National Republican., 1884-06-11
With CLOSED DOORS.
The Senate Considers the Execution Of the
Neutrality Act in Secret
Mr. Voorhees, Wants Information About
Beef Contracts to Indians.
The River and HarbOr Bill Further Discussed by iht
House and Several Amendments offered.
The Date OF Final Adjournment Now
Fixed at the 3Oth instant.
TIE SENATE.

NNN''A@NHNN@NN-
sion bill was resumed in the senate yesterday.
Mr.. Harrison proposed an amendment to add
after the words "who served sixty days the words
sin Mexico or on the coast thereof"
Mr.. Beck said that while no doubt some amend
ments might we'll be made to the bill, yet any
amendment would endanger the passage of the
bill at this session Of congress. m
Mr.. Morgan thought the amendment In hostility
to the bill. II II was he wanted Mr. Harrison TO
say so, so that the people might sec who wanted
10 deprive the Mexican soldier of his pension
with Mr. Morgan, he should impute none to that
senator, and he tMr. Harrison would take care of
his own motives. The subject of service pensions
was introduced in this bill. Mr.. Harrison would
not say that he would be under all circumstances
opposed to service pensions But here was Pill
to a man who had served sixty days in mere
camp of rendezvous, and who had never been in
Mexico. To give pension TO man who had
spent sixty days in camp In his own state, and
never knew anything of the hardships of soldier
life. was extending the principle of service PEN
ut least to require that tho man should have
Joined the army and been transported to the terri
should be some service as basis for service
Mr.. Morgan said that one reason why he liked
the bill was because 1t made no discrimination
between officers and prvates. The man who
fought In the ranks was better entitled a pension
than the man who as an officer got honors as well
as pay.
After further debate. participated In by Messrs
Blair. Van Wyck, and others, the amendment Of
on the table by a vote of % yeas to 20 nays
At2 o'clock the bin was displaced by the regular
order the Utah bill which, however, on motion
of Mr. Allison, was informally laid aside and
THE CONSULAR AND DIPLOMATIC BILL
taken up and Its consideration proceeded with.
Mr.. Allison explained that the amendments
tons added $500, 900 to the bill as 1t came from
the house of representatives. The house has ap.
propriated 100000 less than the appropriation Of
last year.
Tie bill was read by sections and the amend
ments proposed by the senate committee were
agreed to with only the interpositon of occasional
remarks of inquiry and explanation except rs to
the provision appropriating S25OO00 to meet ex-
penses attendant upon the execution of the neu-
trality act. When this provision was reached in
It's order 1t was held in allegiance until the remain
ing proyi sions wereldisposcd Of.
On those being agreed to Mr.. Allison moved
that the senate now proceed to the consideration
of the clause referred TO, and that for this purpose
the doors OF the senate be closed and the galleries
cleared, In accordance with rule 80.
In compliance with the request of several sena-
tors the rule referred to wa; read: 49,,
chair ordered the galleries to be cleared and tn
door of the senate closed
Mr. Conger asked that the proposition upon
which 1t was asked to have the doors closed bo
read.
ator from Michigan was out Of order.
Mr.. Conger (appealingly). But, Mr.. President
Several senators severely. oder
The presiding officer (firmly). The senator
from Michigan Is out of order.
Mr. Gonger (pleasantly). Well, the senator
from MlCnlgHn Will gBI IN order.
The presiding officer l hope so.
The senate then, at $3.50 y. IN, went into secret
session.
The deliberations continued with clased doors
till 6;l0 p m VIII II the senate adjourned.
During the consideration of the bill in open ses-
sion, Mr.. Mcpherson endeavored, without objec-
ton from Mr. Allison, 10 secure transfer for the
Barbary states consulship from the $1,000 to the
Mr.. Mcpherson said he did not favor parsrnony.
Mr.. Beck thought the senate would have trouble
enough in getting the bill passed into law, with
out making this change.
Mr.. Allison said he house of representatives had
made no appropriation at all for this consulship,
put the senate committee thought II ought not to
be dispensed with. and had inserted lust years
figures .,o ro,,o.,.o, ,,o, ,,o.o So, boo. ..,...,
consuls to the states named. but their number
had, from time to lime, been reduced by the
house, until now that body had endeayored to cut
OIL the last one, This one was entitled to higher
rank ana pay than he was getting ut present, but
i'll view of the difficulty which would doubtless
be experienced in agreeing upon the bill after 1t
should have passed the senate, Mr. Hale thought
IL wiser not to press the increase.
Mr.. Miller, OF California, was OF the same opn-
ion, and Mr.. McPheTson accordingly Withdrew his
motion to close the doors Of the senate for the dis
cussion of any business which may, in the opinion
Of senator require secrecy, the presiding officer
the discussion OF such motion the doors shall re-
main closed.
GENERAL RELIEF FROM POLITICAL DISABILITIES.
The chair laid before the senate Mr. Beck's
resolution, offered yesterday, directing the COM
mittee on the judiciary to report back with It's
recommendation the Oil referred TO II In Decem-
ber 1883, providing for general relief from pOiti-
cal disabilities under the fourteenth amendment.
Mr.. Beck explained that he had had conversa-
ton with members of the judiciary committee and
was informed that the work already before that
committee was so considerable thai 1t would not
be beat to press the resolution at this time. lie
therefore Withdrew It,
MIR. Garland said that all applications for relief
had been iayorably aud unanimously reported on
by the committee.
INFORMATION ABOUT BEEF CONTRACTS WANTED.
Mr., Voorhees, offered resolution, which lies
over Till to-day, calling on the secretary of tho In.
terror for copies Of all contracts made by the
United States with citizens tor furnishing beef
cattle to the Indians of the southern and northern
superintendences during the year 1888 and 1884,
with names and residences of all 10 whom said
contracts were lei, together with all correspondence
and instructions f. ON the commissioner of Indi
affairs IN any way pertaining or relating TO said
contracts.