Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1886-01-12
PORTY-NINTH CONGRESS-.
First Session,
SENATE.


ton of the territory of Lincoln.
Mr.. Butler reserved the right to submit a
minority report. if after perusal aaj con-
sideration of the majority report, he should
conclude to do so.
Mr.. Harrison OF the same committee re-
ported adversely on the resolution heretofore
offered by Messrs. Butler and Vest, calling
tor inquiries as to the organization of a state
government in Dakota. The resolutions were
placed on the calendar.
MIR. Morgan offered resolution in rela-
tion to the trustees provided for by the Utah
bill to manage the property and affairs of the
Mormon church organization. A preamble
to the resolution recites that the union of
church and state in joint administration of
temporal and spiritual affairs OF any church
or religious sect, is dangerous to the freedom
of religious worship, and violates the princi-
Piles of the constitution.
The resolution sets FORTH among other
things, that in the opinion of the Senate it is
not in the power of Congress to appoint Off
GERS Of the United States to participate with
the officers of any church or religious sect in
the management of the affairs of such church
or sect, and that it is a violation of the con-
stitution for the President to appoint any such
officer under law. Laid over.
MIR Manderson called up his bill to increase
the efficiency of the iofantry branch of the
army, and addressed the Senate at length in
explanation thereof
Mr.. Blair addressed the Senate on the bill
heretofore introduced by him to provide for
the erection of a monument at Washington
to Lincoln and Grant Lincoln and Grant
are associated in the minds of the people,
with Washington, As saviours of the country,
and appropriate monuments should be erect
ed to their memory in the capitol OF the na-
ton. Individual effort would never under
take to erect monuments becoming the great
est of men and principles to be commemorate
ed in these instances, and the government
should therefore undertake the task, AS it had
completed a monument to Washington.
Mr.. Pugh called up Mr.. Beck's silver res
olution and addressed the Senate on it. The
real point involved. Mr. Pugh believed to be,
not the suspension but total stoppage of
silver coinage, and if silver were suspended
now it would speedily and directly lead to a
consummation of an organized conspiracy of
capitalists to secure absolute control of all
our currency, and the regulation of its vol
ume, and the consequent purchasing power
He criticised the arguments of the secretary
of the treasury aud of the President. He in-
quired whether We were to obey the mere
direction of the President in this matter, and
Insisted that the executive officers we're un-
der obligations to enforce the rules of Con
Rress. Why had those laws been hourly
violated? Had Congress addicted its powers
TO the executive department of the govern
ment? National banks. who were fiscal
agents OF the government. should not Mr.
Pugh thought, have been allowe to become
members of the clearing house that discred-
tied the silver certificates of the government
The real reason the banks didn't like silver
was because silver was the only medium thev
could not control. Stop the coinage of sill.
yer, said Mr.. Pugh, and those banks would
become absolute monarchs of all they survey
The opinion of James G.. Blaine, he con-
tinued, would have influence with some. He
read from the remarks made bv Mr. Blaine
while in Congress to the effect that the es-
tabishment OF non-metallic gold stendard
would be injurious to our industries and COM
merce and that the United States could not
wisely treat silver as the European powers
did. Both metals, Pugh insisted, were nee
essary in order to counteract the constant
tendency of money to contract under the vast
increase of values of the world.
Before Mr., Pugh concluded his remarks
the Senate went into executive session. and
late, adjourned.
The speaker laid before the House COM
munication from the clerk, transmitting pa
pers in various contested election cases and
the papers were referred to the cnmmittee on
elections.
Bills were introduced by Mr.. Oats of Ala
bama to prohibit aliens from acquiring a
title to or owning lands within the United
States, also to forfeit the New Orleans, Ba-
tor Rnuup V,pk shn Inn al,
amend the rules of the House so as to limit
speeches to 80 minutes.
By Mr., McKenna of Caifornia-For the
appointment of two army and two navy off
GERS and one civilian, authorized to construct
two gun founderIes, one in California at the
Mare Island navy yard, one at Benyera arse
nal and one at such other place as the board
may determine, at cost not to exceed ST.
600, 900 foundery.
BY Mr.. TownsheDd of Illinois-Providing
for the issue bv the treasury of silver certif-
Gates IN the denominations of 81, 50 and SIS
each. This is an amendment of the silver
act of 1873, under which $40 certificates are
now issued. The object is to supply the
need for additional small bills as a part of
the circulating medium.
By Mr.. Morrill, of Illinois-Authorizing
the secretary of the navy to fit out an expe-
ditlon to observe the total eclipse of the sun
on Aug. 90, 1886
BY Mr.. Boutelle of Maine-Resolution
calling on the secretary of thh navy for in
formation concerning the truth or fasity of
certain statements which have appeared ia
the public press as follows: First, that the
commandant of the United States navy yard
at Norfolk has caused honorable inscriptions
heretofore borne on cannon captured by the
United States military, to be obliterated !;
Second, that he caused to be removed from
the dry dock tablet placed there at the time
twas reconstructed, bearing the inscription.
destroyed by rebels in 1862 r. built by
the United States government in 1868 -
Third. that because of his protest against the
removal of those inscriptions the superln-
tendent in charge Of the building had been
removed from his position, and a person who
engaged in military service against the gov
ernment appointed in his place. Fourth.
that in disregard of grateful recognition of
services, sacrifices and sufferings of persons
honorably discharged from the military and
naval services of the country, a number OF
which persons had been dismissed from en-
ployment in the Norfolk navy yard, and their
places filled by men who fought against the
government during the rebellion. IF these
allegations are found true the secretary of
the navy is directed to inform the House
upon whose order and on what authority, and
in pursuance of what public policy, if any,
such inscriptions were obliterated and such
persons dismissed from the service.
By Mr.. Dingley of Maine-To abolish