Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-04-15
XIX. CONGRESS-.
WASHINGTON, April IA, 1886.

senate.
The Chair laid before the Senate
letter from Senator Jackson, saying he
had accepted the United States judge
ship of the Sixth circuit that his seat
in the United States Senate had there.
fore become vacant, and requesting the
President pro tenn. Of the Senate to so
inform the Executive Of Tennessee. The
Chair said the information would be
accordingly sent to the Governor OF
Tennessee.
Mr.. German reported favorably from
the Committee on Commerce the bill
TO construct first.clsss light-ship and
establish it off the entrance to Chesa-
peake bay. The ship is to cost not to
exceed 100000, is to have a steam
fog-signal, and is to be built in an
American shipyard. On motion of Mr..
German the bill was at once passed.
Mr.. Morgan said he had been ln-
structed by the Committee on Foreign
Relations to give notice that tomorrow
at 9 o'clock, or as soon thereafter as
practicable, he would ask the Senate to
20 into executive session for the con-
sideration of an important matter.
Mr. Butler then addressed the Sen
ate on the subject Of open executive
sessions.
Mr.. Riddleberger submitted a sub
stitutc for the pending resolution re-
lating to executive sessions. The RESP
luton provides that all matters other
than those relating to treaties should
be considered and acted upon by the
Senate in open session. Ordered to be
printed.
The Senate took up the bill reporte
from the Committee on Pensions for the
relief of the soldiers of the late war
honorably discharged after six months
service who are disabled and dependent
upon their own labor for support and Of
dependent parents of soldiers who died
in the service or from disabilities con.
tracted therein. 1t provides for placing
on the pension-roll the bene6ciaries de.
scribed by the title. The highest rate
Of pension under this bill is s2i pei
month, with proportionate amount, for
partial disability.
At 2 o'clock the matter went over
for to-day, and the interstate CON-
merce bill was laid before the Senate.
Mr.. Cullom spoke at length in sup
port Of it.
Mr.. Palmer followed in support o.
the bill, not because he thought it al
| that he would approve, but because il
| looked in the right direction.
Executive session.
Adjourned.
House as Representatives.
Mr.. Morrison, from the Committee or
Rules, reported resolution granting
leave to the Committee on Public Land:
at any time during the present session
after the morning hour, to call up fol
consideration bills reported from tina
committee for the forfeiture Of land
grants to railroads and other corpora
tons, to prevent speculation in public
lands, and for the reservation Of public
lands for the benefit of actual bona, it'd,
settlers, the same not TO interfere witt
prior special orders or with revenue
and appropriation bills. Adopted.
The House then resumed the con
sideration Of the Hurd-Romeis con
tested.electiOn case.
After speeches by Messrs. Hall O.
Iowa, Ely OF Massachusetts, Hopkin:
of Illinois, Green of North Carolina
Pethbone Of Tennessee, and Breckin'
ridge OF kentucky, the floor was &C
corded to Contestant Hurd TO speak in
his own behalf.
As Mr.. Hurd ended his speech ht
was greeted with loud and long-con.
tinued applause on the floor and in the
galleries.
Mr.. Turner, of Georgia, after care.
fully reviewing the testimony which had
led him 10 concur in the findings Of the
majority report, dwelt upon the neces'
sity Of the House examining impair.
TALLY the evidence presented in election
cases, and deciding upon these cases
without partisan bias.
A vote was first taken on the resolu.
ton of the minority, which declares
that Jacob Romeis is not entitled to the
seat. This was defeated-yeas, los
nays, les.
The following Democrats voted with
the Republicans in the negative
Messrs. Beach, Blanchard, Blount,
Boyle, Chandler, Catchings, Dargan,
Dockery, Dunn, Findlay, Ford, Gay,
Gibson Of Mary land, Hale, Hammond,
Harris, Heard, Hemphill, Henley,
Herbert, Hewitt, Holman, Lanham,
Lawler, Lore, Lowering, Lowry, Nor
gan, Neal, Neece, 0'Ferrall, Perry,
Randall, Rogers, Seymour, Shaw,
Sowden, Spriggs, Stewart Of Texas,
ST. Martin, Swope, Tillman, Ward OF
Illinois, Warner of Ohio, Wilson,
Wise, Wolford, and Worthington.
The majority resolutions, confirming
Romeis's right to his seat, were agreed
10 without division.
Then arose contest for precedence
in the consideration of the various APP
preparation bills. Mr.. Willis, of Ken
lucky, having in charge the river and
barbor bill, steered it successfully
around the obstacles presented by the
Military Academy and consular and
diplomatic appropriation bills, but his
course was delayed when the obstruc-
ton of the agricultural appropriation
bill was reached. The delay, however,
was but temporary, for in half an hour
the agricultural bill was taken up and
passed.
There was no discussion Of the mea-
sure except over an amendment offered
by Mir. Price, Of Wisconsin, having
in view q reduction Of the force
Of employees in the Department OF
Agriculture. This gave Mr.. Skinner,
of North Carolina, an opportunity to At
tack the Commissioner Of Agriculture
for retaining Republican pets who did
not come within the civil-service rules.
The river and hsrbor appropriation
bill was then taken up long enough TO
make it the unfinished business.
Adjourned.