The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1886-03-24
House Sessions.


F1FrY-F1FrH DAY-The House took up in
committee on the whole, the Urgent Defic-
iency bill. The'bill appropriates 1854, 452, the
great bulk in compensation for the services
ofTeasury agents In examining the sub-treas-
ury accounts; SITE. 900 was for artificial limbs
for wounded soldiers; $185, 900 for jurors and
witnesses, caused by the Utah trials, and
$251 600 for cruisers armament. After an
animated discussion the bill was passed-29
to 20. The House, at its evening session,
passed fifty pension bills, and at r. II. ad-
journed. III
F1FTY-sIxTH DAY.-The House went into
the committee Of the whole on the state of
the Union for general debate. Nothing was
discussed but the silver question. Mr.. Mil
lard N. ~ contended that the only
way out Of the difficulty was to establish an
international ratio between the two metals,
and until that was done he was opposed to
suspension of the act Of 1873. Messrs. Fun.
(Texas), and RoweII Qn.), opposed the
suspension of silver coinage. :, ".
FIFTY-SEvENTH DAY.-Mr. Blanchard
Na-) as aquestion of personal privilege, de-
MED that he had been arrested in Louisiana in
1874 by order Of Major Merrill, who was re-
Gently nominated for promotion and whose
nomination was subsequently withdrawn.
Mr.. Blanchard said the charge that he had
been instrumental in causing the withdrawal
of Major Merrill's nomination was also I'M
true. The secretary Of the navy,
in reply to the resolution of Mr..
Boutelle, adopted on January a., trans
mitted to the House letter from Commodore
Truxton, commandant of the Norfolk navy
yard, in which he says that there never were
any honorable inscriptions upon any can.
non caprured py Ine Unlted states
and placed in the Norfolk navy yard
he adds, mo such obliteration has
at any time taken place. The exposure from
the weather and time had somewhat obliter-
ated the inscriptions placed thereon, but they
were renewed by my order last June, and are.
now plainly visible. Numerous bills and
resolutions were introduced. -. Announce
ment was made Of the death Of Senator
Miller, of California, and out Of respect TO-
his memory, the House adjourned
F1FTY-E1GHTH DAY.-The House resumed
consideration Of the bill requiring Pacific
railroads to pay the cost Of surveying their
lands and to take out patents thereto. After
some discussion the bill was passed without
opposition On behalf of the committee on
labor, Mr. James IN. " called up the bill to
prohibit any officer, servant, or agent OF the
government to hire or contract out the labor
Of prisoners incarcerated for violating the
laws of the United States government. Mr..
James said that the bill was in tho interest OF
the honest mechanic. The system which
prevailed at some Of the peniten-
tiaries Of the country Of hiring
out convict labor had worked great hard
ship and injustice to the honest mechanic.
In his own district great industry-the
manufacture of hats-had been entirely
crushed out because it could not compete with
convict labor. The bill was passed
249, nays, g.. The House then went into
committee Of the whole on the Indian
Appropriation bill, and, pending further dis
cussion, adjourned. %.7
F1FTY-NINTH DAY.-Mr. Herbert (Ala.)
from the committee on naval affairs reported
the bill to increase the naval establishment
Committee of the whole. Mr. Pulitzer On.
~ from the committee on civil service re-
form, reported adversely the Seney bill to
repeal the civil service law. Mr.. Stone, OF
Missouri, asked leave to file minority re.
port. The Indian appropriation bill was dis
cussed in committee Of the whole y
SIxTIETH DAY.-In committee Of the
whole, the House continued the consideration
of the Indian appropriation bill. Mr.. Weaver
urged that there was need of thorough
overhauling of the present Indian policy. Dur
ing his speech he charged that the Cherokee
Strip Live Stock association had procured a.
lease from the Cherokee nation of the entire
Cherokee strip in the Indian Territory, for
which it was paying annually 500, 900; but
the association had subleased the lands to
other cattle companies, and was receiving
The white men occupied the strip in defiance
Of 1oru q