Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1886-06-25
RORTY-NINTH CONGRESS-.
SENATE.

WASHINGTON. June "a.
The bill repeating the preemption and tim
Der culture laws was proceeded with. Mr..
George addressed the Senate on the bill.
In the course of his remarks Mr.. George
denounced the frauds committed on public
lands. The bill was then passed, yeas, "a ;
nays, 20.
A committee of conference was ordered on
the disagreeing votes Of the House and Sem
ate on the bill.
The Fitz John Porter bill was then laid
before the Senate.
Mr.. Sewell said that it was the same bill
that had passed before. Thore was nothing
to be said now that would throw any new
light upon the subject. A mere statement of
facts would be sufficient. Mr.. Sewell then
reviewed the charges against Gen. Porter,
the action on the case, court martial and in
vestigstion by q later military boarl and
argued with great warmth and earnestness
that the evidences and reports of the officers
of both the Union and Confederate armies all
went to show that Gen. Porter had used
every proper and dutiful endeavor to comply
with his orders. Mr.. Sewell spoke at length
in defense of Gen. Porter. The people, he
continued, had finally come to see that in
stead of being criminal Gen. Porter was a
martyr "He comes now before you" said
Mr.. Sewell, in conclusion, "for l trus the
last time to ask for justice, nay to demand it.
The time has gone by to ask that tavors be
granted to this man that has been wronged
l, who know him as a citizen of my state and
as man whom have seen in the fore front
of many a fight, demand the justice of the
Senate of the United States for this man " he
has been so grossly wronged."
Mr.. Logan obtained the floor to reply to MIR
Sewell but yielded to go into executive ses.
sion.
At 4 As the Senate went into executive ses.
sion and at 5.55 the doors were reopened ano
the Senate adjourned.
In the House this morning Mr.. Randall
moved to dispense with the morning hour.
The motion having been agreed to the
House went into committee of the whole on
the sundry civil bill.
The pending amendment was that offered
by Mr.. Warner of Ohio providing that nc
money appropriated for the bureau of en-.
craving and printing shall be used IN print.
ing United States notes of large denomina
ton in lieu of notes of small denomination
cancelled or retired.
The amendment was agreed to, 80 to rs.
Mr.. Gibson of West Virginia offered an
amendment providing that nothing in these
sections shall be construed as subjecting ap-
pointees in the bureau of engraving and
printing to civil service rules. The object OF
this amendment, he said, was to give chance
to the party in power to control to some ex
tent the offices to be run by that party
While he repudiated the doctrine that to the
victors belongs the spoils he did claim thai
to the dominant party belonged the right tt
run the administration for which it was re-
sponsible. No sensible people ever sent ou
an army Offcered by the enemy. No husi
ness man ever undertook to run his busines,
under the control of rival.
Mr.. f. B. Taylor of Ohio repudated tht
doctrine that to the victor belonged tn,
spoils. No party in this country could liv,
with such avowed principles.
After some political repartee the amend.
ment was rejected.
On motion of Mr.. Bland an amendment
was adopted authorizing and requiring the
secretary OF the treasury to issue silver Ger
tihcates of the denominations of 81, 50 anC
S5 on all surplus silver dollars now in the
treasury in payment of appropriations made
in this bill or other expenditures or obliga
tions of the government.
The section of the bill concerning coast
eeodetic survey having been reached genera
debate was in order Pending action the
committee rose and the House at five o'clocl
adjourned.