The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1884-02-09
FORTY-EaGRTH CONGRESS.
SENATE.

Ane cnalf lald peICre Jhe Senate a COM
muulcatlon from the Secretary of the Interior,
transmitting copy of the report of the COM
missioner OF the general land office. relating TO
the grant OF lands made by the United States
to the Florida railroad.
Mr. Frye reported the new shipping bill
1 agreed upon by the committee on commerce,
| entitled ia bill to remove certain burdens
| from the American merchant marine, and to
encourage the foreign Carrying trade "Mr
Frye promising that he was obliged to leave
,Wasnlns ton for Mississippi shortly, SAID that
ne would ask to make au oral explanation. in
| lieu OF written report. He then explained
| briefly the provisions of the bill On conclud-
| lng his remarks explanatory of the bill Mr..
| FRYE said he hoped that 1t would receive care
! Iul consideration as it would enable America
| 70 take step IN advance of anything for its
| shipping Interests within the last twenty years.
lie hoped that the burdens and bsrnacles
placed on those important interests by our law
would be removed and that something would
| pe done TO enable Us to recover our supremacy
on the ocean. Speaking for himself alone he
said there was but one way on earth, in his
opinion, III which to revive American ship
ping and that was to pay subsidies and boun-
Ties; 81 q so far as he was concerned he was in
fay or of subsidies and bounties.
MS.Vest in behalf of the minority OF the COM
mlttee from which the bill was reported said
that although they acquiescad in the bill re-
ptrted they did not believe the bill touched the
main difficulty " hich has stricken down our
good enough so far as they went, but they
were 1nsectiyorons as compared with the
deadly fight which had struck down our mer-
chant marine. Other countries permit citi-
zens TO buy ships wherever they could buy the
cheapest 1t was reserved for the UnitedStatss
TO go back to barbarsD, TO the restrictions of
the days of Oliver Cromwell, and say to the
people that they should not buy shps in the
cheapest market This and the tariff system of
the United States we're the fundamental caus-
es for the decline of American shipping. Mr.
Vest expressed willingness to vote for the
provision of the bill reported which pertained
to carriage Of mails if they could secure an
amendment to permit American citizens
to buy vessels wherever they pleased. (rhe
provision was one authorizing the Postmaster
General to contract with American vessels to
convey mails at rate not to exceed one dollar
per nautical mile for the round trip.)
Mr.. Vest then submitted au amendment pro-
Vldlng for free ships and free material. The
bill as reported was placed on the calendar.
Bills were introduced and appropriately re-
ferred as follows:
BY Mr. Morrell, relating to improvement of
coinage.
By Mr. Hill, providing for resdiustment of
compensation for the Transportation of mails
on railroad routes.
By Mr.. Blair, prohibiting the employment of
convlcts and persons restrained of their liberty
upon public works or property of The United
States.
By Mr.. Logan, creating commission to in
qulre into and report upon the material, in
dustrial and iDtelectuai progress made by the
colored people of the United s. ates siuce 1866,
and making appropriation for the same.
Mr.. Voorhees, called up andNhad read COM
mnnicaion submitted some days ago from the
Postmaster General relative to the delay in
the adjustment of postmasters' salaries under
the act OF March 3, 1883, and offered a resolu-
tion calling on the Attorney General to inform
the Senate as to the cause of the delay. Mr..
voorhees, said that the delay affected thou
sands of people and was a great wrong to them
Mr.. Sherman objected TO the immediate con-
sideratlon OF the resolution and it went over.
Mr.. Hale called up the conference report on
the Greedy relief expedition. The cher (Mr.
Edmunds) stated that in his opinion the bill
was not before the Senate, it being in a parlia-
mentary sense still in possession of the
House of Represents tives.
Mr. Hale said the calling for the passage of
the bill into law was'a most ungent one aud he
wished TO have 1t placed before the Senate as
soon as possible and have voted upon the
question whether the Senate would recede
from its amendment.
Mr.. Ingalls, had seen in the public prints
statement that British bark had already been
purchased for this work by the Secretary of
the Navy.
Mr.. Hale stated that the Secretaries of War
and the Navy were acting ogether, but en-
tirely on their personal responsibility. Recog-
nizing the immediate necessity for action, they
had assumed to secure one of the vessels need
cd for the expedition Congress was under no
obligation to take that responsibility on ITSELF
il it did not see fit.
Mr.. ingalls, said he had observed that the
Secretary of the Navy had seen fit to address
communication to the conference committee on
the part OF the House, directing them not to
agree upon the amendment proposed by the
Senate, because it would imperi the enter
prise. He thought that the Secretary of the
Navy exceeded the functions of bis office, when
he assumed to dictate to either house of Con.
gress what action it should take on any supjeet
before lt.
Mr. bale remarked that the Secretary of the
Navy had sent no such message. What he
had done was to send despatch to a member
OF the House (smilar to one sent to Hale him.
self,) saying that the passage of the Senate
amendment, the language of which the Secre-
tary did not know, might cause embarrass-
ment. There had been no attempt to influence
the action of the conference committee.
Mr. Ingalls, insisted that it was no part of the
legitimate functions of the Secretary of the
Navy to do such thing. While the matter
was in the shape indicated it was throwing the
weight of his influence against the action of
the Senate, aud was an impertinent intrusion
on his part, and an invasion of the domain of
legislation.
Mr. Hale observed that both committees OF
Congress had asked the Secretary of the Navy
and Secretary of War to come before them and
give their views on the subject
After further debate it was agreed, on the
suggestion of the chair, to send a message to
the House representing the difficulty of action
by the Senate while the bill is In the psrlia-
mentarY keeping of the House, aud the matter
was then dropped.
The Senate then took up the Mexican land
grant titles bill, and Mr.. Bowen spoke on an
amendment heretofore offered by him. Many
other amendments were also offered most of
which were rejected.
At53O p. M the debate closed and the bill
was passed.
Mr. Hawey then moved that the Senate go
into executive session. but was voted down.
The Senate adjourned until Monday.
HOUSE.
Mr. Belmont of New York offered rpsolu-
ton directing the committee judiciary to
inquire and report whether Congress has power
to regulate commerce between the United
States aud foreign nations by the imposition,
in the form of federal inspection laws OF any
prohibition, hindrance, burden or tax on
American pork destined for expectation from
any State, the said inspection laws being only
intended to ascertain and attest the quality of
such American pork; also whether any State
may not by its inspection laws require pork in-
tended for expectation to be inspected and
marked by the officers of such state and levy a
tax to defray the expense of such inspection
and marking. Referred.
Mr.. Randel submitted the conference report
on the Greely relief bill Announcing further
disagreement. The report was agreed to.
Mr.. Fiuerty oil Illinois offered preamble
and resolution eulogistic of Wendell Phillips
Mr. Eaton of Connecticut objected.
Mr. Turner of Georgia, chairman of the
committee on elections reported resolution in
the Mississippi election case of Chalmers VS..
Manning discharging the committee from
further consideration of the prima facie case
and awarding the seat to neither of the con-
| testants. The resolution was ordered printed.
Mr.. Lowry OF Indiana, from the same COM
mittee, reported a resolution in the Virginia
| contested election case of Ga rison VS.. Mayo
| declaring that Mayo has prima face right to
| tue seat and securing him in the right pending
| decision of the case on its merits Ordered
| printed.
Mr. Bayne of Pennsylvania introduced a
| bill repeating all internal taxes on domestic
| tobacco. Referred.
The House then proceeded to consideration
| of the report of the committee on rules.
! The amendment by MIR. Cox of New York
| creating select committee on the tenth census
| and pending which the House adjourned yes
tesday was agreed to 160 to 80
| Mr.. SINNERS amendment for appointment
| Of an executive committee was rejected, only
| two votes in the affirmative.
The clause regulating adm ssions to the floor
dad A,,.rr