Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-06-18

adopted. expressing their emphatic disaD-
proval Of the practice of dealing in specula-
tive ventures by employees of the bank. and
expressing determination not 10 employ as
an officer any person guilty of such conduct.
AT the very time apparently that Mr.. Emo
had Drawn up this resolution he was himself
engaged in the very thing he was denouncing.
The substance OF such resolution should be
embodied in law, and bank officers should
be punished for an lnfraction of that law.
Mr.. Beck said that the papers exhibited by
the Comptroller OF the Currency TO the Senate
Committee on Finance this morning not only
showed that he had vigilsntly prosecuted
ouenders, but that he was in possession of
papers the contents Of which the Senate
would not desire, in the interest Of justice, to
be made public. though that officer was doing
all that could be done.
THE UTAH BILL.
The matter then went over, and the Utah
bill was placed before the Senate. The
question pending was an amendment of
Mr.. Vests to the first section of
the bill That section provides that
a lawful husband or wife shall be a comDe-
tent witness in prosecutions for bigamy, and
may be compelled 10 testify. Mr.. Vests
amendment provides that in no case shall such
husband or wife be a competent witness, eX-
eept as TO the fact Of a lawful marriage hav-
the question involved in the right Of a hus-
band or wife to testify, one against the other,
were discussed by Messrs. Garland, Lspham,
Morgan, Call and Bayard, and the amend
ment. on reaching vote, was rejected by Is
yeas TO so nays.
Other amendments relating to witnesses.
etc, were discussed until p. M, when the
Senate adjourned. Before the adjournment
Mr.. Hoar secured an agreement that a vote
should be taken on the bili'at 5 p. m. to-
morrow.
IN THE HOUSE.
In the House to-day, Mr.. Holman, OF Indi-
ana, asked unanimous consent to offer reso-
luton directing the Committee on Foreign
a Afairs to inquire into the proceedings Of the
French and American Claims Commission as
TO whether they were according to public
law, justice and equity, and without fear, ia
vor or affection, with power to send for per-
sons and papers.
Mr.. Poland objected
Mr.. Slocum, of New York. presented the
conference report on the Fitz John Porter bill
The effect Of il is to strike out of the bill the
words. together with all rights, titles and
privileges" and to insert the words, "Pro-
vlded that said FitZ John Porter shall receive
no pay, compensation, or allowance whatso-
ever prior to his appointment under this act"
instead of the following words in the bill:
"But this act shall not be construed as author
lzlng pay, compensation, or allowances prior
to his appointment under it," The confer
ence report was agreed to by l5S yeas to 81
nays.
Mr.. Young, of Tennessee, presented the tes-
timOny taken in the Hot Springs investiga-
tiOn. It was ordered printed and recon-
mitted.
Mr., Payson, of Illinois, from the Commit
tee on Public Lands, reported back the bill to
restore all lands held in the indemnity limits
for railroad and wagon road DurDosps II
was referred to the House calendar.
The House then at l2 O'clock went into COM
mittec of the whole, with Mr.. Dunn, of Ar
kansas, IN the chair, on the deficiency appro-
prlation bill.
WHOLESOME REFORM DEFEATED.
When the committee had reached the-end of
of the bill Mr.. Randall, of PENNSYLVANIA.
moved as an additional section proposition
against political assessments, making gitunlaw-
tul Tor any Senator, Representative or dele
gate. or any clerk or emplOye OF the govern
ment or any contractor with the government
to contribute directly or indirectly for any DO
litlcal object whatever.
MIR. Cannon, of Illinois, made the point that
the amendment was not in order under the
rule.
Mr.. Randall. admitting that the amend
ment W as open to point of order, expressed
his regret that the point had been made, add
ing that the judgment of the people was that
political assessments had been carried on to
an outrageous extent. The Chairman, ex-
pressing his regret that such a wholesome
proposition, and Que so conducive to public
morals, was out of order, felt constrained TO
sustain the point of order. The proposition
was, therefore, not admitted.
The committee then rose and the House
agreed in bulk to all the amendments report
ed, except that striking out the proviso
as 10 the compensation of the fourth class
OF postmasters. The vote on striking it out
was taken by yea and nay vote. and result
ed IN l5l yeas to 81 nays, the result being in
the interest of pOstmasters.
The bill was then taken up and passed.
Mr.. Hewitt, of New York, from the
Committee on Ways and Means, reported the
bill to carry into effect the convention be-
tween the United States of America and the
United States of Mexico, signed on the 20th Of
January. 1888, with a favorable report. The
report was ordered printed, and the hill ygas
placed on the calendar
THE PACIFIC RAILROADS.
The House then proceeded to consideration
of the bill reported from the Committee on
the Pacific Railroads 10 amend the several
Pacific railroad acts. It requires the cOmpa-
MES to file within ninety DAYS from the pas
sage OF this act, or within sixty days after the
completion of the surveys, list OF selections
of land claimed by them and deposit
the cost of surveying, selecting and
conveying the same. A couple of
amendments were adopted, after which q
vote was taken on Mr.. Payson's substitute for
the bill and its amendments. ItproTides that
II the railroad companies shall not within
sixty days from the receipt of the notice pay
the costs then their right shall cease as to the
land within such township, and the lands
shall be restored to the public domain for
settlement under the homestead laws The
substitute was agreed to and the BILL In that
shape, passed. The House then took up the
bill to amend the Thurman act, but without
action the House adjourned.