Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1885-02-10
WRTY-ElGHTH CONGRESS-.
SENATE.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 9.
MT fendleton presented petitions from A
number of Ohio publishers ard Journalists
praying for reduction of postage rates nn
second class mail matter referred to the
committee on pOstoffices
concurren, resolution was agreed to
authorizlng the announcement to foreign
governments of the result of the deliberations
Oh the international meridian conference AT
Washington.
Mr.. Cameron of PENNSYLVANIA called mn
the following resolution:
Whereas, The shipping trade in American
vessels is and has for years been depressed
ana the export trade in American produce is
iangulshing tor the want of a market that
might be reached if the shipping trade was in
the hands OF citizens of the United States
Therefore,
Resolved, That the committee on finance
oe and IS hereby directed to inquire whether
1t would be expedient to expend the surplus
revenue of the United States or any portion
thereof, for the purpose of reviving the ship
ping and export trade, by allowing rebate
from tariff duties on foreign goods imported
IN ships built and owned in the United States.
and by also allowing premium on American
grown products and articles of American
manufacture exported in American vessels,
NJ icPoft ny Dlil OF OlnerWlse.
Mr.. Cameron said the resolution was intro
duced here with the hope that it would lead
to an investigation that would result in some
practical scheme to repair our merchant
marine, rather than for the purpose of advo-
eating any particular plan. He was disposed
to think that instead OF adopting the plan of
discriminating duties originally suggested in
the resolution, the wisest and most etfectual
method would be to grant a bounty to those
building and navigating American vessels
based IN the case of builders on the tonnage
OF vessels constructed and in the case of
navigators, on the annual mileage made The
United States stood alone in refusing to aid
the shipping industry. The object in view
was worth attention, and Mr.. Cameron was
willing to adopt means to that end. 1t was
OF no use nibbling at the question, and no
use of adopting anything but vigorous meth
DDS.
At the conclusion of Mr. Caneron's speech
the resolution was referred to- the committee
on finance.
Mr.. Van Wyck asked and received unani
nous consent to the consideration of the
House bill to prevent the unlawful enclosure
of public lands, better known as the fencing
bill. The amendments of the Senate COM
mittea were cOncurred in.
At one o'clock the bill went over, and the
unfinished business was laid before the Sen
ate. it being the anti-silver coinage bill.
Mr. Beck addressed the Senate. He said
he would endeavor to show why the section
providing for the retirement of the trade
dollar should pass, and why the provision for
stopping the coinage of the standard silver
dollar should be stricken out
At the conclusion of Mr.. Beck's remarks,
Mr. Morgan presented the credentials of the
a.
fled
On Mr.. Allls0n's motion, the pension ap-
preparation bill was taken up.
A long discussion ensued. regarding the
Interpretation of the Senate rule, forbdding
the proposing of general legislation on appro-
priation bills. The discussion rose on a point
of order raised by Mr.. Ingalls, on the amend
ment proposed by the Senate appropriation
committee 10 this bill. The point OF order
was that under the rules of the Senate the
proposed amendment was not in order. The
amendment proposed was to modify the pro-
vision of the House bill that established in
favor of pension applicants the presumption
of soundness at the time of enlistment. The
modification would establish the presumption
in favor of those only who had served at least
three months.
The presiding officer, Mr. Platt, held that
Mr.. ingalls, point of order was well taken
therefor; that the Senate committees pro-
posed amendment was not admissible.
Mr.. Ingalls,, for the purpose of obtaining
the opinion of the Senate as to the spirit OF
the rule, appealed from the decision of the
chair.
Mr. Elmunds. taking the chair, said the
ruling of Mr.. Plat correctly followed the
precedents of the Senate, and the effect of a
successful appeal would be that it would be
in order any time to propose any amendment
germane to the subject of bills that may be
under consideration.
Mr. Sherman thought it would be well to
pass new resolution, expressing for the
present session at least, the sense of the
Senate, to be that the true construction of
the rule was tha: amendments may be made
to general legislative measures found by the
Senate on appropriation bills.
ldr Edmunds, taking the floor, spoke
strongly against "opening the door" to any
proposition which would permit such amend
ments There were no embarrassments. he
said involved in the proposition of the SEN
ate. The way was perfectly clear. Ill the
Senate had to do was to strike out all provls-
ions of an Objectionable character referred to.
There would be no collision or contest be-
tw cen the two Houses in the fact of the SEN
ate taking that course.
In the course of his remarks. Mr.. Edmunds
took occasion to pay a high compliment to
the official reporter of the Senate, ID. F.
Murphy. who, Mr.. EdmuIds said, remem-
bered more about the practice of legislative
bodies than any man he knew.
Mr.. Hoar SAID if the decision of the chair
was not sustained. the Senate might well
propose an amendment to the constitution
declaring the House of Representatives the
only sw-making body.
Mr.. Hoar didn't wish an extra session, but
better an extra session than the practice of
attaching legislation to appropriation bills.
Mr.. Hosr, in alluding to the value of the
failure of the House to consider the bank
ruptcy bill, said he did not believe the Amer
lean public would long tolerate that one of
their legislative chambers should be fettered
by rules that made it possible for dozen or
twenty men by methods not in accordance
with the spirit of the constitution to prevent
the consideration of measure so urgently
demanded by the country.
After further debate the decision of the
chair was sustained-3S to %.
bill was passed appropriating $3.50. 1000
for the purchase of site for the extension of
the postoffice department building in WASH
ington, which extension shall embrace proper
accommodations for the city postoffice.
At $50 the Senate went into executive
session and later adjourned.
HOUSE,