The Portland daily press., 1885-02-18
Facts and Runors.
XLVIIIth Congress-2d Session
SENATE.
WASHINGTON, Feb. II

WASHINGTON, Feb. II.
Mr.. Pendleton presented a petition of the Gin
cinnati Commercial Gazette and other newspapers,
prayingsfor reduction of postage on second class
matter.
Calls for Irregular order'' brought up the bill to
quiet the title of settlers the Des Mones river
lands. After remarks by Mr.. Lapham, Mr.
Morgan's motion to Indefinitely postpone the bill
was defeated-yeas 81, nays %.
At O'Clock the bill as still unfinished business of
the morning hour went over till tomorrow.
On motion of Mr.. Cameron of Wisconsin, the
Senate bill authorizing the sale of part of the
lands of the Winnebago tribe of Indians in
Nebraska was passed.
The anti-foregn contract labor bill was then
placed before the Senate.
Mr.. Miller Of New York supported the bill and
opposed the pending motion which would strike out
the clauses prescribing penalties for violations Of
law.
Mr. Vest expected to vote for the bill. He had
doubt of its constitutionality. 1t was exer-
our institutions and our civilization.
Mr.. Platt referring to the reflections made on the
course pursued by the Senate in taking up this bill
in preference to other measures which said to
be of Importance, denied with energy that any
bill before the Senate was equal ia its urgent and
far-reaching Importance to the bill under dis
cussion. More than one half of the citizens of this
republic were working men, and this bill aimed to
keep from them form of competition that if per-
terests and prosperity of these mon.
Mr.. Dawes spoke earnestly and strongly in favor
of it.
Mr.. Sherman also strongly supported it.
The motion of Mr.. Bayard to strike out section 8,
which prescrbes penalty of 1000 for violation
of the act was not agreed to-yeas 12 nays 40.
Those voting to strike out the penalty section
were Mesars. Butler, Coke, Colquitt, Garland,
Groome, Hampton. Harris, Morey, Morgan, Sauls-
bury Slater and Williams.
The Democrats voting with the Republicans to
retain the penalty were Messrs Brown, Call Cam
den, Fair, George, GIBSON, jackson, Mcpherson,
Pugh, Ransom and Vest.
On suggestion of Mr.. Butler Mr.. Blair consented
to oppose adjournment if vote could be unani-
mousy agreed on for 2 O'Clock tomorrow.
Consent was given and the Senate adjourned.
HOUSE
The Speaker pro TEN. tBIr. Blackburn) laid before
the House a communication from the Secretary of
the Navy recommending the establishment in the
principal seaports Of the country of stations for the
determination of errors in the compasses of iron
and steel ships. Referred.
The House then proceeded to the consideration Of
| business under the special rule.
The committee appropriations reported the
naval BILL and gave notice they would ask for its
| consideration tomorrow.
The Senate amendments to the Indian appropria
| tion bill were non-concurred in.
| Mr.. Dorsheimer of New York introduced bill
to regulate the coinage and promote the circulation
OF gold ana silver eQualiy. referred TO Ln6 com
mittee on coinage The bill provides that as soon al
practicable tho Secretary of the Treasury shall
causesto be engraved notes of the denomination Of
| 81, IS, $40, $40, and 500, and printed in such
quantities may be necessary to carry out the pro
| visions OF the act, Said notes, when Issued, shal
be PAYABLE on demand in silver dollars of the pres
ent standard neness of APO grains troy weight. ol
if the holder prefers he may receive standard silve
bars, stamped by the United States, at a rate o.
ASO grains to the dollar. Said notes shall be a le
gal tender for all debts public and private, except
| when otherwise expressly stipulated
| Under a call of States number of measures WERE
| reported and placed upon the calendar.
| A joint resolution, giving notice 10 the Nortf
| German confederation of the intention to termt
| nate the treaty of 1863 was reported from the
committee foreign affairs ald placed on the cal
| endar.
The committee on public health reported resolu
tion recommending the appropriation committee tC
place in the appropriation bill an item OF 5000 OO(
TO be expended in preventing introduction into the
United States of the Asiatic cholera. Referred tt
the committee on appropriations.
The House then went into committee of the
whole on the legislative appropriation bill.
An amendment was adopted appropriating $40,
600 to enable the commissioner of labor to obtaiI
information pertaining to labor in America ant
elsewhere.
On motion of Mr. Dingley of Maine, an amend
ment was adopted requesting the Secretary of tht
Treasury to submit to the next Congress such mod
ifcations of the law relating to commerce and nav
remove from American vessels, whether engaged il
fishing or domestic or foreign commerce, all unnec
essary restrictiDs and burdens.
On motion of MIR. Long OF Massachusetts. tn
paragraph authorizing the President to discontinu
the appointment and services of officers at ports
entry ia all cases where for two successive year
last past the revenues collected at such ports ar
| less than the salary and expenses of officers EN-
ployed in duty thereof, was stricken out. The com
| mittee then rose the bill was passed, and tn
House took a recess until 10 O'Clock tomorrow.