The Portland daily press., 1885-03-05
XLVIIIth Congress-2d Session
SENATE.

WASHINGTON, Mar 4.
Mr.. Dawes submitted new conference report on
the fertilization bill showing the adjustment of all
differences.
On motion of Mr.. Hale, the Senate passed a bill
to pay VIM. W. Thomas of Portland, Me-, 5000 for
United States coupons lost by him.
On motion of Mr.. Pendleton, the House bill for
the return Of the Chinese indemnity fund was taken
up and passed without debate.
On motion of Mr.. Mitchell the Senate then pro-
ceeded to consider the House pension bills favorably
reported from the Senate committee.
Mr.. Mitchell said that about one hundred such
cases remained undsposed of out of more than
one thousand cases reported from the committee.
The pension bills having been disposed of, the
Senate, on motion of Mr.. Hawley, passed the House
bill providing for the retirement Of Henry j. Hunt,
as Major General, United States Army
On motion Of Mr.. Mcmillan the Senate passed the
House bill to amend section 764 of the revised stat
utes SO as to allow appeals the United States Su-
preme Court in habeas corpus cases.
joint resolution, submitted by Mr.. Aldrich, was
passed. requesting the President TO enter into nego
tiaton with the States of the Latin Union and other
foreign powers with the view of securing an agree
ment for the free coinage of silver with full legal
tender power at such uniform ratio TO gold as shall
be agreed upon.
On motion of Mr.. Pugh, a House joint resolution
was passed pIoVidinn for military board to exam
inc the claim of DIR. John b. Read against the Uni
ted States for alleged use of an invention Of his in
projeeJiles.
At $50 a. M, consideration of the river and har-
Dor Dill was resumed. The committees amendment
increasing the amount of the appropriation from
i've to ten million dollars was agreed to; yeas 27
nays, Is. The remaining committee amendments
was, was sgrseu s 70. a message from the House an
nounced agreement on the Post otice appropriation
bill on every point of difference except that relating
to the special tencent stamp for letters requiring
special expedition in delivery. Mr.. Plumb moved
that the Senate recede on this. The motion was
agreed to.
AT $50 a. M, Mr.. Allison, from the conference
ati ivaa nd iudSnf al
appropri alton bill, submitted conference report,
showing agreement en- every point Of variance, eX-
oept that providing compensation for the clerks of
Senators. On Mr. Allison's motion the Senate insis
ted on its amendments and the eonferrees were re-
appointed.
On the Senate resnming consideration of the river
and harbor bill, Mr.. Plumb spoke at length the
bill. Tne employment of West Point graduates ami
army engineers in the work of improving river and
harbors, Mr.. Plumb did think conducive to the
advancement OF public work. Army engineers were
not civil engineers
Mr.. Hale Submitted the final conference report on
the deficiency bill showing that all differences
had been adjusted.
7.15 the Senate went into executive session,
At z 40 the doors were reopened and the Senate
then took an informal recess from to 9.3O daring
which time the chamber was prepared for the inaug
ural.
at 10.15 the final conference report on tho naval
appropriation bill was agreed to- and the chair
nounced his signature TO the Post office bill and the
legislative ana executive and judicial bill all the
differences having been adjusted.
The liver and harbOr bill motion of MIR.
The conference report the sundry civil bill
showing adjustmsntsof all differences we're present
cd.
A little before IL O'Clock the door of the Presi
dents gallery opened and the people entitled
to admission were escorted in, among them all the
members CT Mr.. ClevelaRd's party.
The blue tapestred seats Of the diplomatic gallery
remaiied The longest vacant, but they were filled
by quarter past IL.
The only eVeuts of the early proceedings which
were not on the programme were outburts of ap-
plause which greeted the announcement of the pas
sage of the Grant retirement bill and reception of
the Presldent's message nomine ting Gen. Grant to
the newly created vacancy. The applause which
was nearly and prolonged was not suppressed by
just before the entry of the members of the Su.
preme Court arrived the annual act of turning back
the hands OF the Senate clock which was performed
BY theyeteran door keeper, Capt. Bassett.
President Arthur was now announced and his
coming was greeted with warm elapping of hands.
A moment later and the buzz of conversation was
again suspended in anticipation Of the announce
ment "The President-elect OF the United States.
MI Olevelanu ha9 Already entered the Ha4 with
escort and halted within sight of the assembage and
while his arrival being announced applause
clappng Of hands at first and then cheers loud and
prolonged welcomed him.
The Vice Presidentelect was escorted into the
chamber and with soemnity and decorum beft-
lng the occasion the oath was administer ed by the
President pro tempore.
Mr.. Edmunds then turned to the front and deliv-
cred an eloquent valedictory.
MIR. Hendricks then took the gavel and called the
senate to order in extra session. The Vice Presi-
dent made brief address, new Senators were
sworn in and after reading the message of the Pres
denJ conVsnng the Senate procession was formed
and hled its way forward to the platform at the
central portion of the Capitol.
When the inaugural ceremonies had been complet-
ed the Senators returned to their chamber and the
Senate adjourned to meet tomorrow at 12 O'Clock
HOUSE.
Mr.. Townshend stated that it seemed almost in
possible that the conference could come to any
agreement upon the clause relative to ocean mail
service.
MIR. Holman Of Indiana made vigorous protest
against the Senate amendment, argued against the
principle of subsidies and appealed to the Demo.
cratic side to stand by the House conferees.
Mr.. Horr made an equally vigorous speech on the
other side of the question.
Mr.. Ellis of Louisiana supported the Senate
amendment. The party whip he said, as welded
by the gentleman from Indiana, (AIr. Homan) had
so terrors for him, for he remembered that the old
Democratic leaders were opposed to the policy of
the later kind of Democrats, who had no eyes for
anything except niggardy, pseudo, so-called econ
my. He tn Iught that every man here was co m =
petent to take care of his henor without any eug-
gestlon from the gentleman from Indiana.
vigorous debate ensued. in which Representa-
tves tindlay, Hunt and WISE favored the Senate
amendment, and Representatives Mcmillan. Bayne
and Clay opposed it. Finally, Mr.. Horr moved that
the House recede from its disagreement to the
senate amendment. This was agreed to-yeas 100,
nays SS.
motion was then made to reconsider the vote
by which the House receded from its disagreement
to the ocean mail service. This was tabIed-yeas
104. nays 79.
The motion Of Mr. Randall to suspend the rules
and pass the Grant retirement bin was agreed to
yeas 1913, nays rs. The result was greeted with
three rousing cheers.
At the conclusion of the inaugural ceremonies
the House was again called to order
The committee appointed to wait on President
Cleveland and inform him that Congress was ready
TO adjourn reported that the President had nothing
to communicate.
THE usual votes of thanks were passed to the
Speaker of the House and President of the Senate.
Speaker Carlisle in his address. alluding 10 the
large mass OF business annually brought before the
House. said that constitutional or legal pro-
vision should be made to relieve Congress Of local
and private measures which row fill the calendars
of both Houses and suggested that such matters be
referred 10 the Department Of Justice or the courts
With the exception Of The Grant retirement
episode, the dying hours OF the House were not
specially marked.