Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1886-01-09
PORTY-NINTH CONGRESS-.
First Session,
SENATE.
WAsHINGI w. Jan. {

WAsHINGT N, Jan. s.
The chair laid before the Senate the reso.
luton of the New York Produce Exchange
urging Congress to make lioera provisions
for the signal service. The resolution wa:
appropriately referred.
Mr. Eustis offered a concurrent resolution
with preamble, setting forth that.
Whereas, the act OF Congress of 1878 de-
clared the silver dollar legal tender for all
debts. public and private, that bv the act of
1863, the faith of the United States was sol
emnly pledged to the payment in coin, or its
equivalent, and all public obligations not
bearing interest, ETC., that by the refu ding
act of July, 1870. the principal and interest
of debts were made redeemable in coin of the
then standard value, that since the enactment
Of those laws it has been the unvarying prac-
tice Of the secretary of the treasury to pay
the bonds and interest in gold coin and tina,
the secretary OF the treasury has issued call
for ten million dollars OF bonds, payable on
the first of February, 1886; therefore, be il
Resolved, ETC., that, in the opinion of Con-
gress, said bonds of ten million dollars, pay
able on the lst of February, 1886, should be
paid in silver dollars, such payment being in
strict compliance with the existing law and in
aid Of the financial policy established by the
legislation of Congress.
Mr.. Eustis desired the resolution referred
to the committee on finance and expressed
the hope that the committee would report on
il at an early day, in order that il may be de-
ternined whether or not this practice of pay
ing U. 5. bonds and interest exclusively in
gold coin, was approved or disapproved BY
Congress. The resolution was so referred.
The Senate agreed that when it should ad-
journ today, it should be until Monday next.
Mr.. Voorhees, resolution of inquiry relat-
ing to the pension Office was. with his con
sent, allowed to go over till Monday with a
view that a resolution of like import may be
drafted that will be acceptable to both Vor-
hees and Harrison, for whose resolution that
of Voorhees, was offered as a substitute.
The Senate then proceeded to the consider
alton of the bills on the calendar.
The following are among the measures in
troduced in the Senate Friday;
BY Mr.. LogaE-To increase the pension of
persons who lost an eye to S25 per month, the
difference between the rate and 81 per month,
the rate now allowed, to be paid such pen
soners from July lst, 1877, to the date of
the passage of the act
BY Mr.. Hale-To prohibit the letting of
government contracts to persons who employ
convict labor
BY Mr. Wilson-To establish postal tele-
graph system.
In debate arising upon one for probate
relief, Mr.. Dolph commented on the increas
ing number of such bills and the decreasing
number of meritorious bills coming before
Congress. He thought it would be necessary
to make some general provision for the con-
sderaton of prvats bills and take them away
from Congress.
Mr.. Hawley too expressed belief that Con-
gress should provide some means by which a
private citizen could serve the government in
proper cases.
At2 o'clock the bill went over one day,
and the Utah bill taken up. After some de
bate Browns amendment offered yesterday
which was to strike out the words that would
compel lawful husband or wife of an accused
to testify, was rejected. Yeas, l (; NAYS, AZ,
Mr.. Maxey supported the bill. He held
that MormOnism was mere cover for llcen-
tiousness. He thought the judiciary commit
tee has Disseminated with great skill between
religious liberty and secular license.
Mr.. Call said we owed our liberties to free
dom of speech and worship. We were de-
parting from that ground when we passed
such bill as that under consideration. A
Mormon had much right to proclaim his
faith as distinguished man who denies di-
vinty of Christ
Some amendments offered by Mr.. Call we're
voted down.
The whole bill was on its final passage
when Mr. Van Wyck endeavore1 to fix the
duties of the proposed IA trustees upon the
members of the present Utah commission,
hut it was ruled out of order. He asked Mr.
Edmunds whether he had any objections to
such an amendment to which that Senator
answered that he had.
The bill having been brought to vote it
was passed. Yeas, 50; nays, I; as follows
Yeas-Allison, Beck, Berry, Chace, Cock
rell, Coke. Colquitt, Conger, Cullum, Dawes,
Dolph, Edmunds, Eustis, Evarts, Frye,
George, Harris, Harrison, Hawley, Ingalls,,
Jackson, Logan. Mcmillan, Henderson,
Maxey, Mitchell, PENN Morrill,, Palmer,
Payne. Platt, Pugh, Sawyer, Sherman,
Spooner, Van Wvck. Wathal, Wilson,
Gowa,) and Wilson of Maryland; 3S.
Nays-Blair, Call, Gibson, Hampton. Hoar,
Morgan and Vance; Z.
Mr.. EIoar, explaining his vote, said that he
voted against the bill only because of the
section disfranchising women, but even with
that section in he would have voted for the
bill had his vote been necessary to its pas
sage.
The Senate then adjourned till Monday.