Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1884-04-19
PORTY-EIGHTR CONGRESS.
First session.
sen ATE.
WASHINGTON, April Is.

The Senate passed resolutions calling on
/ the secretary OF war 10 transmit to the Senate
the official report Of Lieut.. Schwaska of his
military reconnaissance in Alaska in 1883.
Bills were introduced and appropriately
refesred.
The Senate. Immediately on the disposal
of the morning business, took up the post
office appropriation bill, in favor of which
Mr.. Plumb spoke.
The unfinished business coming over from
last Friday was the bill 10 relieve certain
soldiers of the late war from the charge of
desertion, and after debate il was laid aside
with a favorable Recommendation.
The committee of the whole arose at five
o'clock and the House took a recess until
7.30 o'clock.
| The most of the items were items for which
there already were appropriations Of the law
which could not be changed without general
| legislation. Consideration of the bill was
proceed with by sections. On reaching the
section relating 10 the compensation of the
railroad companies for the transportation OF
the mails, some debate arose. The bill as it
came from the House required the postmas-
| ter general TO make reduction of > per
cent in the compensation heretofore paid to
all railroads for carrying the mails, and that
railroads that receive land grants should be
required to carry mails at the rate of so per
cent less than that paid TO other railroads
for like service.
Mr. Plumb explained that the committee
on appropriations had not felt justified in
retaining these provisions SO far as it con-
cerned the two per cent. reduction. The
members of the committee after some ex-
animation were not entirely satisfied that the
amount now paid to railroads was create r
than it should be and the provision had been
struck from the bill.
After further debate the amendment was
agreed to striking out the House provisions.
which would reduce the compensation of the
railroads by five per cent. and would reduce
the compensation of the land grant roads to
so per cent. of the amount paid 10 other
roads. The other amendments proposed by
the committee were agreed to in their order.
the only departure being in the adoption of
the amendment proposed by Mr.. Plumb
adding S25 900 to the appropriations for river
mail service. The bill was then agreed to as
a whole.
The chair laid before the Senate the bank
ruptcy bill, but without entering on its fur
ther consideration the Senate went into exec
utive session. At four o'clock the doors
were reJpened and according to previous ap-
poihtment message from the House an
nouncing the death of Thos. III. Herndon,
late member OF that body from Alaabma, was
taken up Remarks in memorium of the de-
ceased were delivered by Messrs. Morgan,
Gibson. Jones of Florida and Pugh, at the
conclusion of which the Senate adjourned.
HOUSE.
The bill limiting to two years the time
within which prosecutions may be instituted
against persons charged with violating the
internal revenue laws, was taken up tor con-
sideration.
Mr.. White of Kentucky took advantage of
a brief debate on the bill to criticise the
Springer committee in stopping the investiga-
ton of the charges against Gov. Murray.
Mr.. Miller of Pennsy lvania called the gen.
tleman to order for not addressing himself to
the bill under consideration, but the House
decided that Mr. White might be permitted
to proceed in order. He (White) continued
to talk in the same strain, when Mr.. Miller
again called him to order.
The speaker thought that the remarks OF
the gentleman was not relevant to the bill
Mr. White said that the difference between
the speaker and himself was that while he
had been endeavoring to defend the rights OF
the poorest people in his State, the speaker
had been endeavoring to get his bill through
Congress for the biggest whiskey monopolie'
in the State of Kentucky.
The chair desired that no notice should be
taken of these words.
Mr.. White then proceeded in order, and at
the conclusion of his speech the bill was
passed.
A resolution was adopted, setting apart
Saturday, the Goth of April, for the consider
alton of the bill ''to remove certain burdens
on the American merchant marine, and to en-
courage the American foreign carrying
trade
At Las the House went into committee Of
the whole.
| At the evening session the House passed
2S pension bills and adjourned.