Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1884-01-15
mRTY-BTCRfH CONGRESS.
First Session.
WASHINGTON, Jan.

In I0e 0cu8tS taiS tnOtbkHe P~>N
presented by Mr.. Vest of Missouri from the
pork packers Of ST. Louis, praying for such
retaliating legislation IS may protect them
from the exclusion of American pork from
Germany and France
A petition vas presented BY Nr. Dawes
from the citizens of Massachusetts,, praying
for the establishment of an industrial school
at Simaka. Alaska Mr.. Dawes took occas-
ion to say that some wears since SIS, 900 had
been appropriated for this purpose, but no
part of the money had been expended.
bill WAS presested by Mr.. Call to repeal
all the laws prohibiting pensions to wounded
or disabled soldiers of the United States
without proof of their loyalty.
Mr.. Sherman then called up the resolution
of Mr.. Edmunds Of December 18th that the
Senate nov proceed to the election OF pres
ident pro tenn, and moved that Senator An
thony of Rhode Island be elected. In max
ing the motion Mr.. Sherman said Senator
Anthony was a senator Who of those now in
the Senate had longest occupied a seat in it
and that he had been Ave times elected BY
his State to represent it and had been many
times elected BY common consent as piesi-
dent pro ten. of the Senate and had always
faithfully discharged the duties of that Office
under these circumstances.
Mr. Pendleton, without dissenting from
| the opinion of Mr.. Sherman as to the quali6-
cations, fitness and patriotism of Mr.. An
thony, moved TO amend by striking out the
name Of Mr.. Anthony and insert the name of
Thos. +. Baysrd of Delaware.
Tina amendment was not agreed to and
Senator Anthony was declared duly elected
president pro TEN. Of the Senate and invited
| to come forward and be sworn in.
Thereupon Senator Anthony rose and not
1t in IL 0osn nd
manner, thanked the Senate for the distin-
guished honor and said that the acceptance
of it gave him pride and pleasure, but the
| state OF his health, which all knew was pre-
carious, forbids him to assume any labors
that he could consistently and honorably
| avoid. Therefore, he said, with his heart
| overlooking with gratitude for all the kind
| ness toward him, he must respectfully de-
cline the position.
The chair then announced it awaited the
| action of the Senate.
Mr.. Sherman remarked that there being
| no vacancy in the Office of president pro
| tempore of the Senate, he did not deem any
further action was necessary. If l did
would have moved that George F. Edmunds.
senator from Vermont, be elected president
pro tempore, but such action would involve
q notification to the House and President,
/
Vermont was not the present pro tempore.
| Here Mr. Edmunds vacated the chair to
which Mr.. Garland Of Arkansas was called.
Considerable debate upon the question fol-
lowed. Messrs. Ingalls, and Bayard declar-
ing the office of president pro tempore was
| vacant and Mr.. Dawes the contrary.
Finally Mr. Sherman offered the following
Resolved, That George F. Edmunds, SEN
ator from the State of Vermont, hereby be
chosen president pro tempore of the Senate.
Mr.. Bayard moved to amend by substitu-
ting the name of Geo. II. Pendleton from the
State of Ohio.
The vote on the amendment resulted, yeas
"a, nays 32.
The amendment was not agreed to.
The resolution of Mr.. Sherman was then
agreed to and Mr.. Edmunds having advanced
to the desk the oath of Office was ad-
ministered to him BY the presiding office.
The President and House of Representa-
tives were notified Of the election of Senator
| Edmunds.
Senator Hill delivered a speech in support
of the postal telegraph bill introduced by
him. He related the history of the original
telegraph line in this country which for
three years was maintained by the govern
ment and then sold to private parties. 1t
might be doubted whether the statute books
contain piece of more i'll advised leRisla-
| ton than the act of lS46-an act which has
already cost the people hundred millions of
dollars in the excessive cost Of kilograms,
| which has produced most serious evils and
which, unless consequences can now be
checked, may be fraught with vet more seri-
Gus evils in future. Referring to the British
system, he set forth reasons which led to its
transfer from private to public control, de-
scribing the legislative blunder by reason of
| which the government was made to paw 81, -
DOC, 900 when only 300. 900 pounds had been
estimated as necessary for the purchase of
private rights. and showed that notw ithstand-
ing, the investment had proved a D. ofitable
one. He said that the Western Union CON-
pany stood without an important rival in the
country, with capital of GAL ZOO. 900, and a
total nominal investment of S47.S77, $50. of
which $22.415,0O0 represented nothing but
pure water and 81, $4,000 property almost
worthless. The remaining SIS, 757 $50 was
an exaggeration Of probably one hundred per
cent OF the cost Of the plant which it repre-.
sented. Since then, he said, the stock OF
the Western Union company had bean in
creased from Sal 900 900 to $50, OOO, 600. of
which SIS $50 represented the stock divi-
dend declared two years ago. and the greater
part of the rest the purchase of lines of VA
rious companies. Other competing lines are
now starting, but will be short lived. He
said that frequent complaints were made of
the manner in which the telegraph business
of the country was transacted BY private
companies. He referred to the arguments
urged against interference with the telegraph
business of the country, asserting that no
time was more suspicious than the present
to encounter the expenses of q new policy.
and combatted the idea that the telegraph
could be used as a political machine by the
party in power.
i The Senate then vent into executive ,es-
sion and afterwards adjourned.
| HOUSE.
Under call Of the States the following bills.
etc, were introduced and referred:
| By Mr.. Oates of Alabama, to require the
circuit courts Of the United States Supreme
Court to decide all cases predicted on con-
tracts or breaches thereof, affording to the
Law of the State or place where the contract
\ was made or 70 no nerforuad