Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1886-03-01
AT THE CAPITOL TO-DAY
PRESIDENT AND SENATE.
The Minority Report Of the
Judiciary Committee.
A LITTLE BREEZE IN THE HOUSE,
Was Capt. Eads Seen on the Floor?
Pension Bureau Investigation.
The Senate.

Pension Bureau Investigation.
The Senate.
SUSPENDED ACCOUNTS OF OFFICIALS.
The chair laid before the Senate q letter from
the Secretary Of the Treasury transmitting, in
reply to recent Senate resolution, a report
showing the claims, accounts and vouchers
suspended In that department.
In discussing motion to print Mr.. Hale said
the accounting officer of the Treasury had
lately taken what seemed to him the extra
ordinary course of "holding up" or suspending
the accounts or vouchers Of officers of the gov
eminent who, according to custom, and the
usua! authorization had paid out moneys
which had been entrusted to them for the pur-
the accounting officers of the Treasury, Mr.
authorized.
The papers, which are voluminous were
ordered printed.
THE MINORITY REPORT OF THE JUDICIARY COM
MTFTEE.
Mr.. Pugh, representing the minority OF the
committee on the judiciary, submitted the
views OF the minority on the resolution referred
to that committee concerning the office of the
district attorney for the southern district of
Alabama.
1t was ordered to be printed in the Congress
stondt Record and also in separate form.
THE RIDDLEBERGER RESOLUTION AND PUGH
SUBSTITUTE.
Mr.. Hoar. from the committee on the judi
ciary, reported back without any recommended
ton the resolution heretofore offered by Mr..
Riddleberger and the substitute for it offered by
MI Pugh relating to the right Of the Senate to
ask the President for his reasons for removals
or suspensions from Office. Mr. Hoar remarked
that as the subject matter had been dealt
Win by another committee tthe judiciary COM
mittee) and as majority and minority reports
had come from that committee, the committee
on privileges and elections did not think it
worth while to deal with the question. The
committee was discharged from its considera-
ton, and the resolutions were laid on the table
to be taken up, If desired, when the report he
judiciary committee shall be taken up.
NO FREE PASSES TO MEMBERS OF CONGRESS.
Mr. Plumb submitted an amendment to be
offered by him to the Interstate commerce bill
when it shall be up for consideration prohibit
ing railroads from issuing free passes to men,
bers of Congress or officers or employees of the
government or to members or their families.
The amendment also makes 1t unlawful for
any member OF Congress or officer or employees
OF the government to apply for free pass or to
be allowed to travel on a railroad at lower
rate than that charged to the general public.
The penalty for violating those provisions pro,
posed by Mr.. Plumb to be fine not to exceed
5000 or six months Imprisonment or both.
The amendment was ordered printed.
endar was one from Mr. Frye, from the commit
tee on commerce, ITO abolish certain fees for
ofticia. services to american vessels, and to
sioners, seamen and owners OF vessels"
NATIONAL TRADES UNIONS.
Among bills introduced was one by Mr.. Blair,
at the request, he said, of the legislative COM
mittee of the Federation of Trades and Labor,
to legalize the incorporation of national trades
unions. 1t was referred to the committee on
education and labor.
EXECUTIVE SESSION.
At 1:2O p. m. Mr.. Hale moved that the Sem
ate proceed to the consideration of executive
business.
The motion was agreed to, and the Senate &C.
cordingly went into executive session.
THE CHASE NoMINATIoN.
The Senate, in executive session, took up the
nomination of Mr.. Chase to be collector in
Maine. Messrs. Voorhees,, Beck and other
democrats strongly advocated the confirma-
ton of MIR. Chase. while Mr.. Hale bitterly op-
posed 1T.
THE PRESIDENTS SPECIAL MESSAGE
While the Senate was in executive session
this afternoon a message from the President
was delivered treating upon the question OF
submitting executive papers to the Sanate and
defending the Presidents views on that Ques-
ton.
House Of Representatives.
THE DISTRICT REFORM SCHOOL.
The Speaker announced the appointment of
Mr.. LIE Fevre, of Ohio, as consulting trustee
of the Reform school of the District of Column
bia
THE EADS SHIP RAILWAY BILL.
question of privilege, sent to the clerks desk
to have read an article in the New York Times
OF Friday last relative to the Eads ship railroad
bill.
Before the reading had been completed Nh.
Reagan CTex.) suggested that no question of
privilege was presented.
Mr.. Beach said that if the gentleman had
allowed the reading to be concluded he would
have found that the charge was made that
Captain Eads had been on the floor of the
House during its session. Unfortunately, he
cnf6 toHor TIoI
knowledge that 1t was true. He had no personal
acquaintance with Captain Eads, but he knew
him by sight, and he had seen him on the floor
during the sessions of the House earnestly en-
gagged in conversation with members. Not only
had Captain Eads abused the privilege of the
we IL he
deem 1t necessary to ask for a committee of in
vestigation. He, however, offered a resolution
"a regulating admission to the floor.
The Speaker. That is the duty of the door
keeper under the rules of the House.
Mr.. Reagan inquired when Mr. Beach had
seen Captain Eads on the floor.
Mr.. Beach replied that he had seen him within
Mr.: Reagan. I never saw him and have no
idea he ever was here.
:, Mr.. Clardy and Mr.. Heard (Mo.) stated that
Captain EadS had been confined to his house
for some days on account of sickness
Mr.. Reagan said that the statement in the
nuai profit Of $500 600 to the railroad was
incorrect. The bill guaranteed not one cent Of
profit. he supposed that the purpose was to
raise scandal and create a public sentiment
against the bill before it had been considered
by the House. He did not believe that Capt
Eads had been on the floor of the House during
its sessions.
Mr.. Beach replied that there was a question
OF veracity between the gentleman and himself
He had seen Captain Eads on the floor within
the past ten days.
On motion of Mr. Burrows (Mich.) the reso-
luton was laid on the table.
Mr.. Beach then offered resolution INSTRUCT
ing the committee on rules to inquire whether
rule "a has been violated.
IT ENDS IN SMOKE
On motion of Mr.. Browne 0ndD it was
amended by extending the inquiry to the VIC
lation of the rule which prohibits smoking on
the floor, and then, on motion of Mr.. Niece
u!ls), both resolution and amendment were
laid on the table.
NEW BILLS.
Under the call OF states the following bills
etc., were introduced and referred:
By Mr.. Lore (DeLeTo repeal the patent laws
now IN force, and establish another system of
rewards for Inventions
PROPOSED PENsJ0N OFFICE INVESTIGATION
by Mr. Springer Qn)-A resolution directing
the committee on expenditures in the Interior
department to investigate the expenditures