The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1886-04-16
XLIXth CONGRESS- FIRST SESSION.
SENATE.
WASHINGTON, !

WASHINGTON, April 15.
MIR. Logan took the floor in support of the move
ment for open executive sessions. He offered
his own resolution, he said, because it provided
broadly for open sessions and he would simply
premise by saying that there was not now and
never was any necessity for a secret session OF
the Senate.
During Mr. Logan's remarks Mr.. Hoar OF
Massachusetts interrupted to inquire why il
would not be just as well to have open sessions OF
the various committees, and he asked if Mr..
Logan would favor open committee meetings.
n bn bv Were de
manding open doors for the proceedings of the
Senate, and the doors will be opened, Mr. Logan
added, mark what tell you; and IL will not be
long either. 1t seemed to charm the Senators,
Mr.. Logan continued, to have some knowledge
that they would not give to the people; it seemed
to please them when asked by a citizen how they
voted on the confirmation of a village postmaster
to be able to reply with an air of mystery, "Oh l
cannot tell you, am bound to secrecy" This re-
form, Mr.. Logan continued, was growing. The
people of this country would run the country and
all forms of opposition would have to cease, in-
cludng that which prevented men from express
ing their will at the polls.
Mr. Logan alluded to the English House of
Lords and advised the Senate to pattern no longer
and powers. He advised Senators to stop their
star chamber proceedings; Let not the repre-
sentatyes Of the people" he he said Imagine they
had any secrets of state that could not or should
not be Impaired to hepeople."
Mr.. Frye offered resolution which was refer
red to the committee on contingent expenses all-
thorizing the committee on foreign relations to
employ an assistant clerk who should be a Steno-
Mr.. Riddleberger in withdrawing the substitute
offered by him OF the open executive sessions re-
solutions, said he had offered it in the belief that
atWOthlrdS vote was necessary to pass the reSolu-
tion for which he intended his resolution to be a
substitute, but finding that the present form of
the resolution would require only a majority vote
n q Withdraw
Mr.. Blair called up the pension bill and it was
placed before the Senate.
1t being nearly two O'Clock Mr.. Hoar asked the
chair whether the interstate commerce bill would
be taken up at that hour. The chair (Mr. Sher-
MANI replied that it would. Mr.. Hoar then sug-
of the pension bill ought not to be dealt with in
the few minutes remaining before O'Clock. Mr..
Blair reminded Mr.. Hoar that he had had ample
opportunity to know that the pension bill had
been up three times and had been kicked and
buffeted about beyond any abuse he had ever
House of Congress He He was s' utterly disgusted
with the manner in which this and other pension
legislation had been treated at this session, and
unless the work of the pension committee could
be treated with more respect, he for one, would
ask to be excused from further service on it.
Mr.. Blair called for a vote on the bill.
Mr., Harris asked that the bill be read.
Mr.. Blair ,dmpatiently) "That makes three
times it will have been read'
fortieth time, l ask forf the reading of it,"
The chief clerk proceeded TO read the bill, but
before the reading was concluded the hour of two
o'clock arrived and the chair laid before the SEN
ate the Interstate commerce BILL
Mr.. Morgan, however, according to notice given
yesterday, moved that the Senate proceed to the
consideration of executive business, and the mo-
tiOn being agreed to the Senate at 210 D. m. went
Unto executive session, and when the doors were
re-opened at 5.45 adjourned.
HOUSE.
A resolution authorizing an investigation of the
books, accounts and system of accounts of the
Pacific railroads was reported; also bill repeal
ing the presumption, TIMBER culture and desert
land laws. Calendar.
The committee on library reported the Senate
bill accepting from Julia d. Grant and William f.
Vanderbilt certain objects of art presented by
foreign governments to the late U. s. Grant
Mr.. Caldwell of Tennessee, from the committee
on Presidential count, reported with amendments
the Senate bill to fix the day for meeting of the
electors of President and Vice President, and to
regulate the counting of votes.
Mr.. Tucker of Virginia, from the committee on
Judiciary, submitted an adverse report on the
memorial of John NJ. Perkins for the mpeach-
ment of Thomas L. Nelson, United States district
judge of Massachusetts, and the memorial was
laid upon the table,
At the conclusion of the morning hour the
House went into committee of the whole on the
river and harbor appropriation bill, all general
debate on the bill being limited to two hours and
half
Mr.. Willis of Kentucky briefly reviewed and
explained the provisions Of the bill, which he con-
tended called for no appropriation which was not
demanded by the interest of the country. The
bill was then read by sections for amendments,
and some little progress was made before the
committee rose.
The House then, at $50, adjourned