The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-01-14
PROCEEDINGS OF CONGRESS.
TIE SENATE.
MIR. Edmunds Makes an Effort to Place Gen.
Grant the Retired List.

MIR. Edmunds Makes an Effort to Place Gen.
Grant on the Retired Fist.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 13.-Mr. Hale from the
committee on appropriations, reported back the
last naval appropriation bill sent over by the
House. amended by striking out all provisions
for change in existing laws.
Mr.. Hale said he would call it up tomorrow
Mr.. Dolph, from the committee on public
lands reported favorably the House bill repeal
ing the presumption, timber culture and desert
land acts, and modifying the homestead act
Mr.. Edmunds introduced bill authorizing
the President to appoint and place on the retired
list of the army one person from among
those who have been generals commanding the
the armies of the United States, or
generalsin chief of said army. Mr.
Edmunds expressed the hope that unanimous
GRAFTON of the bill. Every senator, he said,
would see the object, the purpose, and the ap-
plication of the bill. 1t would authorize the
President to appoint General Grant to the re-
tired list. In its form it obviated the difficulty
observed in the Fitz John Porter case.
Mr.. Ccckrell asked that 1t should lie over till
to- morrow.
The following bills were introduced and re-
ferred:
BY Mr. Harrison: Providing for the erection
SIS, 600. '
By Mr. Van WICK: Making railroad compa-
MES organized by acts of Congress subject to
control by legislation of the States and Terri
tories in which the roads are constructed.
By Mr. Slater: To create new land district
in Oregon.
A resolution was agreed to, calling on the Sec
rotary of the Treasury to communicate to the
Senate copies of orders, correspondence. ETC.,
made or approved by him since Dec. 20, 1884. re-
latlno to collection. DoStDOnement remission
of tax upon distilled spirits intended to be ex-
ported
Consideration of the interstate commerce
bill was resumed. The pending question was on
Mr.. Browns amendment to the amendment of
Mr.. Vance. Mr.. Vance's amendment was that
higher proportionate rate for carriage of
small than large parcels, and Mr.. Browns
amendment proposed to extend this prin-
ciple to all mercantile business, and so for
bid merchants from charging proportionately
more for retail parcels than for wholesale.
Mr.. Vance said he would have thought
Browns amendment joke, if he had known
that Brown had ever perpatrated a successful
joke in his life.
Mr.. Browns amendment was not agreed to.
Mr. Bayard opposed Mr. Vance's amendment
as an attempt to do what neither Congress nor
any human power could do--deprive property
OF its natural strength and take from weakness
its inherent defect
Messrs. Sheffield and Sewell also opposed the
amendment, and Mr. Vance defended it. The
| amendment was not agreed 10.
Mr.. Slater proposed an amendment making all
rebates unlawful Not agreed to.
A message was received from the President
| recommending provision for compromising the
special electoral messengers. Referred. Also,
| message from the government engineer in
charge OF the Yorktown monument, reporting
its completion.
After executive session, adjourned.