Daily Kennebec journal., 1886-07-27
P0RTY-NIxTH CONGRESS.
First Session.
SENATE.
WASHINGTON. July &c.

ARLINGTON. July 20.
In the Senate this morHing Senator Blair,
froH the committee on education and labor,
submitted a favorable report from a majority
of the committee ON the joint resolutions,
proposing that an amendment to the consti-
tuition in relation to acoholic liquors and
other poisonous beverages, be submitted to
the legislature of the States for ratification.
The amendment provides that after the year
1900 the manufacture, sale and importation
of distilled oholic, intoxicating liquors,
except for medicinal, mechanical, chemical
and scientific purposes, and for use in arts,
shall cease.
The report which accompanies the proposed
amendment says the committee does not
deem it necessary to discuss the evils of the
use OF alcohol, but believes the people have
right to decide what measures will be taken
for the regulation or extirpation of this
traffic. why" it asks, should they be de-
MED the opportunity To be heard in only a
forum that can pass upon the question, when
any considerable and respectable portion of
American people desire to plead their cause
| in great tribunal of sovereigns, who in
free country decide every question of funda-
mental issue? In the iast resort 1t is the
duty of Congress to enact such preliminary
legislation as is here proposed, so that under
| the forms of the constitution they can be
heard OF the question of its amendment. To
deny this is the very essence of despotsm and
for Congress to unreasonably refuse hear
ing is a just cause tor a revolution"
Mr.. Blair, from the committee on educa-
ton and labor, reported back the House bill
directing the commissioners to make investi-
CATION as TO convict labor; passed.
Mr.. Ingalls, offered re solution which was
adopted, requesting the President to commu-
Dicate information concerning the alleged re-
tention of A. X. Cutting, an American citi-
zen, by Mexican authorities at Paso del Nor
te; also whether any additional United States
| troops have been recently ordered to Fort
Bliss.
The Senate then, at ll.45, proceeded to
the consideration of the deficiency appropria.
tion bill.
The reading of the bill being completed
and all the amendments reported by the COM
mlttee on appropriations being disposed of,
the bill was open to general amendment
On motion of Mr.. Hale an item of 1912
was inserted TO pay Chester A. Arthur, on
account of expenses as collector of customs
at New York; also an item of $248 900 for
repayment to importers of duties paid in
excess; also an item of 1926, ia, on account
of mail transportation over non subsidized
railroads, operated by the Central Pacific X.
~ w., ior tiie ueCdl year enulng June oU,
1886, and prior years.
A number of minor items were inserted
and the bill was then reported back to the
Senate, and all the amendments being con-
Cured in the bill was passed.
On motion of MIR. Edmunds the Senate
then went into secret session, after ordering
a recess from 6 till 8.
At O'Clock the Senate took recess until
:, at which hour the consideration of execu-
tive business in secret session will be re-
sumed
The Senate reconvened at s o'clock in sec.
ret session. The confirmation of Collector
Thomas Hanlon of Indiana, was the question
under discussion.
The charges against Hanlon were immoral
ity and incompetency. There were but few
more than quorum of senators present and
at entiOn being called to the fact both sides
to the controversy assented to postponement
of action till tomorrow.
The greater part of tomorrow may be
passed in secret session, it having been de-
cded not to take up the Notifications approp-
ration bill till Wednesday
At s 45 the doors were reopened and upon
motion of Mr. Sawyer the Senate proceeded
to the consideration of the private pension
bills which had been favorably reported
Fifty were passed, including one granting a
pension to the widow of Gen. Durbin Ward
The consideration of public building bills
was then taken up on motion of Mr.. Malone,
and after passing several the Senate, at 10. 10,
adjourned.