The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1886-03-17
SUMMARY OF CONGRESS-
Senate Sessions.


favor Of his amendment, to the effe5t that
where separate white and colored schools ex-
ist the money should be paid out for the sup
port Of such white and colored schools Tin
the proportion that the illiteracy of the white
and colored persons aforesaid bear to each
other as shown by the census" Mr.. Miller
IN. " also spoke in favor of the bill. Exec
| utive session.
FoRTY-sIxTH DAY-Mr. Pugh, of Alabama,
submitted the minority report of the judici
ary committee on the Duskin case, involving
the question concerning nominations at issue
between the President and the Senate. The
report was not read in the Senate, but was or
dered printed and placed on the calendar. It
nish private papers relating to suspensions
from office. Mr.. Blair introduced a bill to
legalize the incorporation of national trades
unions. Executive session.
FoRTY-sEvENTH DAY.-Mr. Hoar pre-
sented petition from workingmen in the
government workshops since the enactment
Of the eight-hour law, asking compensation
some competent tribunal. Mr. Hoar
favored the petition, and it was ap-
propriately referred. :. Mr.. Edmunds from
the judiciary committee, reported ad-
versely the bill providing for the col
lection of marriage and divorce statistics.
The bill was indefinitely postponed. Mr..
Van Wyck, from the pensions committee, re-
increase pensions to widows and dependent
relatives of deceased soldiers and sailors.
The amendment provides for the increase
of pensions to minor children from 50
the amount fixed in the House bill-to 81
per month. Mr.. Van Wyck said he would
ask an early consideration of the bill, and
said he would ask the Senate to make further
increases to children. Mr.. Logan favored
the bill and amendments, but thought some
of them should be in O new bill. Placed on
the calendar. 80. The consideration Of the Ed
ucational bill occupied the session until 6 P.
n. when the Senate adjourned.
FoRTY-E1GHTH DAY.-The Education bill
was taken up, and Mr.. Harrison spoke in
advocacy Of the bill and in opposition to Mr.:
Allison's amendment Mr.. Edmunds offered
the following as substitute for Mr.. Allison
amendments: "And in each State and Terri
tory in which there shall be separate schools
for white and colored children the money,
paid in such State or Territory shall sal
the aS aPppF9D9so spppoDt of as such paw white and
colored schools respectively, in the propor-
ton that the white and colored children be-
tween the ages of ten and twenty-one years
in such State or Territory bear to each other,
as shown by the census Of 1880. The forego-
ing provision shall not affect the application
of the proper proportion of said money to the
support of all common schools wherein no
distinction Of race or color shall exist !"
Mr.. Edmunds then made an argument in
favor of the constitutionality Of the bill. Mr..
Blair was willing to accept Mr.. Edmunds'
substitute, and it was agreed to. Mr. Dolph
moved an amendment that the bill shall not
take effect until two-thirds Of the States shall
have accepted its provisions. On viva voce
vote it was rejected Vt. Mr.. Evarts presented
petitions of officers and trustees of savings
banks of New York State representing l. ,l6?,-
600 depositors and $437, 900, 600 of deposits IN
favor of suspension of silver coinage. Re-
ferred to the finance committee. Executive
session.
FoRTY-NINTH DAY.-Mr. Sewell, from the
committee on military affairs, reported ia
vorahly the House bill for the relief of Cen
eral Fitz John Porter, with report giving
the views OF the majority Of the committee.
Mr.. Sewell added that Mr.. Logan would,
later, submit the views Of the minority.
Discus ;ion of the education bill was
appropriating 81 900 to aid in building
school houses in communities of sparse popll-
lation, among people who would find it COM
paratively difficult to erect school houses.
Adopted. On motion of Mr.. Platt, the
Senate adjourned to give Senators an oppor-
tunity to express their sympathy with Senator
Hawley in his sad atfiiction, the death of his
wife, by ATTENDING the funeral services.
House Sessions.
FoRTY-NrNTH DAY.-Mr Morrison, from
the committee on rules reported substitute
for the Hanback, and Pulitzer resolutions dl-
recting an inquiry into the Pan-Eectric tele-
phone matter The substitute is as follows:
"ReSolreI, That a select committee,
Of
House, be appointed, and when so ap-
pointed the committee is hereby directed at
as an early day as possible to make inquiry
into any expenditure on the part OF the gov
ernment incurred relative to the rights of
the Bell and Pan Electric Telephone COM
panies to the priority of patents. said inquiry
to include all organizations and companies
that have sprung out Of the Pan-Electric
Telephone company, or for any other purpose,
and also to make full inquiry into the issu-
ance of stock known as the Pan-Electric Tele-
phone stock, or any stock Of any other COM
pauy, companies or organizations springing
out of the Pan-Electric Telephone company,
to any person or persons connected with
snasve either the sgstatvs the edGisl sovern Or
ment of the United States; to whom, when,
where, and for what consideration in money
or influence said stock was delivered; also as
to what opinions, decisions and orders have
been made by any officers connected with the
government, and by whom, and all the cir.
cumstauces connected Herewith and
arising therefrom. And the said COM
mittee is further authorized and dl-
rected to ascertain and report whether either
of the telephone companies herein mentioned,
or their officers, agents and employees have
in any manner improperly influenced or at
tempted to influence officials or official &C
ton by or through the public press, and, if
so, when, by whom and in what manner
such influence was exerted. or attempted 10
be exerted, and what newspaper or news
papers were so used or attempted to
have the right to send for persons and
papers, to administer oaths, to sit during the
session of the House, to employ a stenogra-
pher and incur any and all such necessary
and reasonable expenses as may be required
for the purpose Of conducting the said lnves-
tigation, not to exceed the sum OF Sl,OOO,
which shall be paid out Of the contingent
fund of the House upon proper vouchers cer-
titled by the chairman and one other meHl-
her of the committee. and may report at any
time. The resolution was approved by Mr.
Gibson, (W. Va) on the ground that no
specific charges had been made in the resoIu-
ton and that an investigation brought no
good to any one The resolution was passed
without vote. Z. Mr.. Byrnes, OF Missouri,
from the committee on appropriations, re,
ported the immediate deficiency BILL and it
was referred to the committee of the whole.
The speaker then proceeded to call the COM
; mittees for reports. AT the night session
the House passed twenty-eight pension bills,
and at $50 P. NJ adjourned
F1FT1ETH DAY.-The House discussed silver.
Mr.. Clements (Ga.) thought the true test OF
the value of silver was its purchasing capac-
ity. Mr.. Jones (Tex) advocated free coin
age Mr.. Perkins ,Kan) opposed the