Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1886-07-13
FeRTY-yIsTH CONGRESS-.
WAsHINGroN, July l2.

SENATE
WASHINGTON, July l2.
On motion of Mr.. Hoar the committee on
privileges and elections got permission to sit
during the session of the Senate. Ii is un-
derstood that this is connected with the con-
siderstion of the Payne case.
The House bill granting pensions 10 SOL
diers and sailors of the Mexican war having
been reached on the calendar an objection
was made by Mr.. Teller on an appeal to him
by Mr.. Wilson of Iowa, and on the statement
by Mr.. Harris that no democrst senstor would
consume any time in discussion the bill was
withdrawn. The bill was then considered
and passed with an amendment.
The bill as passed directs the secretary OF
the interior to place on the pension bill the
names of the surviving officers and enlisted
men who, being duly enlisted, actually served
sixty days with the army or navy of the
United States in Mexico or on the coasts or
frontier thereof or enroute thereto in the war
with that nation or who were honorably dis
charged, and their surviving widows, provided
that such widows have not remarked. and
provided that every such officer, enlisted man
or widow, who is or may become 62 wears of
age or who is or may become subject to any
disability or dependency equivalent to some
cause r, cognized by the pension laws as suffi-
cient cause for the allowance of pension.
shall be entitled to the benefits of the act,
except where such disability or dependency
was incurred in aiding or sbetting the late
rebellion. The pensions are to be IS month
pay able only after the passage of the act,
This Law is not to apply to persons already
receiving pensions at or over that rate and
where the pensioners entitled under the law
are already receiving pensions less than IS a
month, the pension shall be only for the diff
erence up to S8.
AT IL 80. the consideration of the calendar
was laid aside.
MIR. Hoar, from the judicinry committee,
reported back with a substitute MIR. Beck's
bill, to prohibit members of Congress from
acting as attorneys or employees of railroads
that have received grants of land from the
United States. He said he had himself pre-
pared substitute which he proposed to offer
for that Of the committee.
Mr.. Cook, on behalf of himself, Mr.. Wilson
of Iowa and Mr.. George, (members of the
judiciary committee) expressed dissent from
the reports of the majority and gave notice
of q substitute which they would offer at the
proper time.
The bill and all the substitutes were order
ed printed and placed on the calendar.
The Senate then resumed the consideration
of the river and harbor appropriation bill,
the pending question being On the Hennepin
canal and Michigan and Illinois canal amend
ment.
MIR. Allison argued in favor of the amend
ment. He believed it to be as important a
provision as there was in the bill.
Mr.. Frye inquired whether it would be
prudent or economical to build a canal only
80 feet wide and seven feet deep and with
a,,tx
tons.
Mr.. Allison replied: Unquestionably so.
From Chicago there was cheap water COM
municaton and it was expected that there
would be a change of bulk at Chicago.
Mr.. Cullom also advocated the amendment
and gave some explanations in answer to
questions of Mr.. Hawley's, as to some of the
engineering problems involved.
MIR. Miller made a speech in favor of the
amendment, in which he contrasted the cost
of water and railroad transportation and gave
statistics in that come ectiOn showing that rail
rates from Chicago to New York were $50
per cent. higher than those by water. He
had no doubt that Hennepin canal would do
for the great Northwest what Erie canal had
done and was doing for the produce of the
West.
Mr.. Vest said that notw outstanding the
long and intricate arguments made today, he
would repeat what he said last Saturday,
namely; That the days of canals were num-
bered. If a system of large canals we're in
augurated. canals that would float boats of
500 or 700 or 1000 tons, such canals might
compete to a certain extent with railroads !;
but these small canals (foating boats of less
than 300 tons) were going out of existence
and didn't form even factor in competition
v ith railroads. This amendment he believed
to be an avant courier Of proposition to un-
load the Erie canal on the general govern
ment. He was sick and tired of having the
committee on commerce made the dumping
ground of every sickly, broken down scheme
of international improvements.
Finally the discussion closed and the SEN
ate agreed to the amendment; yeas 81, nays
22
Among the New England Senators who
voted with the majority were Messrs. Blair,
Dawes, Hale. Hawley and Hoar; with the
minority, Edmunds and Frye
MIR. Mcmillan gave notice that he would
ask the Senate to dispose of the bill tomor-
row.
Mr.. Allison, from the committee on ap-
propriations, reported back the sundry civil
bill with amendments; ordered printed,
The Senate, at 80 P. NJ adjourned
HOUSE.
A bill was introduced by Mr. Lowering of
Mass, by request, to abolish the importation
contract and held to involuntary servitude
into the United States.
The business relative to the District of
Cof. h.xr,