The Portland daily press., 1885-02-21
XLVIIIth Congress--2d Session
SENATE.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 20.
Mr.. Miller of New York reported favo rably with.
out amendment the House bill for the protection of
forests on the public domain.
Mr.. Mitchell gave notice that on Monday he
would ask the Senate to take up the private pension
bills on the calendar that had been passed by the
House, including those that have been unfavoraby
reported on by the Senate committees which in
cludes the proposed pension to the widow of LIEN
tenant DeLong.
Mr.. Hoar introduced bill for the relief of sea.
men. He said it was almost transcript of the
Massachusetts law relating to the pledge of sea-
mems wages aud permitting such pledge only for
support of their wives and children. Referred TO
the committee on commerce.
Mr. German offered a resolution which was
agreed to- calling on che Secretary of the Interior
for information as to whether the subsidized Pacific
railroads have constructed and are maintaining
and operating their own lines of telegraph and
whether te egraphic messages are accepted and
transmitted for all persons and corporations with
out discrimination as to price and other conditions
as provided BY the act of July l, 1862.
The Des Moines river settlers title bill was laid
before the Senate and Mr.. Lapham resumed his re-
marks in support of his proposed amendment to it,
His amendment was voted down.
Mr.. Lapham occupied the time till l O'Clock dis
cussing the amendments proposed by him, and at
that hour he still having the floor the matter went
over.
Mr.. Morrill, called up the anti silver coinage bill
saying Mr.. Sherman was ready to speak on it
Mr. Hoar said hs did not think the silver debate
OF any importance to the country at this time. A
vote upon the silver question, however. would be
worth every Inconvenience even that of an extra
session.
Mr.. Hale said there were now two general an
preparation bills on the Senate calandar that
should be considered and passed today. They
could hardly be passed tomorrow, and other ap-
preparation bills would shortly be poured in on the
Senate Mr. Hale asked unanimous consent to
take up the agricultural appropriation bill. The
silver bill was informally laid aside and the agr-
cultural appropriation bill was taken up and its
consideration prOcee led with.
The bill after debate was passed substantially as
l. q ha tn
The post office appropriation bill was then taken
up. The Senate committee amendment reducing
amounts for clerks in post offices from Sc. 300 600
to So, $50. 600 was adhered to.
Sections of the bill as it came from the House
provided that letters shall be charged at the of
2 cents an ounce instead of 2 cents a half ounce
drop letters (where there is no free delivery one
cent an ounce, and newspapers in bulk to regular
subscribers, one cent per pound, but sample copies
at one cent per four ounces. As to this provision
Mr.. Beck said the appropriation committee had
concluded to strike it out being general legisa-
ton. 1t was good legislation though in the wrong
place.
After considerable discussion the Senate disa-
greed to the committee amendments by a vote of 18
yeas and 81 nays. 60 far as that amendment re-
vision yet to be acted on.
The Senate then went into executive session and
later adjourned
The House met at 10 O'Clock in continuation of
Thursdays session and Immediately went into com
mittee of the whole on the river and harbor BILL
One hour was consumed in WY and indetermi-
nately voting upon amendments to the paragraph
making an appropriation for the improvement of the
Mississippi river Finally in order to expedite the
matter the friends of the bill yielded to motto to
strike out the entire Mississippi river clause. This
withdrew the bone of contention from the commit
tee and the clause will be restored in the House.
The clause relative to the Hennepin canal being
recurred to the chair delivered an elaborate decs-
ion on the points of order that raised against
it. He held that the subject matter was pefmane
al naW 1aoic loft
and therefore overruled the points which were
based on those grounds, but sustained the point
that the committee on rivers and harbors had not
original jurisdiction of the subject and that it
should properly be considered by the committee
on railways and canals; upon this ground he ruled
that the clause not in order and be strick-
en- from the BILL
Mr.. Henderson of Iowa appealed from the decis-
ion, pending which the committee rose and the
House adjourned land at IL the session of Friday
began.
It was ordered that when the House adjourn to-
day it be to meet tomorrow at the Call of the Skeak
er.
The conference report on the consular and dipl O.
matte appropriation bill was agreed to,
Mr.. Walford of Kentucky called up the motion
to reconsider the vote by which the House some
days ago refused to pass the bill granting pension
of 500 month to the widow of Mayor Thorpbufg.
The motion to reconsider was agreed 70 and the bill
passed
After passing number of minor bills the House
went into committee on the naval appropriation
bill.
Mr.. Keifer of Ohio favored the building of a navy
and therefore was against the plan contained in the
bill because he believed it would not give the coun-
try single vessel that it would dare TO put into the
water.
Mr.. Long of Massachusetts said the position of
the gentleman from Ohio (AIr. Keiferl in favoring
an increase of the navy and in opposing the means
proposed to secure that increase reminded him of
the story of a man who was sin favor of the Maine
law but agn' its execution" The plans proposed
might be faulty in detail but he favored its general
features.
Pending further debate the committee rose and
the House took a recess until p. IN.
EVENING SESSION.
The House at the evening session passed 30 PEN
sion bills and at 8 O'Clock adjourned.