Daily Kennebec journal., 1884-05-24
PORTY-EIGHTR CONGRESS,
sen ATE.


munication from the secretary of the navy
transmitting a request from Capt Ericsson
for an appropriation for his torpedo.
MI Harrison, from the committee on ter
ritories, reported bill in relation to the leg
isiature Of the territory of Dakota.
The House bill TO provide for the muster
and pay of certain officers and enlisted mer
OF volunteer forces, Was on motion of Mr.
Harrison, read three times and passed. Il
amends the joint resolution on the same
subject Of July IL, SO that in all cases arising
under it, officers shall be considered as com.
missioned to their respective grades from the
date when their commissions respectively
were issued, az if mustered at these dates
providing that they were then actually in the
performance of duties; all claims under this
provision must. by the bill, be filed within
three years from the passage of the act.
The Senate resumed consideration of the
bill which provides that whenever. in the
opinion of the President, it shall be deemed
expedient and necessary for the government
to pay on prior mortgages or incumberance,
on property which it is compelled to buy ir
self protection, the secretary of the treasury
shall have authority under direction of the
President to pay of such prior liens or in
cumbe RANGES
Mr.. Beck repeated his objection made yes
terday, that under the letter of the act the
President could pay of the Union Pacific
railroad mortgage. He was not prepared to
vest SO vast power in an executive officer.
MIR. Morgan moved An amendmhnt requir-
ing that if lien in any case DE upon rail-.
road, it should not be paid until after judg.
ment of court of competent jurisdiction de-
claring validity.
After debate the hour of two arriving, the
question went over.
The annual pension appropriation bill was
then taken up and in few minutes passed as
reported by the Senate committee.
The labor bureau bill was taken up. The
question pending was on the motion of Mr..
Blair to change the word 'bureau' into the
word department"
With respect to Mr.. Allison's suggestion
of unconstitutionalty in the provision author
izing the chief of the bureau to appoint a
chief clerk, Mr.. Cameron of Wisconsin said
the appointment would be in the President
and would be exercised by him as had been
done when the chief examiner of the civil
service commission has been appointed.
Mr.. Cameron was therefore Of the opinion
that the bill if passed as it came from the
House would be satisfactory, Mr.. Blair con-
curing.
The bill was passed; yeas, Sc; nays, 2.
The bill as passed is as follows
There shall be established in the depart
ment of the interior bureau of labor which
shall be under the charge of commissioner
of labor, whe shall be appointed by the pres
ident, by and with the consent of the
Senate. The commissioner shall hold
his Office for four years, unless sooner re-
moved, and shall receive a salary of $4,000
per year. The commissioner shall collect
information on the subject of labor, its rela-
tions to capital, hours of labor and earnings
of laboring men and women and the means
of promoting their material, social, intellec-
tual and moral prosperity. The secretary of
the interior shall appoint chief clerk at a
salary of $1,000 per annum and such other
employees as may be necessary for said
bureau, provided the total expense shall not
exceed S25 900 per annum. The commits
sioner shall annually make report to the
secretary of the interior of the information
collected by him and contain
ing such recommendations as may deem cal
culated to promote the efficiency of the
bureau"
The Utah bill was then read, after which
the Senate went into executive session and
later adjourned to Monday.
HOUSE.
Mr.. Weller of Iowa, rising TO a question of
privilege, read a newspaper report of the
speechlmade by Mr.. Bayne of Pennsylvania,
in which he stated that he was informed that
a member who had voted in favor of Mr..
Peele upon the first roll call, and thereafter
on consultation with Mr.. English, had left
the House without being paired. He denied
that he had been solicited by Mr.. English on
behalf of his son. Ex- Representative Eng
lish had not conversed with him yesterday on
the subject of his sons contested election
case. He (weller) did receive the solicita-
ton of members on the republican side TO
vote for Mr.. Peele. One member had told
him that he would cover himself with glory.
His absence from the House had been in
response to telegram announcing the arrival
of his family in the city. He hoped that the
investigating committee would go to work
promptly and idquire into the whole matter
Mr.. Hart of Ohio inquired by what road
Mr.. Weller's family arrived.
Mr. Weller said the gentleman would have
abundant opportunity to play the part of
cross-examner before the committee.
Mr.. Hart-Were you solicited by any of
Mr. English's friends to go and meet your
family?
Mr. Weller-No, Sir.
The matter was then dropped, and Mr..
Kellogg of I.oui.ians took the floor for per-
sonal explanation.
Mr.. Kellogg offered resolution reciting
that in the investigation of the star route
cases, evidence has been taken rejecting on
his character, and instructing the committee
to investigate his alleged connection with the
star route service. He entered into long
personal explanation, which gave rise to a
long debate.
The House then went into q committee
on the private calendar. The bill providing
for the retirement of Col. Henry J. Hunt, as
Major General gave rise to a good deal OF
discussion.
In opposing the measure Mr.. Springer, OF
Illinois, took occasion to speak in severe
condemnation of the bill to retire Gen. Grant
and to give him q pension just because he
had been unfortunate in Wall street. 1t was
said that Mr.. Grant had not been aware OF
the dealings of his partners, but the fact re-
mained that he had associated himself with
SPECTATORS who were engaged in the mos
disreputable practices which had ever been
heard of in the country.
The bill was finally laid aside, with q
favorable Recommendation.
Several other private measures we're con-
siderei. and the committee rose.
The House then took q recess until p, NJ
The evening session is to be for the consid