Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1885-03-21
FDRTY-NisTH CONGRESS.
special Session,
sen ATE.

w AsHlNGTOS, Marcn ~.
The chair laid before the Senate several
memorials, among them being one from the
legislature of Maine, relating to an interna
tional decision by the high court of rbtra
tion.
The resolution offered yesterday BY Mr.
Manderson providing for the appointment OF
a committee of five senator's to proceed To
Alaska to investigate matters relating to the
grant of the Territory, laid before the
Senate.
Mr.. Manderson moved that it be referred
to the committee on territories.
Mr. Van Wyck severely criticised the APP
poiutment of a committee which had nothing
to do, citing an instance, the Central and
South American commissions, which was ap-
pointed on the eth dav of January. They
reported for duty in October, and the first
they did was to go to San Francisco, then to
New Mexico, then to New Orldans to see the
exposition. An ex member was provided
$500 for expenses.
The commission consisted of two men and
a boy, for its chairman remained in Albany.
The first thing these two men and a boy
did was to hire a palace car at S35 per day,
for which the total payment was Sl445, be-
fore they got to New Orleans. Then they
furnished themselves with supplies. The
. Utah commission boldly charged for lager beer
and wine. These commissions charged only
for supplies which did not include liquids and
| solids He would ask his friends on the re-
publican side of the chamber if it was not
time to stop
About the first of January the commission
got ready to start from New Orleans. From
the first of January their expenses were
$4,000.
The men who robbed the safes were com
paratively honorable. This money was taker
from the pockets of taxpayers who were
hardly able to pay 50 night for lodging or
Pullman cars when they travelled. In addi.
ton to these expense they paid for their sup
plies and their cook; they were allowed $500
a year each.
NJ ssrs. Henderson and Vest earnestly de-
| Tended the resolution, and the latter senator
in replying to the charges of needless extrav
sgance on the part of the South American
commission made by Mr. Van Wyck. sale
that for % years he had been an intimate
personal friend OF one of the members of the
! South American commission, and his record
public and private, was stainless and without
reproach as that of any public man coult
possibly be. The man that charged in his
| (Vest's) presence that Thomas c. Reynold,
| had ever by extravaganza or otherwis,
| wrongfully taken one cent of the people
money, made a statement which he West
contradicted absolutely and unqualifiedly
| He had performed his duties honestly anc
| faithfully.
After further discussion the resolution wa
referred to the committee on territories, ant
the Senate at l 80 vent into executive ses
sion
Mr.. German offered resolution directin,
! the secretary of the interior to furDifh th
Senate with copies of the contract entere'
| into between the Union Pacific Railroad Co
and other railroad companies affected by tn
act approved July l, 1862, and the Western
Union Telegraph company. together with al
statements on the bill in the interior depart
ment touching the same.
Mr.. Sherman offered the following;
Resolved, That so much of the sewers
resolutions of the Senate, passed since tn,
first day Of March provide for clerk fo
any standing committee OF the Senate durin
the recess of Congress, be and is hereby Re
| scinded.
The resolution was laid over until tomor
row.
At $50 the doors were re-opened and tn
Senate adjourned.