The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1885-03-10
XLIXth Congress--1st Session.
SENATE.


dent of the Senate laid before that body
communication from the Secretary of State,
it being notice that he (Mr. Bayard) had for
warded to the Legislature of Delaware his
resignation as Senator.
Communications from the Secretary Of the
Interior and the Attorney General, notifying
the Senate of their acceptance Of Cabinet PC
sitions, and requesting the President of the
Senate to 80 notify the legislatures of their re-
spectige States, were also laid before the Sem
ate.
The credentials of Mr. Blair, as Senator, to
fill the temporary Vacancy was laid before the
Senate and read.
Senator Vest moved that they be referred to
the committee on privileges and elections
Mr.. Edmunds obiscted, as also did Mr.. Hoar.
Mr.. Hoar called attention TO the fact that
precisely the same condition OF things pre-
vailed in the case of Senator Bell of Now
Hampshire. when the Senate decided, after
full discussion, in favor of seating that sena-
tor.
Mr Edmunds said that the Bell case was ex-
actly similar to the present one, and that it
had been settled fairly and fully without party
division.
Mr. Salisbury said that be was aware that
the same question arose upon a similar case
from New Hampshire, but the Senators who
were then present would remember that the
right OF Mr.. Bell was very strongly contested,
and on that occasion, for the first time he be-
lieved in the history of the Senate, il WAS de-
ciGad that the governor OF State might az
point a senator under such circumstances.
Mr.. Acar moved that Mr.. Blair be sworn in.
Mr.. Vest objected.
Mr.. Wheeler, in the chair. ruled that the
question was one of the highest privilege, and
that the objection would rot carry it over.
Mr.. Hoar offered formal resolution that
the oath Re administered to the senator from
New Hampshire.
MIR. Harris asked unanimous consent that it
lay over until tomorrow. II was granted.
Mr.. Vap Wyck denounced the issue Of pat
H.
hours of the last administration, and assailed
| this action, severely rejecting upon the last
| administration. He concluded, "WaS it dam
| gerous to trust new administration 60 do jus
| tice to settlers? Was there danger that the
| rights of settlers would be recognized, and the
| public domain protected by the incoming ad-
| ministration? Ii so, the new administration
| came in none too soon, Mr.. Van Wyck gave
| notice that the patents would be contested.
| MIR. Teller replied with legal aud historic
| cal statement of the case. He declared Mr..
| Van Wycg was professional anti-monopolst
| and champion of the people; that his pnr-
| pose was to pose before the public aud to gain
| notoriety, and not aid to do justice or redress
| Wrongs.Ssr MIR. Teller reviewed in detail the ac
| ton of the House and Senate ON the question
| involved, to show that III such action as had
| been taken by Congress the right of assign
| ment had been maintained. Thai is, the right
| of assignment subject to the conditions of the
| grant. The Interior Department, he said, had
waited patiently for aetion by Congress, and
| when it was seen that noae was to be had the
! certificates had been signed. Mr. Teller wait
! ed for no man to defend him for his action on
| this subject and he declined to fall back un-
der the shadow of the Cabinet or the Pres-
| deut. he insisted that By the rules of law
| and justice the railroad company was entitled
| to the lands. and it was upon that fact he rest
| ed. He had just as much interest ia the dig
| nifty OF the Senate and the preservation Of the
| rights Of the legislative branch Of the govern
ment as any Senator. The head OF depart
| meDt had, however, no scat upon the floor and
was compelled to submit to whatever might be
said without any opportunity to reply. When
fasehoods were uttered in this body or any
other, with reference to his course, IL y as un
digDifed for the head of department. Ia
question them. If he should go into public
print and deny the charges that we're made, it
| would be said he forgot his relations to the
| legislative branch of the government, and he
must submit in silence to the most atrooious
ISLANDERS uttered in the shape of resolutions, or
uttered by senators or members, without reply
Common decency required that. The execu.
tive department had changed. and be could
now speak of it properly as it was now in the
hands OF his opponents. Common decency re-
| quired that every resolution that passed touch.
| ing upon the interests or acts OF tha executive
should go to committee, He did not hslieve
tho Senate was aware OF the insults that had
been offered from time to time to tho execu.
tive branch by way of resolutions. 1t had be.
come custom to allow resolutions of inquiry
, to pass without examination. He could cal
| attention to things that were done in 1882. Ar
old man, who had served his country in two
wars, who vas covered all over with wounds
and with glory, had received from Congress
pension of $72 month; the general law decid
cd that man with like infrmities SHOULD re.
ceive 500 more, One hundred and twenty-tS,
dollars for man who had served In Mexic,
with gallantry snd covered himself with glory
| 4 man who had naver dressed or undresset
without an attendant $122 month was bein;
paid to him! The question arose, was he enti
| tied TO IL? 1t would not have arisen had b,
(the speaker) been Secretary OF tho Interior
lt would not have been questioned had he hat
, an opportunity to say then what he now hai
an opportunity to say. Subsequently, tha AT
', torney Generals opinion was invoked, and b,
said this old man was entitled to $122 a month
! BY that time there had been change ia tn
department., and it was his (Teller'sl duty /
enforce the opinion of the Attorney Gsnsral
He accepted it as the law OF the case, aud h
accepted it with alacrity, he said S122
month was mere bagetelle; it was disgrao
to the nation that it was not more, and he OF
dered il paid. 1t was paid But in the mean
time the distinguished senator (Ir. Van Wyok
had introduced resolution requirln
? that the. Secretary of the Interio
d should pay but oae of these psnsions
s and that resolution had gone to the conmi6te
q on pensions. But there was au opportunit
: now for somebody to pose as the watchdog
l the Treasury. Here was money being pai
the payment of double pensions, but he (th
speaker) did not withhold the pensions. Wit
+ his eyes open and with proper respect ior tia
7. Senate, he denied the riGht OF a Senator 10 il
j, struct him. He denied the right Of Senat,
II to do so; and ii the Senate had said by is voi
?. that he should not pay the money no was fri
II to say here that he should have disregarde
" that Upon the subsequent day the Sena
n passed resolution calling upon the Secretai
.. of the Interior to report why h6 had ssen I
a. to pay the pension whom there was a bi
ID pending requiring him not to pa
Such resolutions were not introduced even f