Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-04-18
IN SENATE AND HOUSE.
The Debates of the Day Not Marked by
Lively Passages.

WASHINGTON, April 1.-THE Senat,
to-day, on motion of Mr.. Morrill,, at 1872;
O'clock, went into executive session, and
on the doors being reOpened, at 1870;
O'Clock, the Chair laid before the Senate &
communication from the Att0rney-Gen
eral in reply to a recent resolution of the
Senate relating to star route prosecutions
On motion of Mr.. Van Wyck it was re
ferred to the Committee on Judiciary.
The Senate, proceeding to considera
tion of bills on the five minute calendar
took up the bill to authorize the Secretary
of War to adjust and settle the account
for arms between the State of South
Carolina and the Government of the
United States, and to balance the same by
so reducing the over charge made against
the State in 1869, under the act of 1908
that amounts paid on account by South
Carolina in the last ten years may be
taken in full satisfaction of the account
This bill, when up last week, was ex
planned by Mr.. Hampton. He then said
that in 1869 the Governor of Soutt
Carolina got from the Secretary of War q
supply of arms under the act of 1908 au.
thorizing the issue OF arms to the militia
of the several States, but instead of one
lCe1A . supply nC 1GQutSAGu anu received
thirty years supply. The arms were dis.
tributed by that Governor to cOlOred men
only, and the arms could not now be
found in the State.
Mr.. Platt opposed the bill. He did not
think that South Carolina ought to repu.
diate the act by which it got the arms in
question. There was no proposition to re-
turn the arms to the United States, but
on the contrary the proposition was to
keep them.
Mr.. Hampton said that he would not
discuss the bill, but would merely saw
that there was now q very excellent mill
tia in his State, an organization in which
its members took pride; that it was i'm
possible to arm them unless this bill
was passed, and if the bill did not pass
the militia of South Carolina could not
get any arms for thirteen years to come.
He would not criticise the War Depart
ment, nor the Governor of South Carolina,
who requested the arms; but there was a
, grave question whether the Secretary OF
War had the authority of the law for an
issue Of thirty years arms in any one
year. Mr.. Hampton would merely appeal
to the Senate to pass the bill, it having
passed last year without a dissenting
voice.
Mr.. ingalls, said that under the act OF
1908 the sum of $4,000 was annually al
lowed by the United States to supply arms
to the militia of the several States. South
Carolina has received the arms in ques-
ton, and, therefore, if this bill should pass,
the Senate, in doing an act of generosity
to South Carolina, would be simply rob
bing other States. For one, and, as repre-
senting his State, Mr.. Ingalls, protested
against it. The bill was passed by 80
yeas to ID nays.
Mr.. Slater, according to a notice given
some days ago, on presenting a bill to for
felt unearned land grants of the Northern
Pacific Railroad Company, addressed the
Senate at considerable length on motion
10 reIer the Dill to the Committee on Pub
lie Lands.
Mr.. Dolph asked that the bill lie on the
table for few days, to which Mr.. Slater
assented.
Consideration of the bankruptcy bill
was then resumed, and amendments were
offered by Messrs. George, Morgan. Will
son, Hoar and others. Mr.. Hoar and
other Senators were anxious to have the
bill disposed of to-day and were willing
to sit late to accomplish that end, but it
becoming manifest that considerable dis
cussiOn would arise on some of the pro-
posed amendments, the Senate at 5:25
O'Clock adjourned.
Among the amendments agreed to to-
day, was one proposed by Mr.. George,
giving debts due to laboring men and
domestic servants priority over debts due
to State or the United States. Mr..
George expressed the belief that it was
time to do away with the practice
hitherto prevailing in all countries of
giving debts due the government priority
over those due TO Woodworking day
laborers and domestic servants in the
employ of bankrupts.
Before the adjournment Mr.. Plumb gave
notice that he would, tomorrow, move
to take up the post office appropriation
Dill, whether the bankruptcy bill should
be then disposed of or not.
IN THE HOUSE,
The morning hour having been dis
pensed with, the House, at 1895 O'clock,
went into committee of the whole. with
MIR. Springer, of Illinois, in the chair, on
the pension appropriation bill. After an
hours general debate the bill was read
by paragraphs for amendments. Out of
number offered, the only amendment
which was successful was one increasing
the allowance to pension agents. Pend
ing an amendment striking out the pro-
vision for the pay of pension agents the
committee rose and the House adjourned