The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1886-08-04
SUMMARY OF CONGRESS
Senate Sessions.

NNSN
rel, as a mere act of charity to colored
preacher, who had only served little while
in the Louisiana Native Guards; but Mr..
Blair said that the man had also served IN
colored regiment aud in the veteran brlgaGP.
The next bill taken up and IaSsed was
House bill granting pension of s25 monthly
to Miss Mary A. Thomas, who had acted as
volunteer army nurse aud superintendent of
nurses at Frederick Maryland. After ten
more pension bills were passed, the Senate
resumed consideration Of the River and Har-
Dor bill An amendment reducing the ap-
propriations in the bill twenty-five per cent;
was passed by 81 yeas to Is nays. The bill
Naval Appropriation bill was passei.
147TH DAY.-The Senate by vote of y to
Is, took up the Oleomargarine bill A mo-
ton to refer it to the Finance Committee was
defeated by vote of ID to ~. MIR.
Harris submitted an amendment to the
bill which proposes to substitute for all
the provisions of the bill except
making it a misdenieanor for any person to
sell or offer for sale in the District of Column
bia or Territories of the United States any
oleomargarine which is not distin etly
branded and sold as sub. Mr.. Beck
moved to refer the bill to the Com
mittee on Finance. The motion was
opposed by Messrs Miller and Edmunds
bury. Upon vote the motion was rejected
by - nays to Is yeas. Mr.. Miller then made
q long speech in favor OF the bill. ... Mr..
Dawes (Mass) from the Committee on
Indian Affairs, submitted report on the
message of the President Eetolng the Dill
granting the right OF way through reserva-
tions in Northern Montana, recommending
the passage of the bill notwithstanding the
Presidents objections He stated that the
report was unanimous and that he would
take an early occasion to call 1t up for action.
l4STH DAY.-Mr Blair offered an amend
ment to the House joint resolution for the
use of the surplus revenue in payment OF the
public debt Tho amendment provides that
before the payment of any part of the
set apart s790OO,00o to be known
as the Common School fund, such fund to be
paid out as provided in his Educational bill
The Senate then took up the Oleomar.
garine bill, and Mr.. Vauce argued against
It. He said the bill was outrage,
ously violative of the Constitution and
of individual and personal rights Mr..
ing the principle of the bill to wines and
liquors. Tabled-Yeas, 32; nays, Ii:
Further discussion of the bill resulted
in an angry personal controversy between
Messrs. Ingalls, and Miller The former
charged the latter with being in the dairy
business, and therefore having strong per.
sonal interest in the passage of the bill and
using the whole power of his position
as Senator to advan e the bill
Mr. Miller, apparently laboring under great
excitement, rose to reply. He denied having
referred to Senator Ingallss calling in early
life. That Senator had charged him with be-
ing directly interested in this measure. He
Mr. Miller) was proud of the fact that he had
been born and reared on q farm, and that his
home now was on farm. 1t was true that,
at some periods Of the year, he made butter
on his farm, and at other periods of the year
cheese He had, however, in his expert
ments for making butter and cheese ex-
pended $40 for every dollar which he got
back in return. As to the charge that he
was actuated by base and corrupt motives,
he said that those were words which Senator
ingalls,, or any other man, would not dare to
speak to him outside of the Senate chamber.
From that infamous charge he would appeal
to his constituents. Mr. Miller's remarks
closed the days discussion.
149TH DAY-After discussion the bill tax
ing oleomargarine was passed, with an
amendment reducing the tax from i've 10
two cents pound. The measure was also
amended so as to strike out the minimum pen
atty, which was $500 fine and six months i'm
prisonment As the bill now stands, the courts
can fix such penalty as the circumstances
of the case may justify, up to maximum.
Attempts wore made to modify the bill In
other respects, to reduce the license tax upon
retail dealers from SIS to SIP O year, and to
prohibit the use Of coloring matter in gen
uine butter, but they al fai,ed. From tho
Senate the bill went to a committee of con-
ference OF the two Houses. -. Mr.. Blair, from
the Committee on Pensions, reported back
the pension bills vetoed by the President,
with q recommendation that some OF
them be passed; and Mr.. Wilson of Mary
T. kI.4 kfnn fnG
back the vetoed pension bill of Joseph Romi-
ser ALREADY passed over the veto by the
House,, and recommended its passage. All
went on the calendar. 1T the evening ses-
sion the Sundry Civil Appropriation bill was
discussed
I5OrH DAY.-Mr Van Wyck handed in
bat of Knights of Lab II petitions in favor
of land bills. Mr.. Hoar, from the Com
NIT ee Oh the judiciary, reported favorably
a bill to repeal the Tenure Of Office at.
The Senate proceeded to the considera-
ton of the reports relating to the
election Of Senator Payne Mr.. Pugh
advocated the report made by him.
self, Mr.. Salisbury, Mr.. Fance and Mr..
E: SITS to the effe that there had been
no espreSSion of belief or suspicion on the
part OF any member of the committee, nor
any eviden;e of any kind, to the effect
that Mr.. Pa, ne was connected in the
remotest degree by act or knowledge
with anything wrong, criminal, or i'm
moral in his election, and that no further
investigation OF the charges should be
made. He then moved that that committee
be discharged from further consideration of
the SUBJ iect. Mr. Hoar spoke in support of
the views of himself and Mr. Eyre, recon-
mendiug an investigation OF the charges
Such Investigation, he argued, was due
TO Senator Paine, becau It could only
make it appear TINT the suspicion which
all Senators were 50 eager to remove
did not rest upon him personally, and
him or upon the State that had so honortd
him. Mr.. Logan warmly defended the re-
po:t made by himself, Mr.. Teller, ard Mr.
Evarts, t. the effe It that there was nothing
in the evidence presented to warran: an in
vestigat.o2 by the Senate. There was 70.
in the evidence taken before the com
mittee Of tn, Ohio l.egs' 'ature one sn.
gle iota OF testimony impli .ating Mr..
Payne directly or indirectly. He challenged
out ii there was. Mr. Logan then referre
to the attacks made iy Republicans ur n
himself and other Republican Senators be-.
cause Of their action in this case, one Of
whi b was that he tLo ,an) had reque ted
the committee to keep the vote Sc
cret. He made an indignant d.
nial Of this charge and attacked Editor
the position that gentleman had taEen to-
ward him. Mr.. Teller a'so poke, b. ga c
way for motion to adjourn.
l51sr DAY.-Mr Fdmunds offered reso-
luton directing the Civil Service Commits
sioners to send to the Senate copy of all
civil service rules and regulations, both gen
eral and special, with all changes and
notifications; also all information in
their possession touching any and