Morning journal and courier., 1886-03-10

speech read copy of 8 letter from MT. Thurman as chairman of the committee to the Attorney General dated March 24 1879, calling for such information as may be in the possession of your department concerning the following nomi- nations together with any suggestion you may be pleased to note" "On the 7th of April" continued MT. Edmunds, s'there came in horse of different color, the same kind of an animal that we have here now. Accordingly on that day this letter was writ ten to the Attorney General"
 To the Attorney General of the United States:
 Sir-Under the direction of the Judiciary com mittee of the Senate have the honor to request that you will communicate to the committee any papers or formation in your possession touching on the propriety of the removal (emphasis by MT. Edmundsl of Michael shaefier, chief justice of the pointment of David T. Corbin to the office.
 Your Obsdient Servant.
 ALLAN G. TH9ssAS, GSs;lS1a.
 "Alas, for the Democracy of these days, :" said MT. Edmunds. S'Think, MT. President, of the infinite idiocy, the unpatriotism, the usurpation of that number of fine Senators of the United States of the Democratic party assailing Republican Attorney General and Republican President with the insulting and impertinent inquiry as to papers and in- formation touching suspended officer whose successor was uOmlnaIeQ to dccOmpllsu LIE removal And yet those men were in their day among the headlights of the Democratic locomotive. There was Thurman-his light is put out, the greatest Democrat in the United States (applause in the galleries) and the best and the noblest one and the bravest one-for he had the courage not long ago in your State, sir, to denounce the Democratic fraud at the ballot. There was Thurman and there was "Joe" MacDonald-a name famil- jar in the West as in the East as the embodi- ment of upright Democratic pluck and con- stitutional law, and there was Garland whom we all know here, the leader on the Demo- cratic side of the Senate, full and running over with constitutional and statute and re- ported law, knowing his rights as Senator and as 8 member of the committee and know ing his duties, and Lamar, and then all the rest of on this side joining in what the present President of the United States calls an impertinent innovation of his rights ill asking for papers,"
 In conclusion MT. Edmunds said it did not seem to him that the Senate could fail to get the papers on the ground that the statute on this subject had become obsolete or gone in to state of ''innocuous desuetude" The President himself had sent to the Senate 643 instances of obedience to that Iaw-643 nom- nations made under it, and MT. Edmunds thought the law was still in force.
 MT. Pugh ready to reply to MT. Ed munds when the latter finished his speech, but yielded at 4:30 to motion to go into ex- ecutive session, which was agreed to.
 At o'clock the doors were reopened and the Senate adjourned.
 HoUsE.-The response of the Secretary of the Navy to the Boutelle resolutions regard ing the Norfolk navy yard was laid before the House. MT. Boutelle said that he believes that the substantial allegations made in his resolutions were sustained, and asked unani- nous consent that it be ordered printed and laid on the table. Objection being made the communication was referred to the Com mittee on Naval Affairs.
 The following among other bills were re- ported: By MT. Collins, of Massachusetts, from the Judiciary committee, providing for closing up the business and paying the ex- penses of the court of Alabama claims; cal endar.
 By MT. Johnson of New York, from the Committee on Commerce, establishing light at White Hall narIows, New York; calen- dar.
 The House resumed consideration of the bill requiring the Pacific railroads to pay the cost of surveying their lands and to take that one of the propositions presented to the Committee on Pacific Railroads required that the companies pay the cost of the survey under forfeiture. This plan the committee had considered as harsh one. Under the of the pending bill the companies were required within sixty days to select the lands to which they were en- titled and to pay the cost of surveying and conveying. Failing to do this the See retary of the Interior was directed to notify the companies as to the land to which they are entitled and the amount of money they are required to pay into the treasury. If the companies do not pay that money into the treasury within sixty days after notification the Attorney General shall institute suit to compel pay ment.
 An amendment by MT Holman was adopt ed providing that nothing in the act shall be constructed or taken to affect or to impair the right of Congress at any time hereafter to further alter, amend or repeal the various Pacific railroad acts, or to impair or waive any right or remedy now existing in favor of the United States.
 The bill was passed without opposition.
 On behalf of the Committee on Labor MT. James, of New York, called up the bill to prohibit any officer, servant or agent of the government to hire or contract out the labor of prisoners incarcerated for violating the laws of the United States. MT. James said the bill was in the interest of the honest mer- chanic. The bill was passed: Yeas 249; nays 8.
 The House them went into Committee of the Whole, MT. Townshend of Illinois in the chair, on the Indian appropriation bill and without reaching the point of action at 4:30 adjourned