Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1886-05-29
FORTY-NINTH CONGRESS-.
First Session,
SENATE.

WASHINGTON. May 2S.
In the Senate today after routine business
was disposed of the chair laid before the Sem
aee Mr. wilson's resolution offered Yesterday
pro'lulhg Tor the investigation by the COM
nittee on Indian affairs into the matter of
appointments of Indian traders by the COM
mlttee on Indian affairs.
Mr. Dawes said that gross outrages were
perpetrated on the Indians by traders and
there was no law under which the latter
could be held liable.
Mr Butler moved the reference of the res
oiu'ion to the committee on Indian affairs
LOT preliminary inquiry as TO the founda-
tioh OF the facts upon which the statement is
based.
The resolution was so referred to the COM
mlttee on ludian affairs.
The Senate then resumed the consideration
OF the Northern Pacific land forfeiture bill
lhe pending question was to lay on the table
the amendment of Mr.. Van Wyck, which
would forfeit all the land co-terminous with
and adjacent to such parts of the proposed
lines as should not have been completed at
the date OF the passage of this act
Inc motion TO lay on the table was de-
feated, % to 2S.
Th question recurred on the adoption of
the amendment.
After some discussion and the submisso ion
OF some amendments in order that they might
be printed the hour of two arrived and the
bill went over without action.
Mr. Van Wyck's bill for the taxation of
railroad lands was then placed before the
Senate and under the plea of discussing this
bill the debate on the Northern Pacific for
felture was continued.
Conside rable 1ebate ensued but it resulted
flnn tba hafo tIa
$40 went into executive session.
AT 4.43 the doors were re-opened and the
Senate adjourned until Tuesday next.
HOUSE.
On motion of Mr.. Morrison of Illinois it
was ordered that when the House adjourned
tomorrow it be to meet Tuesday next
The Senate resolutions relative to the
death of Senator John +. Miller of Califor-
mia will be called up for action on Saturday,
June 10th,
Private business having been disposed
of the House went into committee of the
whole on the Oleomargarine bill, the pending
amendment being that offered by Mr.. Dan
iels of Virginia, reducing the special tax on
retail dealers from $48 to $25.
Mr.. Van Schaick of Wisconsin presented a
protest from the executive board of the
passage of the bill.
Mr.. Gibson of West Virgieia regarded the
whole bill as fraud and all amendments as
simply aiding to carry out that fraud. 1t
professed to be a bill in the interest of farm
ers, while, in fact, it was bill in favor of
grasping chances around great cities who no.
torousy watered their milk and made nasty
butter for the people. He regarded the
the measure as the most infamous that had
ever been introduced in the American Con-
gross, and advocates of the measure were
willing that a man should sell poor whiskey
if he should pay a tax, but if a man desired
to sell cheap food to the laborer he must pay
tax of 5000. If he were allowed to give
the names of members of Congress who had
told him they knew the bill was an infamous
and monstrous one but that they we're afraid
to vote against it he would make revelation
which would startle the country and show
what a mockery this legislation was
Mr.. Cannon of Illinois-Why not tell their
names?
Mr.. Gbson-I do not choose to do so, but
it is fact
After further debate the amendment sub
mitted by Mr.. Daniel was rejected.
On motion of Mr. Hatch an amendment was
adopted allowing retail dealers in oleomar-
garlne to pack the compound in paper pack
ages.
MIR. Townshend of Illinois offered an
| amendment reducing the tax or pound of
oleomargarine from ten to two cents.
Mr. McCrearv of Kentucky move to fix the
rate at five cents.
Mr.. Glass of Tennessee moved to fix it at
one cent: rejected.
Mr.. Butterworth of Ohio supported Mr..
Tew nshend's amendment 1t had been said
by advocates of this bill that all they desired
was such a law as would place the manufact-
ure of oleomar garine separate and apart from
that of butter, to compel man who manu-
factured it to stamp it for what it was. The
tax of two cents would bring about that re-
suit He warned the gentlemen on his side
of the House that if the time had come in
this country when Congress was willing to
wipe out one industry which could survive,
which could flourish, simply because
it was competitor of another do
nestle industry the spectre of free
| trade would stalk through every town and
village of the country within five years, and
it ought to. Applause on the democratic
side If this industry of oleomargarne was
what the gentleman said it was, the require
ment that it should appear before the country
| for what it was, was enough to destroy 1t.
| If it couldn't stand on its merit it ought 10
die; if it couldn't stand and grow and flourish
there was right in this Congress to strike il
down.
| Pending the action on the amendment the
| committee rose
| The speaker laid before the House several
veto messages on private pension bills and
they were referred to the committee on in
valid pensions.
| The House then, at 8 o'clock, took recess
till 8. the evening session to be for the con,
sideration of pension bills.
| The House at the evening session passed %
private pension bills and at ll.45 adjourned