Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1886-03-26

ent ground. That was that we should meas.
ure the constitutional duties of the Senate
by the propositions " which the President nigh,
make in regard to the subject. Burnette
was not TO be confirmed because Duskin's re-
moval had been placed upon improper
grounds. Mr.. Call implied that Mr.. Evarts
was not consistent in his statement as to the
consiitutiouality of the tenure of Office act,
and read from the proceedings of the i'm
peachment trials of President Johnson in
support of his view.
Mr.. Ingalls, then obtained the floor, but
gave wa 10 motion u 60 into executive
session.
Before the doors were closed Mr. Ed
munds intimated that so far as was in his
power. he should insist upon vote on the
resolutions before the adjournment tomor-
row.
The Senate then, at 4 45 P. ~. went into
executive session. and twenty minutes later,
the doors being reopened. adjourned. De-
bate will be resumed after the introduction
OF bills and submission of reports from the
committees.
In the House this morning Mr.. Hill Of
Ohio. from the committee on territories, re.
ported bill to pro, ide for the organization
of the territory of Oklohama; printed and
recommitted
Mr., Dunn Of Arkansas, from the shipping
committee, reported a Tree snip bill and ii
was placed on the calrndar.
Mr.. Diagey of Maine presented minority
report.
The House then went into a committee of
the whole on the post Office appropriation
bill.
Mr.. Dockerey of Missouri. in speaking of
the foreign mail service of the post office de.
partment, said the law gave the postmaster
general authority to advertise for letting con-
tracts TO American steamships, but there was
nothing mandatory in the act. 1t vested in
him the exercise of just and wise discretion.
In support of his position that the law was
not mandatory, Mr.. Dockerey quoted from
speeches delivered during the debate last
year by Messrs. Dingey of Maine and Horr
of Michigan to the effect that under it the
postmaster general would not be obliged to
pay single dollar to an American line of
steamships. He wanted and the democratic
party wanted to give adequate and liberal
compensation to American steamships for
carrying the mails. If the present law did
not make sufficient provision he would
favor any law that did, but speaking from
business standpoint he would never favor any
measure which proposed to subsidize the
American lines OF steamships for the purpose
of aiding commerce. The gentleman from
Michigan (Burrows) had said great deal
about the decay of American commerce. That
gentleman's party had been in power during
the last 25 years. If the laws had operated
harshly on American steamships and driven
them from the sea then the republican pa rty
and not the democratic party was responsible
vAr h,.l, H.
country now was carried in American bot
toms and 95 per cent of the sailors in our
merchant service were foreigners.
Mr.. Peters of Kansas laid the responsibility
of the present condition of the merchant ma
rine on the shoulders of the democratic
party and then made a strong appeal to the
committee to do an act of justice to the rail-
postal clerks by giving them the full salary
allowed by law.
Mr.. Guenther of Michigan made spirited
speech in opposition to subsidies and said in
conclusion that if the grasping corporations
IN their greed for gain come to the Congress
of the United States posing in the role Of
disinterested patriots, singing their plausible
song of revival in American shipping, asking
for subsidies and expecting ten dollars for
every one dollar service performed, do not
be deceived but tear the mask from their faces
and show their shylock countenances to the
country. Applause.
The committee then rose and, at 3 10, took
a recess tn 80
The evening session was devoted to the
consideration of resolutions expressive of
the sorrow of the House at the death of Jos
Rankin, late representative from the State of
Wisconsin. and TO the delivery of euogistic
addresses. The resolutions were unanimously
p1DDtpH : n ia
deceased the House at $50 adjourned.