The Portland daily press., 1885-02-28
XLVIIIth Congress--2d Session
SENATE.

AFTER the reading of the journal, Mr.. Hale called
up the naval appropriation bill but objection was
made to tax ing it up until the completion of the
morning business. Mr.. Hale said he wanted the
Senators TO realize the almost intolerabe condition
in which the Senate finds itself with great appro-
priation bills tumbling in upon 1t during the last
week Of the session. In order to avoid extra ses
sion it was essential to give the appropriation bills
every possible advancement
number of House pension bills were reported
and placed on the calendar.
Mr.. Dawes said that in absence Of the chairman
OF the military committee (Mr. Logan he would in
quire what had become of the bill sometimes since
introduced to provide for the appointment of
assistant signal officer. The bill was meant for the
benent OF Lieut.. Greely who was a native of his
INT Dawes') State and the people of that State
ielt great interest as well as pride in the achieve
ments of that officer.
Mr.. Harrison. in the absence of Mr.. Logan, said
that the bill presented questions having no
relation to Lieut.. Greedy. He expressed high ad.
mration for the services of Lieut.. Greedy.
The chair laid before the Senate the resolution
submitted yesterday by Mr.. Frye providing for a
recess OF the Senate from to p. m. daily for
the remaining days of the session.
MIR. Hale said the resolution was apt to lead to
debate and he hoped the Senate would not take it
up but proceed to the consideration of the naval
appropriation bill.
The resolution was laid over and the naval bill
taken up ana Its reading proceeded with.
At O'Clock the anti-silver bill was laid aside and
the consideration Of the naval bill continued.
-
limit OF the maximum tonnage for the two new
cruisers recommended was made 5000 instead of
1000 tons.
The amendment offered by Mr.. Hale was agreed
to, appropriating S112, 900 for the purchase of
Ericsson's destrOyer.i
With this exception the bill was passed substan-
stantlaliy as reported from the Senate committee
appropriations.
The Senate at 2.I5 went into executive session
At $40 p. IN. the doors were reopened.
Mr.. Van Wyck obtained unanimous consent that
the claims bill be temporarily laid aside to take up
rtrir1a TIM srN flA
favorably reported from the Committee.
The bills favorably reported were then taken up
giving pension of $50 month each to the widow
of Gen. Benjamin Alvord, the widow of s. Dana
Greene, late commander in the United States
Navy, the widow of Brig. Gen. Charles A. Morgan,
and the widow of Commodore Marchand.
House substitute for the river and harbor bill ap
propriatilg gross was laid before the Senate
and having been read once MIR. Cameron of Wis
consin objected to its second reading that the
bill lies on the table, not having been referred to
Mr.. Morgan asked unanimous consent to take up
the bill fer the relief of Letitia Tyler Semple,
daughter OF the late President Tyler. The bill
would give her pension of $50 month. The lady
named. MIR. Morgan said. is now blind and depend
ent on the charity of Mr. W. W. Corcoran in the
city of Washington
Mr.. Riddleberger objected. He saw no reason for
pensioning Presidents daughter
Mr.. Cockerell also objected He thought it a
crime against The people to pass such bills. 1t
che beginning Of a civil pension list.
vote on the bill resuled-yeas IL, nays II. No
quorum haVlng voted no decision was reached. Ad-
tourned.
The House proceeded to the further consideration
of the sundry civil appropriation bill. An amend
nent was adopted providing that the money appro-
priated to aid in the New Orleans exposition shall
be used first in payment of the indebtedness now
outstanding and which is due to persons living out
side of Louisiana including debts to foreigners or
foreign nations and such as are due to States and
Territories; and second in the payment of all pre-
miums awarded by the exposition.
MIR. Patten of New York, moved to strike out the
entire clause. Lost.
Mr.. White of Kentucky, demanded the reading
of the engrossed bill and debate ensued
Mr.. Randall moved to suspend the rules so as to
dispense with the requirement. of having the bill
read at length.
Messrs. james of New York, Thomas Of Illinois,
and Comas of Maryland severely criticized the sun
dry civil bill for the provisions which it contained
relative to public buildings and asserted that while
the districts represented on the appropriation com
mittee had been well looked after, the districts OF
ordinary" members of the House were disregarded
Mr. Payson of Illinois said, as Mr.. Horr of Michi-
gan was the only member the appropriation
committee who had not been provided for, 5000
should be given him to expend in his district.
MIR. Randall replied that that remark was unjust.
There was not dollar in the bill that went to his
district.
Mr.. Potter of New York again entered protest
under suspension of the rules.
Other members of the committee appropris-
tions in two minute speeches justified the action and
asone gentleman ceased and another rose there
shouts of next with sarcastic suggestions that
each member of the appropriation committee be al
lowed i've minutes to explain his conduct.
As Mr.. Holman rose he was greeted with applause
and shouts of laughte He defend ID the commit
tee and was followed by Mr.. Burnes in the same
vein.
Mr.. Randalls motion was agreed to yeas 224,
nays "a and the third reading Of the bill was dis
pensed with.
The bill was then passed 1e5 to los.
the Senate amendments to the legislative appro-
priation bill were non concurred in.
Mr.. Willis of Kentucky moved to suspend the
rules and pass bill appropriating $5 ,000, 900 to
be expended under direction and with the approval
of the Secretary of War for continuation and com
peton OF the works designated in the last river and
harbOr law.
Mr.. Miller of Pennsylvania, considered this mo
ton as fitting to be made in the closing hours
of the 46th Congress. Within the past two days
the House under suspensions Of the rules had ap-
propriated S24 ,OOO, 900 and it was now proposed
TO appropriate So, 900 900 moro. This proposition
was brought in with the expectation that the SEN
ate would add one, two or i've millions and then it
would be passed upon by the conference committee
Mr.. Boutelle of Maine recognized it as a futile
attempt to place obstacles in the way of railroad
ing this bill through the House it was to tie up
the waters OF the Mississippi by annual appropria-
tions.
Mr.. Milliken of Maine supported tho motion.
The bill seemed to him to be fair proposition and
proposition which the interests of the country de-
manded should be agreed to,
Inc motion was agreed to and the bill passed.
yeas 100, nays S8.
MIR. Towns hend of Illinois from the committee on
appropriations reported the post Office appropra-
tion bill with Senate amendments with a report
recommending concurrence in some and non-con-
currence in others of the amendments.
In order to prevent Mr.. Turner of Georgia, call
ing up any contested election the Republicans
demanded separate vote on each amendment and
the recommendation of the approximation
committee in each case was agreed to. (The
clause relative to ocean transportation was not
reachedo They consumed the time till five o'clock
when recess was taken until eight o'clock
EVENING SESSION.
The House at its evening session passed Sc pen
sion bills and at 1920 adjourned.