The Portland daily press., 1884-12-18
XLVITIth Congress--2d Session
SENATE.

XLVIIIth Congress--2d Session
SENATE
WASHINGTON, Dec. II.
The chair laid before the Senate communication
from ihesesretary the Navy response to recent
resolution Of Mr.. Vest which inquired whether any
surveying party had been was labout to be sent
to Nicaragua to survey the route of the proposed
canal.
In reply to the resolution of inquiry the Secretary
states what orders have been issued to Civil Engi
neer a. G. Monacel, Civil Engineer r. E. Peavey
and Ensign w. l. Chambers TO visit Nicaragua in
order make survey of the route for the proposed
Nicaragua canal. Their orders have been issued
under the general power of this department. The
arrangements which have been made contemplate
revision OF the survey made former occasion
by the Civil Engineer Monacel and investigation
of any change in the which has been suggest
cd as possibly available for shortening the canal.
In addition to the pay and mileage of The naval Off
tn re is expected to be $1,000 outfit aud
but $1,000 month during the stay of the party III
Nicaragua.
On MI. Vests motion the letter was laid on the
table. He said tha he would call it up at early
opportunity with viea of discussing the proposition
advanced by the Secretary of the Navy that the
ght vested IN any department Of the government
70 order such an expedition without action Of
Congress.
Mr.. Dawes presented petition which was refer
red praying that steps be taken to prohibit the
rying into effect of lease for grazing purposes OF
the Crow Indian reservation made with Indians by
a syndicate of capitalists and cattle men, Mr.
Dawes said it was rumored that lease of 900 900
acres has been made at one cent acre. HI had
been surprised To tnd that no information of such
lease existed in the Interior Depar In order
TO quiet the apprehensions of the people of Montana
ne Moulo state mat no sucn lease could legally exist
without the sanction or approval of the Secretary
OF tn Interior and 1t did mol seem to Mr.. Dawes
po' siblo that the Secretary could sanction such
lease.
a large number OF remonstrances against the rati.
fcaton of he Spanish treaty presented to the
eomnittse on foreign relations.
A bill was passed providing that actual settlers
on land sutjscJ to preempti0n under existing laws
on the reservation lately occupied BY the Uncom-
pahgre and hite River Inoians shall be entitled
to purchase such lands not exceeding 16O for
each settler in accordance with the general princi-
pies of the presumption laws.
At 2.I5 p. IN. motion of Mr. Morrill, and
sgainst the bjrction of Mr. Hale who desired i'm
meuiaie Consideration of this naval appropriation
bill, the Senate went into executive sessiea.
Mr.. Morrill said that executive business was
pressing and should be- disposed of in time to pro-
ceeh with the naval bill this afternoon.
1he doors being closed the nomination OF Hugh
AcCulloch as Secretary OF she Treasury was taken
up.
After an hour spent in DEBATE the matter was
postponed until to morrow.
Mnen the doors re-opened consideration of
the naval bill was proceeded witu. 1t nodifi-
cation of the regular Dll passed by the Senate last
session aud now Mr.. McPheison moved 10 strike out
the words 1.-THE authority t. colduet the same (he
new ships) shall lake effect once" insert
Instead the wcr - proglded, however that authori
ty to construct the Shall take effect until
tine steel cruisers now under Construction shall have
been fully completed and tested."
Dir. Hale saia that the present Secretarg had 70
desire TO make coatracfs and could not do if no
wanted to do as the bill required 81 days adver-
tisenent for bias: that the Secretary however did
not wish TO risa his reputation with the American
people by dong that which the Senator fioIn 4Sew
Jersey (Mr, McPherson) indicated he might ao Mr..
atnr
Jeeted TO- 6aI would no 'assne tho lnsor .ioa OF
other words.
he amendment was not agreed to-yeas 10; nays
IN motion OF Mr. Hale the words objected to by
MI McPherson were then stricken oup
Alter some further debate the bill was passed
substantially as 1t came from the committee.
lhe chair then laid tthe sSenate interstate COM
Eerce dill before the Senate
Mr. Slater submitted a proposed amendment en-
Adjourned.
HOUsE.
Mr.. Cox Of New York introduced bill for the re-
lief OF the sufferers from the wreck of the U. S.
Steamer Ashnelot. Referred.
The House then resumed consideration OF the in
terstate commerce bin, the pending question be-
ing on the motion to table the motion to reconsider
the vote by which the House yesterday adopted an
amendment offered by Mr.. o'Hara of North Caro-
lima, providing that any person having purchased
shall receive the same treatment and be offered
the same facilities those furnished any other pe
pie holding ticket of the same class without des
elimination.
The motion to reconsider was tabled.
Mr.. Crisp of Georgia. offered an amendment pro.
vidng that nothing in the act shall be so construed
SIS to prevent any raj road company from providing
separate accommodation for white and colored per-
sons.
Mr.. ingalls, of South Carolina opposed the amend
meAt and said he was glad 1t was offered by the
member from Georgia. Coiored men and women
old have trouble IL travelling through that State
They had a car 10 Georgia cal led ssconu-cIass car
and colored man. travelling from Washington to
New Orleans, when he came to the State OF Georgia
was compelled by persuasion force to 90 into
Jim Grow" cars. He thought the good sense of
the members of the House would vote down the
amendment, especially the good sense of the Demo-
cats who were saying We are going to be the best
man who said "Ihis great and good man Cleve-
land will do good to the colored man. would not
stand up the Jim Crow car of Georgia. fAn-
plsuse on the Repub lean side.) ~
ment.
Mr.. O'Hara said the amendment appealed to the
good sense and patriotism of Congress- An IL asked
was that when the House protecting the prop
erty Of men and protecting dumb brutes it shou ID
give voice and exp esson to the protection of Amer
lean cltlzens. (Appauss on the Republican side)
Mr. Breckenridge of Arkansas offered substitute
for Mr.. Crisps amendment an amendment
providing that nothing in this act shall bs
construed to deny to railroads the right to provide
separate accommodation for passengers as they
may deem best for the public comfort or safety or
to relate TO transportation between points wholly
within the limit of one State. Mr.. Breckenridge
SAID the gentlemen were mistaken IL they thoug ht
the South people to abrdge the rghtslof
coiored man under the law. But if Congress pre-
vented the asserting of passengers the stands
point Of public convenience and safely it infused the
social question iato the commercial questions
Mr. Heed of Maine expressed his pleasure at see
ing tHe qusslon changed from one OF color into
Que of assortment. The House, which had de-
termined TO pursue these 'robber baronsn had be-
fore it a plain quesion-whether it would by
enactment confer upon these same barons the
privilege Of ting their passengers. Certainly
some Treasury regulation must be adopted as to the
method of assortment. daughter on the Republi-
Can side) Were men to be assorted on ths ground
OF size, or on the moustachc ground or on the
beard basis. QLaughter.) He objected to have
these "robber barons'' assort passengers on any
(Laughter)
Mr.. Reagan said the gentleman from Maine Oir.
Reed might make himself humorous about las
sertment but the fact remained that it was Gus
tom of rairo I'd conductors to assort passengers In
Maine and every where else. If the gentleman from
Maine went to ira n unaccompanled nv n ladv he
would not be admitted to the ladies' car
Mr.. Reed denied that that true of Maine
Mr. Reagan attached no importance to tine amend
ment OF the gentleman from North Carolina. 1t
adopted no new principle and his only objection to
1t was that 1t had not been considered by the COM
mittee and was connected with the regulations of
transportation OF freights 1t had been voted in 70
the purpose of defeating the bill by appealing to he
| sentiment OF men who would vote upon sentiment
| aud forget the ohject of the amendment.
| MIR. Reed expressed sympathy with the solemn
| way in which the gentleman from Texas had treat
ed the manner i'll which he (ATr Reed) had attacked
the pending proposition. There was nothing that a
mistake drea led so much as ridicue. The absurd.
ity of the proposition being pointed out it was left
full of holes. The gentleman from Texas said that
/ the amendment of the gentleman from North Caro-
| lima was merely resfirmance of the common law,
and yet he had voted against it. II it was nothing
why these exertons against it on the part of the
gentleman?
After further discussion Mr.. Brechenridqes amend
mant was adopted -l3s to 127-an Mr.. Crisp's
amsndment as - amended was agreed to--yess
1877, nays 1S1.