The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1885-02-10
XLVIIIth Congress--2d Session
SENATE.

l w 'AeAAAINNAONt - ou
Mr.. Pendleton presented petitions from number
of Ohio publishers and journalists praying for a re-
duction OF postage rates second class nail mat.
| ter. Referred rocommittee on post offices.
concurrent resolution was agreed to- authoriz-
ing the announcement to foreign governments Of
the result of the deliberations of the International
Meridian Conference in Washington.
Mr.. Cameron of Pennsylvania called up the fol-
| lowing resolutions:
| Whereas, the shipping trade in American vessels
mas Tor years been depressed and the export trade
IN American produce is languishing for want of
market that might be reached if the shipping trade
was In the hands of citizens of the United States
Resolved, That the committee on finance be and
Is hereby directed to inquire whether it would be
expeoient to expend the surplus revenue Of the
United states or any portion thereof for the pur-
pose OF revivlng the shipping 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 Ameri-
| can grown products and articles of American man
ptacture exported in American vessels and report
Mr.. Cameron said the resolution was introduced
here with hope that it would lead to an nvestiga
revive our merchant marine. than for the purpose
OF advocating any particular plan. He'was dispos-
cd to think that instead of adopting the pau of dis
crlminating duties originally suggested in resolu-
ton, the wisest and most etectual method would be
to grant bounty to those building and navigating
American vessels, based in the case of the builders
oH the tonnage of vessels constructed and il the
case OF navigators on the annual mileage made The
United States steod alone in refusing to aid the
| shipping industry. The object in view was worth
attaining, and Mr.. Cameron was viking to adopt
means to that end. 1t was sno use nibbling at the
question, and there no use in advocating any.
thing but vigorous methods.
Upon the Conclusion of Mr.. cameron's speech, the
resolution was referred to the committee finance.
Mr.. Van Wyck asked and received unanimous
consent to the consideration of the House bill to
prevent unlawful enclosure of public lands better
known as the fencing bill.
Inc amendments of the Senate committaa vvar
eoncurred in.
At o'clock the bill went over, and unfinished
business laid before the Senate it being the
anti,silver coinage bill.
Mr.. Beck addressed the Senate He said that he
would eDdeavor to show why the sections providing
for the retirement Of trade dollars should pass and
why the provision for stopping the coinage of silver
dollars should be stricken ont.
AT the conclusion of Mr.. Beck's remarks Mr.
Morgan presented the credentials of the reelection
of Senator Pugh and they were fled
Oh ~, nr. Allson,s motion the pension appropria-
ton bill was taken up and long discussion ensued
regarding the Interpretation of the Senate rule for
bidding the proposing of general legislation on ap-
preparation bills
Discussion arose on poiRt of order raised by Mr.
ingalls, on the amendment proposed by the Senate
appropriation committee to this BILL The point Of
proposed amendment was not in order. The amend
ment proposed was to modify the provision of the
House bill that established in favor of pension ap-
plicants the presumption of soundness at the time
OF enlistment, and 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. In
CALLS point of order was well taken and therefore
was not admissible.
Mr.. Ingalls,, for the purpose of obtaining the opn-
ion OF the Senate as to the spirit of the rule appeal
ed from the decision of the Chair.
Mr.. Edmund on taking the chair, said that the
ruling OF Mr. Platt, correctly followed the preca-
dents of the Senate and the effect of 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.
fho< aid
pass now resolution expressing for the present
session at least the sense of the Senate to be that
the true construction of the rule was that amend
ments may be made to general legislative measures
found BY the Senate on appropriation bills
Mr. Edmunds, taking the floor, spoke strongly
which would permit such amendments There was
no embarrassment he said involved In the position
the Senat S:o Ths II so way was perfectly clear All
ions of an Objectionable character referred TO-
There would be ne collision contest between the
two houses in the fact of the Senate taking that
course. In the course of his remarks Mr.. Edmunds
took occasion to pay high compliment to the off,
Edmunds said, remembered more about the prac-
tice OF legislative bodies than any man he Mr. Ed
munds) knew.
Mr.. Hoar said, if the decision Of the chair was
not sustained the Senate might as we'll propose an
amendment to the Constitution, declaring the
House of Representatives to be the only law max.
ing body. Mr.. Hear did not wish an extra session.
but better an extra session than the practice of
attaching legislation to appropriation bills. Mr.,
slider the bankruptcy BILL said he did not believe the
American 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 consideration Of
measure SO urgently demanded by the country
After further debate the decision of the chair
was sustained-yeas 35 nays %.
A bill was passed appropriating $3.50, 900 for
the purchase of site for the extension the post
office department. building at Washington, which
extension ext shall embrace proper accommodations
At $50 the Senate went into executive session
and when the doors were reopened the Senate ad-
1eurDed.
When the House met at 10 o'clock this morning
in continuation of Saturdays session, Mr. Townsend
of Illinois, moved to go into comnttee of the whole
for consideration of the post office appropriation
bill.
Mr.. Willis of Kentucky opposed this motion and
argued that the House should continue considera-
tion of the river and harbor bill.
Mr.. Tewnsends motion was lost.
The House, at IL o'clock, went into committee of
the whole on the river and harbor appropriation
BILL the pending amendment being that offered by
Mr. Hepburn OF Iowa, providing that part of the
money appropriated for the improvement of New
Orleans harbor be expended on the levees banks
OF the Mississippi river owned by private parties or
municipalities-ost go to 105.
j: D. Taylor of Ohio. offered an amendment pre-
vdlng that 10 money appropriated be paid until ap
proved by the attorney general.
Mr.. Post of Pennsylvania, defended the members
of the committee on rivers and harbors from num-
erous attacks made upon them and attributed those
attacks to the spirit of rivalry. He made an anus
ing speech upon the ability which the members dis
Elayed in making discoveries that little streams in
their neighbcrhoods were in fact vastly deeps which
needed improvement and thought the bill should be
entitled bill of discovery Without making any
further progress on the bill the committees at or
rose.
MIR. White of Kentucky rose to question of priv
ilege but his first sentence convinced the sspeaker
1 moi tad md
requested the gentleman to resume his seat but Mr..
| White continued with his remarks, when the
Speaker directed the sergeant-at-arms to seat the
/ gentleman and Deputy Sergeant Fill proceeded to
perform bis duty without carrying his emblem of
| office. Mr.. White declined to recognize his author
ity and Mr.. Hill rushed for bis mace and proceeded
| toward Mr.. White who took his seat but in mo-
ment was again on his feet to matter of personal
| privilege. When was occupying this floor, he
SAID, the sergeant.at-arms came to me, a citizen,
without the semblance of authority and attempted
to seat me-"
Speaker pro tem.-The sergeant-at-arms went un-
DER direction OF the chair, the chair having repeat
ediy ruled the gentleman was not in order and re-
| refused to do (Applause)
desire to debate the question. said Mr.. White.
| Speaker pro tem.-The chair dees not desire to
hear the debate. Ths chair declines to hear the
gentleman further in the question of personal priv
iiege on the ground that it is not question of prv
| lege.
desire to ask, said Mr.. Kelley of Pennsylvania
| whether person with no insignia of office may
place violent hands on a member and push him
appeal if you wish to-" said several voices from
| Democratic side.
The Speaker-The chair hears no appeal.
think that this is question of the highest priv-
| lege, broke in Mr.. Cutcheon of Michigan.
And the chair differs from the gentleman replied
| the Speaker.
Mr.. Hammond of Georgia made the point of Or
DER which was sustained by thechair that no appea
| having been taken debate was not in order.
| Inc House then went into committee of the whole
| on the post office appropriation bill.
MIR. Townsend proceeded to explain the proyis-
ions OF the bill which he characterized as the most
important postal appropriation bill ever reported to
Congress. 1t appropriated $52 253 200 being So.
2l2 800 less than the amount for the current year
| The amount Of revenues estimated for 1885 was
$5l,272,620. If the bill was passed in Its present
form 1t would carry every dollar needed for the
public service, but large was the appropriation.
the greater temperance of the bill was due to
changes made in the postal laws. The most impor.
tant OF the changes was one in the method of COM
pensating railways for mail service which would
sake the government over 81 ,600, 600 per annum.
Another feature that fixing the rate of postage
on rstclass matter at cents per ounce fraction
thereof. 1t the opinion of the post office Off
cias that this would not result in any loss of reve
nue., but would on the contrary result in its in
| crease.
The committee then rose and Mr.. Townshend
moved that general debate be limited to five hours
The motion was agreed to and the committee re-
| sumed its session.
Remarks were made by Messrs. Horr of Michigan
| Aiken of South Carolina, RYAN OF Kansas and Nor