The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-07-05
PROCEEDINGS OF CONGRESS.
THE SENATE.
Reading the Declaration of Independence
Waiting for Conference Reports.

Reading the Declaration of Independence
Waiting for Conference Reports.
WASHINGTON, July 4-The Senate was called
to order promptly at II O'Clock, and, after
prayer by Bishop Andrews, the Declaration of
Independence was read.
Mr. Morgan, from the committee on public
lands, reported bill to declare the forfeiture
of lands granted the State of Michigan to aid in
the construction of railroad from Little Bay
de Noquet to Marquette, and thence to Ontona-
gon.
The Senate further insisted on its amend
ments to the deficiency BILL and reappointed the
same committee of conference.
The resolution of Mr. Miller, submitted yes
terday, was agreed to, directing the committee
on Indian affairs to extend its inquiry in the in
vestlgation recently ordered so as to include the
Indians of California.
A bill was passed granting a pension to the
widow OF General Ord also, a bill increasing the
pension of General Frank p. Blairs widow, and
| one to authorize the President to appoint Cen
eral Ayerill to the position of colonel in the
army and then place him on the retired list as of
that rank.
The Senate went into executive session, and
when the doors. reopened, took recess ntil
/ 9P NJ
The Senate again met at r. NJ Messages
| were received from the House announcing the
concurrence Of that body in the conference re-
| ports on the river and harbor bill the bill ia
| punish violations of the internal revenue laws,
the bill amending the seventy second article Of
war and the bill to consolidate the Bureau of
Military Justice and the corps of judge advo.
Gates Of the army. The Senate agreed to the re.
| ports OF its own confereeS on these bills.
Consideration of the postal telegraph bill was
| then proceeded with. 1t authorizes the Post
master general to contract for telegraph service,
and provides that if the rates be not satisfac-
! tory the government may buy or build lines and
do the work itself 1t fxes the rate at which
| contractors or the government shall do the
work
Mr.. Hill addressed the Senate on the bill The
provisions of the bill as they stood, were, in his
opinion, entirely constitutional, and the clauses
authorizing the government to buy or build lines
| We're meant to protect the people from exorbi
| tant rates.
Mr.. Maxey said majority of the Senate com
mittee on post'of6ces and postroads were opposed
| to aiproposition that the government should buy
| or build lines. There was no constitutional OBJ
lection, he said, to the governments contracting
| for transmission of Intelligence by tele
| graph, but that was as far as the com
mitte had wished to go. He moved
to- strike out the clauses authorizing buying OF
Pending that motion Mr. Sherman moved to
postpone further consideration of the bill till the
! second Monday in December, saying it was i'm
possible to sufficiently discuss so important q
measure in the closing hours of the session.
The motion was agreed to, and the bill went
over accordingly.
/ AbilI was passed to establish bureau Of
navigation in the Treasury Department, under a
commissioner of navigation.
On motion Of Mr. Baryard, the bill for the
relief Of VIM. McGarrahan was indefinitely
postponed.
The Senate, at 1890, went into executive ses.
sion, and, when the doors reopened, took a re.
cess until 10 o'clock tomorrow.