The Portland daily press., 1886-05-12
XLIXth CONGRESS- FIRST SESSION.
SENATE.

WASHINGTON, May IL.
The chair laid before the Senate an invita-
tion from the Grand Army OF the Republic
to participate in memorial ceremony at
Arlington on Decoration day.
1t was laid on the table.
Mr. Hoar presented a memorial of the Re-
publican Genital committee of Ohio, charg-
ing that the election of Ell. B. Payne to the
the United States Senate was secured by
bribery, fraud and corruption, and request
ing that the Senate investigate the matter.
1t was referred to the committee on pri-
vate elections.
After the routine morning business the in
ter-State commerce bill was taken up and its
consideration resumed.
Mr.. Morgan formerly offered his amend
ment heretofore published to punish by fine
and imprisonment men who conspire to stop
or interfere with the running of trains en-
gagged in Interstate commerce.
On motion of Mr.. Hoar the amendment
was laid on the table. yeas, 40; nays, 8. The
negative votes were those of MeSSrS. Dolph,
Edmunds and Morgan.
Mr.. Brown offered an amendment proyid-
ing for the punishment of persons injuring
property Of railroad companies, tracks,
bridges, cars, etc. Laid on the table.
Considerable debate then arose on the
amendment of Mr.. Plumb's, offered for him
in his absence by Mr.. ingalls,. 1t is the
ago gave notice prohibiting members of Con-
gress, officials of the government and their
families from accepting free passes and pro-
hibiting railroad companies from giving
them such passes or reduced rates.
Mr.. Brown secured an amendment provid-
ing that the restrictions of the bill as to re-
duced fares should not apply to ministers Of
religion.
Mr.. Edmunds secured similar amendments
as to agricultural conventions and any socie-
ty meetings.
The amendment offered by Mr.. Spooner
was agreed to- applying the word. ..unlaw-
full, to the determinations condemned by
the bill, so as to bring breaches of its proyis-
ions within the technical meaning of the final
clause.
The bill was finally ordered reprinted as
amended, and failing to arrive at any CON
clusionias to when a yotesshould be taken,
the Senate at 6.25 p. m. adjourned.
HOUSE.
Immediately after the reading of the jour-
nal, the House went into committee of the
whole ON Mr.. Fenton's bill, providing for
the appointment of a commission to ascer-
provides for the appointment OF three COM
miSsioners, who shall receive salary OF $4,000
each, to serve for four years, for the purpose
of adjudicating Spanish and Mexican land
do.
Mr.. Weaver of Iowa spoke in opposition
to the bill.
An amendment was adopted, providing
that before the title to any claims shall be
confirmed the claimant shall show that all
taxes due territorial and municipal govern
ments have been paid; also an amendment,
providing that no alien or person not cltl-
zen of the United States shall acquire title to
any land subject to the decision of the COM
| mission, unless his right to the same is clear
| ly proved by one of the treaties referred
| to in the bill, was agreed to. The committee
| then arose and the bill was passed
| Mr. Lanery of Indiana, from the commit
| tee on elections, submitted the unanimous
| report of that committee on the California
| contested election case, the report of which
| confirms the right of all the sitting members.
/ Agreed to.
| The House then went into committee of
| the whole on the army appropriation BILL
| Mr. Grosvenor of Ohio moved to strike
| out the appropriation for the Judge Adyo-
| cate Generals department. He said that de-
| partment decided cases without knowledge
| of law, and that the system followed by the
| department was outrageous.
| Mr. Wheeler of Alabama stated as an in
| stance of the abuses which existed in that
| department, that Gen. Holt had been ap-
| pointed by Secretary Stanton, for the pur-
| pose of striking down Mcclellan, and as
| Mcclellan could not be struck down, Porter
| had been selected for destruction.
| feet, who repudiated the charge with indig-
| nation.
| Mr. Hiscock of New York also defended
| Secretary Stanton, one of the purest and
| most patriotia men that had been given to
| the service of the country.
The motion to strike out was l0st-S2 to 92.
Pending further action, the hour of 5 ar
| rived, the committee arose and the House
| adjourned.