The motion was opposed but the bill was Or
dered TO be taken up. and was passed-yeas q,
nays 16.
THE NAVAL APPROPRIATION BILL
Mr.. Hale from the committee on appropriations,
reported with amendments the House bill making
temporary provision for the naval service" Qhe
thirty day billy
Mr.. Hale explained that the Senate COM
1nittee had amended that bill by substitut-
ing for it the regular annual appropriation
bill for the fiscal year ending June 30 1885. pre-
cisely as the House had passed it at last session,
but modified so as to cover only the remaining hall
OF the fiscal year, the amendments formerly in
serted by the Senate relating TO the ironciads and
steel cruisers being stricken out. The b he said,
SO far as amounts went, stood precisely on the
basis on which the House had passed the original
appropriation for the year.
EXECUTIVE SESSION.
The Senate, at two o'clock, on motion Of Mr.
Sherman went into executive session, and when,
at 2l5, the doors were reopened the Senate ad-
jOurned till Tomorrow.
Capitol Topics.
SENATOR'S GOING ON A DUCK HUNT.
Senators Beck, Don Cameron, Butler, Jackson,
and several Others, going down the Potomac to-
night on an extended duck hunt Senator Hoar,
though he opposed the recess resolution and voted
against it, announced In the Senate to-day that he
would be absent after to-day. Numerous others
have made arrangements to leave and the indca-
tionS are that there will not be a quorum present
Tomorrow.
EX-sEKGEANT-AT-ARMs THoMPsoNs CLAIM.
Ex-Sergeant- alarms Thompson had hearing
before subcommittee Of the judiciary committee
to-day, consisting OF Messrs. Tucker, Broadhead
ment OF the damages awarded against him In the
Kilbourn case. He referred to Mr.. Ker's charge
that the jury had been fixed, and said he did not
believe that had been the case.
THE PRESIDENT ADVISED TO WITHDRAW THE NoMI-
NATION OF ". E. CURTIS.
A STAR reporter was, to-day, informed by good
authority, that the President had been advised to
withdraw the nomination OF ". E. Curtis, OF the
Chicago Hiter-Ocean. as secretary OF the South
American commission. He was told that the nom
ination would be rejected il 1t remained before the
Senate. 1t seems that when Gen. Logan. in exec
utive session, several days ago. had concluded his
remarks In opposition to MIR. curtis, democratic
Senator arose and charged that during the late
campaign Curtis offered to furnish to the demo-
cratic managers matter which he claimed could be
used effectively against Blaine and Logan; that
Curtis represented that he lad In possession a
good deal of such material, which he had collected
as a newspaper correspondent, and which he would
write up, provided he got pay for IL.
SENATOR EDMUNDs AND THE N1CARAGUAN CANAL.
In the Senate secret session last Saturday the
discussion soon ran from the W st resolution de-
claring Secretary Chambers order for survey OF
the Nicaraguan canal illegal to the merits OF the
treaty itself. Messrs. Morgan, Edmunds and others
advocated the ratification OF the Ncaraguan treaty
and the building OF the canal. Mr.. Edmunds was
in favor OF building the canal Notwithstanding
English protests He did not believe England
would resort TO war as a means OF preventing the
canal. She might bluster, but If the United States
would stand firm there would be no serious trouble.
Mr.. EdmundS, however, regarded the canal as OF
sufficient value and importance to this government
TO risk war for it. The Vest resolution finally
went over.
WHY AN ELECTORAL MESSENGER COULDN'T GET HIS
When Col Chester, messenger OF the electoral
college Of Tennessee, delivered the vote of that
state to acting Vice President Edmunds the other
day, he was asked for his credentials. He replied
that they were sealed up inside the envelope con-
taining the vote. Mr. EdmundS then remarked
that he could not give the messenger the receipt
upon which he would get his pay. 1t seems that
flrOnph carplPSSDP-S inl1yGrfpnra
credentials were enclosed with the vote. Mr.. Ed
munds offered TO open the envelope and take out
the credentials provided the Senate would give its
assent, but the democratic Senators, upon talking
the matter over concluded that it would be better
to let the messenger go without his pay than to do
this. as 1t might afford preteXt for questioning
the returns. Col Chester Immediately sent back
to Tennessee for another set OF credentials which
can be made up by a majority Of the electors sign
ing them Tine validity of the vote is not affected
by this sealing of credentials up with the On
the day before the messenger arrived the copy OF
the electoral vote OF Tennessee, which was sent by
mail, reached MIR. Edmunds.
DID NOT LONG SURVIVE HIS WIFE,
Mr.. VIM. Blair Lord, one OF the official stenogra-
pliers OF the House OF Representatives, died in New
York yesterday. His wife died about two weeks
ago, and friends of Ar Lord say that he broke
down completely when he lost her. He became
very Respondent, and gradually sank. He was a
stenographer OF the House for more than quarter
OF century, and was known as one OF the best In
his business. He was very popular with members
OF Congress OF all parties
NOTES.
At an Informal meeting OF democratic Congress
men and citizens OF Indiana on Saturday night the
sentiment was expressed that Indiana was entitled
to a cabinet position. and that Senator Mcdonald
was the man for the place.
The House resolution for recess adjournment
came up In the Senate Saturday afternoon, and
after considerable debate 1t was rejected by vote
OF yeas to 25 nays. The Senate then adjourned
until to-day.
Wr. Norton Restored.
AN APPOINTMENT WHICH REvIvES AN INCIDENT OF
THE STAR ROUTE TRIAL
Nr. II. D. Norton, formerly the chief Of the
finance division in tie Third Assistant Postmaster
Generals Office, who was dismissed some two