Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1885-02-19
FORTY-EiGHTH CONGRESS.
Second Session.
sen ATE.


hour entered with the chaplain, Rev. DIR.
Huntiey.
Alter few minutes delay. Mr.. Morrill,
came in, and with the advent of two or three
others the days proceedings were so far
begun as that the chaplain offered PRAYER.
This done, the few senators present in
dulged themselves awhile in silence, which
was finally broken by Mr.. Morrill,. who
moved the call of the Senate. The call be-
gan with four senators and ended with six
teen That not being a quorum the names OF
the aosentees were called. This brought ten
more, but that being thirteen short of quo
rum, matters came to stop After some for
ther waiting, at ll.20 the chair announced a
quorum present.
The journal was read and the morning bus
iness was proceeded with.
The chair laid before the Senate memo
rial from the legislature of Maine. urging the
passage OF the bill which authorizes placing
Gen. Grant on the retired list.
Mr.. Dawes. from the committee on Indian
affairs, reported the original bill to enable
the President TO negotiate for the purchase
from the Creek, Seminole and Cherokee ma
uons of Indians their remaining interest in
the so-called Oklahama lands placed on the
calendar.
Mr.. Ingalls, from the committee on judic-
iary, substituted written report as required
bv the Senate, on the subject of court-mar-
tias and their proceedings, and practice in
times of peace.
At 1855, on motion of Mr.. Hoar, the Sen
ate went into executive session.
In 20 minutes the doors were re-opened
and the Legislative business was resumed.
Mr.. Lapham continued his remarks on the
Des Moines river lands title bill
At o'clock Mr.. Lapham's remarks were
interrupted by the regular order, which was
the anri-foreign contract labor bill
An amendment offered by Mr. Plumb was
agreed to, excepting professional artists from
the provisions OF the bill
Mr.. Lapham offered an amendment provid-
ing that the whole penalty recovered shall
be paid into the United States treasury in
stead of, as by the bill, permitting half of the
penalty to go to the person who may first
bring suit. The amendment was agreed to.
notwithstanding the energetic attempts by
Mr. Blair to explain that it would seriously
impair the efficacy of the bill.
Mr.. Blair then offered an amendment max.
ing it the duty of the United States district
attorney of the proper district to prosecute at
the expense of the United States, every case
of violation of the act agreed to.
The amendments in the committee Of the
whole being completed and the bill reported
to the Senate, the bill was then passed-5O to
8.
The nays were Messrs. Butler, Groome,
Hampton, Hawley. Maxey, Morgan, Sauls-
bury, Vance and Williams.
The credentials of the reelection of Mr.
Vance were presented and filed.
Mr.. Palmer introduced bill to set apart
the unsurveyed marsh lands at the mouth of
the st. Clair river, known as the St. Clair
flats, as a hunting and fishing reserve for the
people of the United States; referred to the
on public lands.
The Senate at $40 went into executive
session.
AT 6.25 p. M. the doors were re-opene6
and the Senate adjourned.
HOUSE.
Upon the re-convenng of the House at 10
o'clock this morning in continuation of the
session of Yesterday. the House went into
Dor bill.
Under agreement, half hour was divided
among the opponents of the bill.
Mr.. Reed of Maine said the improvement
of the Mississippi river. if continued as pro-
posed by the hill, would cost $3.50. 900, 900
That is only the beginning of the annual ex-
penditure, he continued, the extent of which
is not known.
Pending the vote on the amendment the
rose, and at 1890 the House ad
journed
At / the session of the day began.
The House proceeded to the consideration
of business under special rule.
On motion of Mr.. Lyman of Massachusetts
the Senate bill was passed, appropriating
S25 200 for the relief of sufferers by the loss
of the government steamer j. Don Cameron
Mr.. Elliott of Pennsylvania, from the COM
mittee on elections, submitted report on the
Mississippi contested election case of Nc
Lean VS., Broadhead, accompanied by reso-
luton confirming the right of the sitting
member-Broadhead-t the seat laid over
for further action.
Mr. Payson of Illinois offered an amend
ment to the rule so as to make it in order to
move to take from the speakers table the
House bills with the Senate amendments, for
the purpose of referring them to the appro-
priation committee; referred.
The morning hour having been dispensed
with, the House at 2.30 went into committee
of the whole on the river and harbor BILL
The pending amendment which was offered
as a substitute for the entire paragraph rela
tue to Galveston harbor, was adopted II
appropriates s5OO,00O for the improvement of
Galveston harbor, and directs the harbor
board to proceed at once to examine the
plans, specifications and estimates for the
and report to the secretary OF
war for approval.
large number of amendments were Of
fered, but with one or two unimportant ex-
ceptions were voted down.
Pending further action the committee rose
and the House took a recess until 10 o'clock