Morning journal and courier., 1886-03-25
FORTY-NINTH CONGRESS-.

 SENATE-Mr. Logan's army efficiency bill l came up and MT. Logan explained that un- der the present laws there were but 23, ,6S6 | effective men in the army and that under the proposed increase to 30, GOO there would probably be only about 27, 900 effective men. MT. Teller opposed the increase. It was claimed that the increase was needed for a specific purpose to guard against Indian troubles, but he saw no reason in the Indian question for an increase in the effective force of the army.
 MT. Platt favored the increase He said we had no army; it was nlisnomer to call the present skeleton an army. The argument that we had no immediate need for an army was like arguing that because it was not raining to-day 1t would never rain. To be sure the skies were now clear, but all clouds gathered rapidly and we were not entirely free from possible difficulty with foreign na- tions.
 At 3 o'clock the army efficiency bill went over and MT. Morgan took the floor in oppo sition to the Judiciary committee resolu- tions.
 MT. Mitchell, of Oregon, supported the majority report He believed the Attorney General plainly in error in refusing to fur nish the papers called for. But if called on to vote for the series of the majority resolu- tions as whole he would do so reluctantly and under positive protest. His only hesi- tancy would be because of the objectionable character of the resolution, which asserted substantially that the absence of the papers called for would be ground sufficient to war rant the Senate in refusing to act on the nominations referred to- The failure of 8 head of a department or the executive to comply with 8 demand for papers would be no sufficient reason for the Senate's failure to perform it's own duty with the best light that under the circumstances it could obtain. While believing that the papers called for ought to have been furnished, MT. Mitchell did not believe it followed as either 8 legal or consti- tutional corollary that the Senate should re- fuse it's advice and consent to proposed re- movals. The Senate's duty was no less i'm perative on the Senate than the Presidents duty was on the President. It would be going too far to declare in advance that nomina- tions would be rejected not considered at all merely because of mistake or misconduct on the part of executive officers.
 Mir. Hoar as one of the Senators signing the report did not understand that to require obedience to the call for papers in every par ticular case was supposed by the committee or any member of it to be always essential in the consideration of suspensions. Therefore in voting for the third re olution, the one objected to by MT. Mitchell, MT. Hoar did not mean to pledge himself to the idea that in every instance of refusal by department al head he (Mr. Hoar) would not consider the case. He had failed to hear in all the argu- ments of the Democratic side of the chamber a denial of a single proposition that the majority of the committee had at- firmed. "Why, what we affirm is this" said MT. Hoar with emphasis, ''that the official papers on the files of the government are to be seen whenever they think it necessary for the discharge of their duty by the two branches of Congress, clothed with the power of legislation. That is all, and that it is not for the President or the head of a depart fo doto Thok %o make of them when we see them"
 After colloquy between Senators Hoar, Edmunds and Gray respecting the wording of the Presidents formal notices of suspen- sions and removals which are sent to the Senate the debate for the day closed.
 A somewhat indefinite understanding was arrived at that the resolutions should be dis posed of before adjournment on Friday and that debate meantime should be resumed immediately after the morning business MT. Voorhees, will have the floor tomorrow first, to be followed by MT. Evarts.
 At $50 the Senate adjourned.
 
 H0USE.-Unanimous consent was asked by MT. Anderson that the Labor committee be authorized to report for action at any time legislation for the purpose of providing for arbitration in strikes on railroads, stating that the whole Southwest was without wheel carrying freight; granted without ob jection.
 The Congressional library bill came up and MT. Holman, of Indiana, offered sub stitute appropriating $5OO,OoO for the erec- ton of q building (whose ultimate cost shall not exceed $1,00O, ,O00 upon government reservation in Washington. Pending action the morning hour expired.
 The House then went into Committee of the Whole and the Indian appropriation bill came up. The pending question was the point of order raised yesterday by MT. Nelson against the appropriation for the Salem school, which he withdrew. There was then some discussion over another amendment which was rejected and the committee rose and the bill was passed; yeas 226, nays 5.
 The House at once went into committee On the postoffice bill, MT. Blount, chairman of the Com mittee Postoffices, briefly explain ing the provisions of the bill. It appropriat- ed, he said, $54 ,326, ,5SS against $53, 700, 300 for the current year. The bill contained but two legislative provisions. One related to special mail facilities which have been in the bill for the past ten years and the other to the mail messenger service.
 The House adjourned at 5:45 D. m.