The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1885-02-25
SUMMARY OF CONGRESS-
Senate.

The chair laid before the Senate the ere.
dentials of reelection OF Senator ingalls,, o.
Kansas; also a letter from the secretary o:
the treasury, recommending, on the basis O.
q report Of the supervising architect OF tn
treasury, that the limit Of appropriation al
lowed for the erection Of a public building al
Louisville, KY, DO increased to $l,5Oc,oW.
Of the joint resolution providing for a con
stitutional amendment prohibiting the dis
franchisement Of citizens OH account OF sex.
The consular and diplomatic appropria.
ton bill was passed.
The Senate passed q resolution accepting
General U. s. Grants swords, medals and
other testimonials rendered by Mrs. Grant
and William H. Vanderbilt. IA bill was
passed authorizing O retired list for non
commissioned officers and privates who have
served twenty continuous years in the army
George a.. Thomas was increased to Ss,OOo
q year. and q pension was voted to the widow
Of Colonel Charles G.. Halpine....
Mr.. Van wyck's amendment to a
private pension bill providing that
ali soldiers widows or minor children
who are or may become entitled by law to S.
q month shall hereafter receive S12, was
agreed to. Mr.. Blaire's amendment to pen
sion every soldier who served three months
III Cue laSU war duu was uOW ulSlulc0 IA ouSb
no fault Of his own was lost 800 MIR Miller re-
ported a bill to make the Commissioners OF
agriculture cabinet officer. 49, r. Pendleton
reported his bill to pay to China 1888 400,
the sum due from the Chinese indemnity
fund.
Mr.. Cameron, of Pennsylvania, called up his
resolution concerning the Improvement OF
the merchant marine. 1t directs the com.
mittee on finance to inquire whether it would
~ o-~alsa-f 4 - ov0anl tho ct,S.n1,tc roUnn1n M
the United States, or any portion thereof, for
the purpose Of reviving the shipping and
export trade by allowing a rebate
from tariff duties on foreign goods imported
in ships built and owned in the United States,
and by also allowing a premiumon American
grown products and articles Of American
manufacture exported in American vessels,
and to report by. bill or otherwise.
Mr.. Cameron made a long speech
was referred to the finance committee. 80.
Mr.. Beck made O speech on the Anti-Silver
Coinage bill. He favored the redemption OF
the trade dollar, but opposed the suspension
Of the coinage Of the standard silver dollar
....A bill was passed appropriating $3.50 600
for the purchase Of a site for the extension OF
the postoffice department building in Wash
ington.
After discussion the pension appropriation
bill was passed with amendments, and went
back to the House. The anti-fencing bill
was passed, making 1t unlawful for any per
son or association to enclose public n to
which, or to any portion Of which such per-
son or association have no claim or color OF
title. The creation, maintenance, or control
of any such enclosure is forbidden.
An interesting scene occurred in the Sen
ate upon its return to the Senate chamber
from the count Of the Electoral vote in joint
convention in the House. No sooner had
Mr.. Edmunds taken the chair than Mr.. Con-
ger was on his feet. He said he desired to
have 20 on record his protest against tho de-
~claration Of Mr.. Edmunds in joint conven-
ton. John Sherman said that without enter
ing into any argument he conceded with Mr..
Conger. Mr.. ingalls, took the same view and
offered a resolution formally declaring. tho
dissent Of the Senate from Mr.. Edmunds' de-
c~laration. Mr.. Bayard objected and the
resolution went over. Mr.. Hoar then offered
a resolution reciting the total Of tho vote
and declaring that nothing further was
necessary to make finally binding n
legal the result Of the count. This also went
over under objection. MIR. Edmunds said the
Senate wa in no way responsible for the
declaration made by him. He made it on bis
own responsibility. He said II he had exceeded
his authority, or had not fulfilled his duty, he
would resign at once his office. The declaration
made by Mr.. Edmunds at the conclusion Of
the ELECTORAL count, and to which some OF
the Senators took exception, was as follows:
land the President Of the Senate makes this
declaration only as a public statement in the
presence Of the two Houses Of Congress OF
contents Of the papers opened and read on
this occasion, and not as possessing any
authority in law to declare any legal con-
clusion whatever"