The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1885-01-15
Z Rise
XLVIIIth Congress--2d Session
SENATE.

WAsHINGroN, Jan. IA.
The Senate passed bill providing for compensa-
ton and expenses Of special electoral messengers
Iowa and Oregon.
Mr.. Edmunds calling Mr.. Frye to the chair. took
the floor and called up the bill yesterday offered by
him, providing that the President may appoint to
she retired list person who has occupied the po
sition of general, commanding any of the armies of
the United States general in chief of the Emitted
States Army. He moved to amend it by ding
with the rank and full pay Of such general in lief
or general as the case may be- The amen. ment
was agreed to.
Mr.. Cockerell desired to record his vote against
the bill, not knowing whether the yeas and nays
would be called on it. The retired list was not the
place for private citizens. 1t had been created for
officers, who, being still in the service had been
rendered unfit for duty. and there neither jus
tice propriety In placing private citizens such
list. Gen. Grant was now enjoying the receipt of
3l5 600 year which was enough for the support OF
any American citizen. The bill was passed in after
very short debate. Yeas 40, mas 8. Mr.. Edmunds
spoke strongly and feelngly in favor of the bill.
Among the Democrats, MessTs. Maxey, Voorhees,,
George, Gibson and Jones spoke also in its frvor.
The Senators who voted nay We're Messrs Beck,
Cockerell, Coke, Harris Pendleton, Salisbury Sls-
ter, Vance and Walker.
The Senate then took up the naval appropriation
bill. The committees amendments were concurrec
In and the bill was passed.
The Chair laid before the Senate the inter State
commerce. bill.
Senator Slater offered an amendment prohibiting
the charging of higher rates of compensation for
transporting the same kind and amount OF property
shorter distance than f for larger distance:
his belief that the laws of business and of supply
and demand could not be as advantageously regu-
lated as by cast iron provisions prescribing minute
details.
ElWhie the debate was still in progress Mr. Harri-
son called attention to the death Of Hon. Schuyler
Cofax, who had been presiding officer of the Senate
and Vice President of the United States and after
sifew feeling words Of eulogy of the deceased by
Messrs Harrison and Sherman Mr. Harrison offer
ed resolution reciting that the Senate had heard
with great sorrow of Mr.. Colfaxs DEATH and that
out of respect to his memory the Senate do now ad
journ.
The Senate accordingly at 425 p. m. adjourned.
HOUSE.
A letter was receive from the Secretary of State
stating that of the certificates of the electoral
vote of oregon and one of tho electoral vote OF
Iowa, not having been received, 1t became incum-
bent to send special messenger TO each of these
States, and the Secretary requests that an appro
pristion of $500 be made to pay the expenses and
compensations of messengers. The missing certh
Gates are duplicates required to be sent by mail
and their nonrecept will not affect the counting Of
the electoral VOTE The appropriation was made.
Mr.. Mills of Texas introduced bill to create the
revenue commission.
Mr.. Weller of Iowa introduced q bill to refund
the bonded debt of the United States at 21k pei
cent. interest, to reduce taxation on circulating
bank note currency, and to secure such currency
against unnecessary disturbance and fuctuation
by applying the national revenues economically tC
the payment of the public debt Referred.
Under a special order the House proceeded to
the consideration of business reported from the
conmitLee foreign affairs. The first bill con
sdered was the Senate French spoliation claim bill
Mr.. Cox of North Carolina ske6ched the history
of these caims and maintsined that on account OF
the Importance of the and justice claimants
there devoved upon Congress the duty of providing
a tribunal competent to secure settlement of the
vexed questions.
Mr.. kice of Massachusetts also argued in support
of the bill.
After some discussion the bill passed, 19l tt
H. Ut refers the claims to the Court OF Claims fol
examination and report to Congress.)
Mr. Waite OF Connecticut then called up thu
Chinese indemnity fund bill and after short ex
planation by him the bill was passed. Ut author
1zes the President to the residue of the Chi
uese indemnity fund to be converted into coin anC
to cause the sum of $583 40O to be returned to thu
Chinese government and the balance covered int
the treasury, provided that before the payment *
China the Secretary of State shall pay from thu
fund to the executors of c. e. He'll $4,000 OF
account of the loss of the vessel "Knjew.")
On motion Of Mr.. Randall of Pennsylvania, thu
Senate amepdme Its to the bill for payment OF th'
messengers sent for certificates of the electora
votes of Oregon and Iowa were concurred in.
Adjourned.