Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1885-01-10
FORTY-ElGHTH CONGRESS-,
Second Session.
SENATE.
WASHINGTON. Jan.

The chair laid before the Senate letter
from the secretary of the navy, transmitting
a copy OF the report of the board of officers
appointed last summer to examine the CON-
parative merits of anthracite and bituminous
| coal for the naval service.
The Senate passed a bill authorizing the
distribution of copies of United States stat
utes and the Congressional record to public
libraries and other institutions authorized TO
receive public documents.
| Mr.. Cameron of Pennsylvania, from the
committee on naval affairs, reported favora-
bly, and the Senate passed the bill directing
the transfer of one of the vessels of the
Greely relief expedition to the treasury de-
waters of Alaska, and authorizing the reten-
1 tlon of the other two for use in the navy as
! surveying vessels or otherwise.
| Mr.. jackson, from the committee on pen
sions,reported favorably without amendment,
the bill yesterday introduced by Mr.. Allison,
comprising the legislative provisions of the
pension appropriation bill, recently passed by
the House.
Mr.. Jackson said he would call up the bill
tomorrow.
A resolution offered by Mr.. Sheffield was
| agreed to, calling on the secretary of war TO
report to the Senate whether apv private
person was in occupancy of Fort Green at
Newport. r l., and if so by what authority,
and if the government had no present use for
the fort, and whether it may not be turned
over to the city of Newport. 20 be used as a
public park and held subject to the future
needs of the government
! Mr.. Mcpherson asked whether there was
any intention on the part of the government
to return to England the government ship
presented by that government to the United
States for the purpose of the Greely relief
expedition.
! Mr.. Cameron replied that he was not in
formed on that point. but under the law as it
would stand on the passage of the bill, the
secretary of the navy would be obliged to sell
all ships forming part of the relief expedi-
| ton.
After debate and without result on the bill
for private relief, the Senate resumed the
consideration of the interstate commerce
bill.
Mr.. Garland called up the House bill on
| the same subject, with a view, he said, OF
moving to re-commit the Senate bill, with all
the proposed amendments, together with the
House bill to the committee on railroads for
further consideration.
The House bill was read by its title.
| Mr.. Garland addressed the Senate on the
subject matter.
Mr.. Slater called up the Oregon Genital
land forfeiture bill, and Mr.. Morgan with,
drew his motion to reconsider. The bill
therefore, stands passed as amended by the
Senate. 1t now goes to the House.
The Senate proceeded to consider the bills
| on the calendar.
Mr. Garland said the House bill defined
what was was wanted and did not leave it to
any subordinate officer or commission. II
did not delegate the power of Congress to any
other body. and so it left the matter within
the constitution
After further debate the motion to recon-
nit was rejected-lS to "a.
Mr.. Cullom said that when, after discus
sion, the Senate bill should be perfected, he
would move to amend the House bill by sub.
stituting the Senate bill for it.
Mr.. Vance proposed an amendment max.
ing it unlawful for railroads to charge small
shippers higher rates than large shippers.
Mr.. George supported the amendment.
Mr.. Brown moved to amend the amend
ment by adding to it "that no merchant shall
sell larger package or quantity of goods at
a smaller per cent. than he charges for a
smaller package of goods of like quality, il
the goods had been produced in or trans.
ported from another State 80 as to fall within
the power of Congress to regulate inter State
| commerce."
Before MIR. Browns smile at his own joke
had quite disappeared, the Senate went into
executive session, and within ten minutes the
doors were re-opened and the Senate ad
journed to Monday next.
HOUSE.
The speaker announced the appointment of
Mr.. Williams of Alabama as a member of the
committee on ventilation acoustics; also
the appointment of Messrs. Tucker of Vir-
| ginia aud RYAN of Kansas as directors Of the
! Columbia institution for the deaf and dumb.
The House, by vote of 81 to 80, refused
to take up the naval appropriation bill, and
speaker proceeded to call on the committees
for reports of a private character.
A large number of private bills were re-
ported and placed on appropriate calendars,
Mr. Curtin of Pennsylvania, from the COM
mittee on foreign affairs, reported resolu-
tion calling for information from the execu-
tive, relative to the arrest of Moynahan, an
| American citizen, by the government of
Mexico adopted.
Mr.. Curtin reported the Belmont resolu
ton, calling on the President for information
relating to the Congo conference; adopted.
Also a resolution calling on the President
for copies of all correspondence between this
government and France in regard to the
French and American claims commission
since the 23d of November, 1881 adopted.
Also a resolution calling on the secretary
of state for a detailed statement of the ex-
penditures and of the amount appropriated
for the expenses Of the French and American
claims commission; adopted.
Mr.. Thomas of Illinois, from the commit
tee on naval affairs, reported bill to equal
ize the pay of graduates of the naval acad.
emv House calendar.
Mr.. Stevens of New York, from the com.
mittee on Indian affairs, reported back bill
for the allotment of lands in severalty to the
Indians; House calendar.
Mr.. O'Nil of Pennsylvania, presented res,
olutions of the board of trade of Philadei.
phis, asking for the passage of the Lowell
bankruptcy bill; referred
Also a memorial of the Pennsylvania Club
of Philadelphia, urging the passage of the
education bill; referred.
The House then went into committee OF
the whole on the private calendar.
! At AS the committee rose and the follow
ing bills were passed:
For the relief of A. II. Herr, Sarah f.
Webster. John NJ. Dorsey and VIM. F. Shep.
ard of Nevada. 0. L. Cochrane of Texas, A.
ID. Schenck. Yost Harbaugh, Jno F. Sever.
ence, VIM. Thomas and Elizabeth Caron.
For the relief of the legal representatives
of A. J. Guthrie.
NJ s IL