The Indianapolis sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1880-1904, 1885-02-18
PROCEEDINGS Ii CONGRESS-.
6iants in Hot Debate-Lsarned Sena.
tors UncOrk Their Bot
tied Sarcasm.
Several Important Measures In
troduced and Considered
in the House.
FORTY.EIGHCH CONGRESS.
The Senate.

WASHINGTON, Feb. I.-Mr. Pendlet0n pre-
sented the petition of the Cincinnati Com
mercfal Gazette and other newspapers pray
ing reduction OF postage on second class
mail matter. Referred.
Mr.. 6ewell, from the Committee on Mill
tary Affairs, reported favora5ly the House
bin to empower the Secretary OF War to per-
NIT the laying of horse railway upon and
over the island OF Rock Island, and bridges
connecting il with the cities Of Davenport
and Rock Island. Placed OF the calendar.
The conference report on the District Of
Columbia Appropriation bill was agreed to.
On motion of Mr. Cameron, of Wisconsin,
the Senate bill authorizing The sale of part
OF the lands OF the Winnebago tribe OF In
dieus in Nebraska was passed.
The Anti-Foreign Contract Labor bill was
then placed before the Senate. Mr. Sherman
said il was Mr. MorrilPs intention 70 call up
and continue the discussion Of tia Trade
dollar bill on the completion OF the Labor
bill.
Mr.. Beck said he did not know how that
bill bad got out of sight.
The Chair Mr.. Hawley) said IL hal gone to
10 the calendar when the Senate declined 20
proceed with ii. OF course u was IN accord
~ &c with the Senate rules.
Mr. Beck expressed the hope that II it was
20 be killed, il would be killed squarely,
ard not By indirection.
The consideration OF the Anti-Foreign
Contract Labor bill was then proceeded
with.
Mr.. Miller, OF New York. supported the
bill and opposed the pending motion which
would strike out the clauses prescribing
penalties for violation of the law. He was
in full sympathy with the bill. It was
simply meant that while slavery should not
-
other countries had been for years dumping
their paupers and criminals upon our shores,
and the time was coming when we should
have a stringent measure to protect our
selves. We could not afford 70 leave our
ports open to such importations. We should
soon need to inquire as to the character OF
every person coming here.
Mr.. Morgan did not wish to see bad pre-
cedent established-a precedent that might
lead hereafter to the passage Of a law retus.
ing colored men to come from the South to
the North in search of work.
Mr.. Miller assured Mr.. Morgan that the
people of the North would never pass law
to interfere with any class Of people who
should come Of their own free will and were
not criminals or paupers.
Mr.. Vest expected to vote for the bill. He
had no doubt of its constitutionality. It
was an exercise of power and right and to
preserve the life of our institutions and our
civilization. Ii was not intended to ex-
clude any self-roliant man from com-
ing to the United States. He was
glad to see that Mr.. sherman and
other Republicans favored this bill. Mr..
Vest said Mr.. Sherman was himself the
father of the bill to establish the Office of
Commissioner OF immigration, one section
OF which provided that all contracts made
abroad for the repayment of passage money
by intending immigrants shall be bling here
and be lien on their wages and lands. Ac.
dTr-cr tn M r. vva ara
10 600 men out Of employment in the States
of New York, and this" Mr.. Vest ex-
claimed, latter twenty-tour years of Repub-
licsn sscendency and protective tariff"
Mr.. Morrill, said he had never discussed
The tariff when it was not under consider
alton, but Mr.. Vest should not give blows
without being prepared to take blows in re-
turn. The tariff policy which Mr.. Vest
would pursue, Mr.. Morrill, said, would
throw q very much larger number of men
out of employment than were out of en-
pioyment now.
Mr.. Plumb favored the bill, but THOUGHT
il might De amended in its details
Mr. Dawes spoke earnestly and strongly
IL its favor.
Mr. Sherman, on entering the chamber,
said he understood during his momentary
absence that the Senator from Missouri
Mr.. Vest bad alluded to him in connection
with the act to encourage immigration,
Lassed in July, 1854. That act, Mr.. Sher-
man said, Was temporary measure. The
Senator from Missouri Mr. Vest ought to
have remembered that at the date of its
passage this country was engaged in one oil
the most memorable struggles in history.
He Vest ESs engaged at that time in the
attempt 20 break up this Government
MI. Vest repliedithat so far as the remarks
OF the Senator from Ohio tShermau) bore
personal allusion to him Vest aud bis
stains during the war, be (Vest) would only
say that whatever msy be the opinion Of
others in that regard, he had no sort o.
APOLOGY to make.
Considerable discussion then ensued. anC
the Senate finally adjourned without definite
action.