Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1886-04-08
PORTY-NINTH CONGRESS-.
First Session.
SENATE.
WASHINGrON. Anril Z.

SENATE.
WASHINGTON, April I.
After the routine morning business, which
WAS very light, MIR. Call addressed the Sen
ate on his resolution, instructing the COM
mittee on public lands to report bill to for
felt all railroad land grants not earned within
the time specified in granting the act or acts
extending the time. 1t was not, however, as
to the general subject that Mr.. Call particu-
larly wished to address the Senate, but On
the subject of land grants in Florida. Mr.
Call then gave history of those land grants
and the building OF railroads in Florida, es-
pecislly in connection with the corporation
known as the Florida Railroad Company.
Mr.. Calls resolution was referred to the
committee on public lands
Mr.. Hawley then took the floor on the
army bill. He supported the measure. He
rldlcuied the suggestion that the regular
army might be dispensed with. The idea of
force was at the back of every transaction of
the civil government whether the force wa.
seen or not. The bayonet and musket was
behind the constable and justice of peace. In
regard to all the conditions necessary for our
national defense and maintaining our rights
with the sole exception of our little army, for
when Mr.. Hawley had the greatest respect,
We had fallen into a condition of 'innocuous
desuetude" and contempt. If it were under
stood that the military arm were powerless
bad elements would at once come to the
front, riot, theft, arson and murder would
break loose. MIR. Hawley iu making this
remark had no reference to the great mass
of people wherever found or wherever or
ganlzed, whether Knight of Labor or anything
else. He referred to the instance in which
honest labor met at Trafalgar Square in
London and in which all the bad elements at
once came forward and almost paralyzed the
whole city of London. A few dozen black
guards in such case could do great damage.
The regular troops, he said, would command
respect in any state where the militia could
not be transferred from one State to another
to suppress local disorders. Referring to
coast defenses, Mr.. Hswley said that our
coasts were practically defenceless and the
forts were death draps. Modern missiles of
war would 90 through six walls one after an
other each one of which might be as thick AS
the thickest walls on our ships. If we should
be fairly prepared for war we should have no
war. If we were so defenseless as now we
invited war. War was always unexpected
and 1t was likely to break out MIR. Hawley
alluded also to the lamentable exposure of
our coast cities, especially to the exposure
of San Francisco to the guns of Chinese war
ships.
Mr.. Teller said nobody was opposed to
building Notifications or the manufacture
of guns This bill was not for building for
titcations or guns, but for an increase of the
army.
MIR. Logan said that the forts and guns
could not be manned by green men.
Mr.. Teller remarked if we were to have
great war it would not be fought by the
regular army but by volunteers. He thought
that Mr.. Hawley's remarks went to show
that the army was to be used as police
force.
Mr.. Hawley. with great warmth, repelled
the suggestion which he said were implied by
the remarks of Mr.. Teller. He denied, with
emphasis, that he wanted the army made for
police purposes and didn't thank the senator
from Colorado for endeavoring to put him in
the wrong iii the matter and endeavorng to
array against him (Hawley) the prejudces of
demagogues. There was no man in the SEN
ate or elsewhere who would more rigidy than
would Mr.. IIawley hold the army, either
State OF Federal, to its duty as a mere tool
and instrument OF civil power. He had thought
that it would be good for the people who
were suffering to employ them as Powderly
of the knights of Labor would employ them
in accordance with the constitution of the
Knights of Labor In putting down some
thieves and scoundrels that were blaspheming
the name of labor. He considered the Pow
derby man of more conservatism and stand
ing in the country than some men on the
floor of the Senate. The senator from Ne
braska had referred to the case of Anthony
Burns who had run away from slavery and
the senator thought that case a parallel with
the base OF the strikers.
W.
ican organizations and voters. They com
pretended that whatever the people of this
country willed that should become law.
The ballot box was open to them; they had
the choice of candidates. The forum, press
and all other methods of agitation known to
the constitution were open to them. If their
cause be a just one they can compel respect
for it, Whoever, in this country, had just
cause knew where to find his remedy. With
all the advantages of progress there was
cause enough for an enormous uproar and
disturbance and trembling of the whole in
dustrial earth, but let us be patient and just
to each other. Can you change human ma
ture by statute? For himself he would not
work l6 hours day for any man, with half
an hour for dinner. He would strike. He
would organize, but he would not permit
thieves of the city Of New York to rush out
and destroy property from which he got his
living. If the sheriff couldn't do anything
with them with his posse he would have the
sheriff do what he had seen sheriff do in the
city Of New York-call out the Seventh regi-
ment.
At o'clock, according to previous un-
derstanding, a vote was taken on the motion
of Senator Hale to strike out section two of
the bill. (rhis is the section which estab-
fishes the future army force at 80, 900 mem
On this motion the yeas were 90 and the
nays %; the vote being tie Mr.. Hales mo-
tion was lost.
The republicans voting for Mr.. Hale's mo.
ton were Messrs. Bowen, Chace, Conger.
Hale, Ingalls,, Plumb, Sherman, Teller and
Van Wyck. The democrats voting against
it were Brown, German, Gray and Walthall.
With those exceptions the votes for the mo-
ton were democrats and the votes against it
republicans.
Mr.. Manderson then moved as an amend
ment heretofore introduced and fnvorably re-
ported from the military committee, known
as the three battalion bill. Agreed to.
After further debate the bill was put on
a final passage and rejected; yeas 10, nays
81.
AT 30 P. NJ: the Senate, on motion OF
Mr.. Ingalls,, adjourned.
The speaker laid before the House mes
sage from the President on the subject o.
Chinese immiyration referred to the com.