Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1885-12-19
fORTY-NISTH CONGRESS.
First Session,
SENATE.

| Peiso"s VI Maihe, protesting against any n.
raneement with Great Britain by which Cana.
| oien nsh might be admitted free of duty.
MI Mitchell, from the committee on pen.
sions. reported favorably a bill granting ,
pension to the widow OF Gen. Grant. The
bill was at once passed without debate.
Mr.. Hampton introduced q bill making il
unlawful for the Senators or Representative
to recommend or solicit appointments to
Office.
Mr.. Hawley inquired of the chair whether
this bill was retroactive in its operation
Laughter.
The chair replied that in his opinion, it
was not. Renewed laughter
Mr.. Butler called up his resolution of in
| quiry relating to the alleged organization of
the Territory of Dakota into State.
Mr.. Vest said that the Senate by its rec
| ord now stood committed to the fact that
| there was such thing in existence as the
State OF Dakota; the papers heretofore pre-
sented by Mr.. Harrison, and read from the
desk, having borne the words, Estate of Da-
kota."
! Mr.. Vest, as lawyer, regarded this Dsko-
| ia organization as revolutionary. He had no
doubt that the intent of the men concerned
was to organize State government in case
this Congress should adjourn without recog-
nlzing the so-called State.
| Mr.. Vest argued the question of the ad-
mission of Dakota from legal point of view,
and insisted that the recent action in Dakota
was revolutionary. He cited Judge Coley
and other authorities to the effect that an en-
abling act was necessary as preliminary to
the admission of Territory as q State, and
asked what more outrageous insult could be
| offered to the sovereignty of the United
States, than the action of the men RESPONSE
Bile for the recent developments in Dakota.
He offered, as independent of the resolution
of Mr.. Butler, resolution to the effect that
memorial from the persons calling them
selves 1.-THE State executive committee of
Dakota" be considered as coming only from
private individuals of Dakota. The resolu-
ton was laid over and ordered printed.
Mr.. Logan thought it unfair for the Sena-
tors to regard the action of Dakota as revolu-
tionary, until they should sit as State and
undertake to perform the functions of q
State, and assume the powers of statehood.
They were not revOlutionists.
Mr.. Butler said he had misapprehended
what constituted State if the election of
Senators sand Judges was not exercising
statehood.
Mr.. Logan claimed that this action had
been taken in the case of other states, and
several Senators named Michigan. Mime
sofa and Kansas as having elected Senators,
etc., before admission to the Union.
Mr.. Vest had not looked into these in
stances, but said he would not accuse the
other eide of the chamber of lacking three
electoral votes.
After further debate the matter, At two
o'clock, went over until tomorrow.
The Senate then proceeded to considera-
ton of the joint rules.
After . short debate resulting in some
amendments of detail the rules were finally
agreed to.
On motion of Mr.. Morrill, it was resolved
that when the Senate adjourn today it be to
Monday next.
Mr.. Beck offered the following resolution,
which he requested might be allowed to lie
over for the present:
"Whereas the laws of the United States
require that all duties ON imported goods
shall be paid in coin, and whereas it is pro-
vided in section 1894 of the Revised Statutes
that coin paid for duties on imported goods
shall be set aside as special fund and shall
be applied as follows: First, to the payment
in coin of the interest on bonds and notes of
the United States. Second, to the purchase
or payment of one per cent. of the entire
debt of the United States, to be made within
each fiscal year, which is to be set apart as a
sinking fund, and the interest of which shall
in like manner be applied to the purchase or
payment of the public debt, as the secretary
of the treasury shall from time to time direct.
Third, that the residue be paid into the
treasury.
"Resolved, That the committee on finan-
ces be instructed to inquire whether the laws
above stated now are or have Heretofore been
obeyed: if they have not to report by bill or
otherwise such measures as will secure their
enforcement"
At 2.4O, P. NJ, the Senate adjourned till
Monday.
HOUSE.
The consideration of the report of the COM
mite on rules was resumed, the pending
amendment being that offered by Mr.
Springer of Illinois, to abolish various COM
mittees on expenditures in various depart
ments and to concentrate their duties in one
committee consisting of fifteen members.
In advocating the amendment, Mr..
Springer stated that during the past ten
years, the clerks OF these committees had
been paid $3.50, 900, while as far as be could
remember but two of them had made reports,
the committee on expenditures in the war
department in the 45th Congress, and the
committee on expenditures in the department
Of justice in the 4Sth Congress.
The amendment was rejected.
Mr.. Hammond of Georgia offered as an
amendment the following rule
"No appropriation shall be reported in any
general appropriation bill or be in order as
an amendment thereto for any expenditure
not previously authorized by law, unless in
continuation of an appropriation for such
public works and objects a. are already in
progress.
This is the third clause to rule 81, as re-
ported by the committee on rules, except
that it omits the clause, ''and for contingen-
ciee for carrying on departments of govern
ments."
Mr.. Hammond stated that his object in
presenting an amendment now was that he
might discover whether the House would re-
tam power to keep riders on appropriation
bills. If it did, one course of conduct would
be necessary; if it did not, quite q different
course of conduct might be necessary.
The House rejected the motion of Mr.. Ham
mond of Georgia, TO strike out the clause of
the proposed new code of rules, distributing
the appropriation bills among the several
committees of the House, by vote; yeas So,
nays 227.
The paragraph was then reached which
limits the appropriations over which the ap-
preparation committee shall have jurisdiction.
Mr.. Cannon of Illinois moved to strike out
Al lila