Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-01-31

the Senate to take up the Pacific Railroad
bill. He did not wish to push the bin to a
vote to-day, but would like the bill and
accompanying report read, when he would
make short statement on the subject and
then propose to let the bill stand over till to-
morrow. The bill and report were then read.
AT O'Clock the Pacific Railroad bill went
over and the Senate resumed consideration Of
the Interstate commerce bill.
Mr.. Pugh addressed the Senate at some
length. lie favored the commission bill and
opposed the Reagan bill. 1t was impossible,
MIR. Pugh thou ht at this state of the inves-
tigatlOn of the railroad problem. to fix into
binding and in1eXible statute an entire code
OF detailed regulations, as was done by the
Reagan bill. The commission system had a
practical heNblllty about 1t that gave prom
lse OF great usefulness both to the citizen and
railroad, while under the Reagan bill the
courts would be treating railroads as public
Messrs. Beck, Coke and Kenna briefly ques.
toned Mr.. Pugh in the course of his remarks.
The Senate, at 400 O'Clock, went into exccu-
tive session. and when, at > o'clock. the doors
were reopened, adjourned until Monday next.
IN THE HOUSE.
The House was called to order to-day by the
Clerk, who read a cOmmunica non from
Speaker Carlisle designating REPRESENTATIVE
biackburn as the Speaker pro TEN. for to-day.
Inc speaker ldlQ before the House q message
from the President transm .tting. in response
TO the House resolution, the report from the
Secretary OF State relative to the Congo cor
ltiCuCCs II W as TClefIeu 10 the Committee on
Foreign Affairs. He also presented a com
munlcatOn from the Secretary of the Navy
IN response TO the House resolution calling
Tor Information concerning the recent cOlH
SION OF the IailapoOsa. II was referred.
The Secretary states that the steamer was
on her regular freightng cruise.
MI. IOWnshend, of Illinois. reported the
post once appropriation bill, and it was
referred to committee of the whole. The
House then, at l:20 o'clock, went into COM
mlttee OF the whole on the private calendar.
W hen the committee rose the House passed
half dozen private bills.
THE "ALERT.V
The Speaker laid before the House the fol-
lowing message from the President:
To the House Of Representatives.:
w hen the expedition for the relief of Lieut..
Oreely and party was being prepared in the
early part of the year 1881 amt search for
suitable vessels was being made the Alert.
then the property of Great Brilain, and
which had been the advance ship OF the eX-
pedltlOn under Sir George Mares, was found
to be peculiarly fitted for the intended
service. This government Immediately
offered to purchase that Vessel, upon VIII ch Her
MaJesty's government generously presented
her to the United States, refusing to accent
rendered important and timely service in the
expedition for the relief of Greely and party,
which in Its result proved satisfactory to the
government ana people OF TINS country. |
am Of the opinion that the Alert should now
be returned to Her Majesty's government
with suitable acknowledgement for its gen
erOus and graceful acts Of courtesy in 50
promptly putting the vessel at the service of
the United states, and therefore recommend
that authority may be given me by Congress
TO carry out this purpose. 1t WIS referred.
The House then at O'Clock took a recess
TIL O'Clock, the evening session to be for the
conslderag ion of pension bills
Ihe House at Its evening session passed 30
pension bills, and adjourned until tomorrow