Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1886-02-25
FORTY-NINTH CONGRESS-.
First Session,
SENATE.
WASHINGTON. Feb. u

WASHINGTON. Feb "a.
Hl.er the transaction of routine business
.n .ne senate proceeded TO the consideration of
the bills on the calendar.
Mr.. Morrill, called up the House hill ne,-
mltting national banks to change their name
location and capital by vote of two-thirds
OF the stockholders. The bill makes the
changes subject to the approval of the comm
troller of currency
On motion of Mr. Hoar an amendment WAS
made limiting the rights of bank to change
i's iocation so that it shall not change to an
o'ner stare, nor to place more than 30
miles distant from the original location. The
bill was then passed.
The education bill was then taken up and
Mr.. Blair addressed the Senate in reply to
the objections and criticisms made against il,
he contended that the legislature of Alabama
had given unanimous endorsement to the
principle of the bill. and to the bill itself. as
far as its essential features are concerned.
lie denied that the people of the South were
opposed to the measure and insisted that thev
favored 1t. He dwelt at some length on the
dement's to come, not only to the South but
the entire country from the removal of ilit-
eracy In the South, among those to come to
the South. He included increased immigra-
ton and the consequent increased activity and
prosperity among those to come to the coun-
try at large, the increased homeogenitv
among the people and consequently greater
national harmony and good will.
In discussing the constitutional features
involved in the measure, Mr.. Blair remained
that when our country had not more than
one-fourth of our present population, the
general government had taken S2S, 900, 900
from the national treasury in one year and
distributed it among the States. That was
much more than this bill would distribute the
first year.
Mr.. George said the House of Represen-
tatives of his State (Mississippi) had passed
resolutions requesting the United States SEN
ators from Mississippi to support the meas
ure- Mississippi was not here, however.
Mr.. George said, as suppliant for national
bounty. 1t regarded the measure as a gen
erous offer from the Northern States toward
removing the illiteracy prevailing in the
South. Mr.. George would be compelled
however, to decline the offer. He believed
it to be unconstitutional
The constitutionality of the bill was furth-
er assailed by Messrs. George and Hawley.
and the former continued his argument at
great length.
At o'clock MIR. George yielded to a mo-
ton for an executive session and the Senate
after few minutes spent in executive ses-
sion adjourned.
HOUSE.
In the House this morning a bill to quiet
the titles of the settlers on the Des Moines
river lands in Iowa was passed after some
what heated discussion, in which Mr.. Parker
of New York charged that a fund of 500, 900
had been raised to enable attorneys in Wash
ipO 70 lnhbv in tbo ipta of this hill
This charge was Indignantly denied by
Mr.. Henderson OF Iowa, who said that the
settlers in these lands could not raise $780,
600 to save their souls.
Mr.. Stone of Missouri, from the committee
on public lands, reported bill forfeiting
certain lands granted the Southern Pacific
railroad; house calendar.
In the morning hour the House passed a
bill to annex the northern part OF the Terri
tory of Idaho to Washington Territory
On behalf of the committee on railways
and canals Mr.. Murphy OF Iowa called up
and the House proceed to consider in COM
mittee of the whole the Hennipen canal bill.
If, Mr. Murphy said, the government Of the
the United States would construct this canal
the people of the Northwest could save so
per cent. over the present rate of transporta-
ton and save enough in year to build the
canal two or three times over
Pending the conclusion of Mr.. Murphy's
speech the morning hour expired and the
committee rose.
Mr.. James of New York. under instruc-
tions from the committee on coinage, asked
leave to offer a resolution making the bill
for the free coinage of the silver dollar
continuing special order from March 2d, not
to interfere with revenue or appropriation
bills.
The House the went into a committee of
the whole on the half-gallon tax bill.
Mr.. Butterworth of Ohio opposed the bill
and contended that half gallon should not
be taxed because the loss by soakage or leak
age always exceeded the quantity Mr.. But
terworth offered substitute requiring the
minimum capacity of packages into which
high spirits might be drawn to be thirty gal
Ions instead af ten gallons. The substitute
was rejected.
The committee rose and reported the bill
to the House and it was passed without di-
vision.
The House then, at o'clock, adjourned