The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-01-06
THE FORTY-NINTH CONGRESS-
Both Houses Begin by the Introduction
Of Great Numbers Of New Bills.
No Business in the House Except
the Introduction of Bills.
THE SENATE.

the More Important New Measures.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 5.-Precisely at noon the
Senate was called to order by Senator Sherman,
the President pro tem., who, after prayer and
the reading of the journal, laid before the Senate
the credentials of John w. Daniel, the newly
elected United States senator from Virginia,
which were read and laid on the table; also, a
communication from Gen. W. B. Franklin, pres
ident of the National Home for Disabled Volun-
teer Soldiers, notifying the Senate of the death
of Gen. George B. Mcclellan, with the view of
having the consequent vacancy on the board of
trustees filed The communication was referred
20 the committee on military affairs
Mr.. Harrison, from the committee on Terri
tories, reported favorably bill to legalize the
election of the Ninth Territorial Legislative As
gembly of Wyoming. For this he asked immedi-
ate consideration.
Mr.. Edmunds said he would not object if its
consideration did not consume too much time.
but that he was anxious to get up-the Utah bill
az soon as possible.
q The bill reported by Mr.. Harrison was then
read third time and passed.
A resolution, offered by Mr.. Mitchell, of Ore
gon was agreed to, directing the committee on
transportation routes to inquire into alleged
grievances oy discrimination and oyercharge on
freight rates from the far West, and also the sub
ject of the improvement Of the Columbia river
and removal of distractions to navigation.
A resolution, offered by Mr.. Frye, was agreed
70. calling the Secretary of State to transmit
to the Senate oil correspondence and information
ia his department relating to the extension Of
certain fishing rights and privileges under the
treaty of Washington.
A resolution offered by Mr.. Hoar was at his
request, referred to the committee on foreign
measures for revising and extending our extra6i-
tion treaties so as to cover cases of embezzle-
ment and other breaches of trust. In Offering
bis resolution Mr.. Hoar made special reference
to the number Of defaulting bank officers who
tried to escape punishment by fight to Canada.
Mr.. Sherman, taking the floor, offered con-
current resolution accepting the marble statue of
ex-President Garfield, presented to Congress by
the State of Ohio, and now in position in
stntuary hall at the Capitol Governor Hoadly's
letter of presentation was, at Mr.. Shermans
quest, read by the Clerk. MIR. Sherman then
delivered a brief but earnest and warm eulogy
of ex President Garfield, and moved the adop-
ton Of the resolution offered by him. The reso-
luton was then agreed to.
Mr. Gray gave notice that he would to morrow
call up Mr.. Beck's silver resolution for the pur
pose of making some remarks on it.
Mr. Beck inquired as to the present parlia-
mentary condition OF the resolution referred to
= The Chair Mr. Shermanl replied that it was
on the table, and that the pending motion was
to refer it to The committee on finance.
Mr. Beck, referring to the criticism made by
Dir. Morrill,, whether on careful reading of
that speech, he had not been mistaken in his un
Outstanding of Mr.. Beck's remarks.
Mr. Morrill, replied that he took pleasure in
saying that he had somewhat misunderstood Mr..
Becks reference to the President and Secretary
of the Treasury.
Mr.. Beck disclaimed having made any person
ri attack on the President or Secretary of the
Treasury. His remark regarding the Secre-
tary's locking up the surplus would he said,
have been quite as we'll illustrated, and perhaps
more aptly So if he had said cyclone had blown
Gown the Treasury building and scattered the
surplus, and the people had picked up the money
In the street and put it into circulation; that cir
culation would be more beneficial than keeping
the money locked up in the Teasury.
The Chair laid before the Senate the resolution
heretofore offered by Mr.. harrison, directing an
inquiry into the alleged practice of late pension
Officers in taking into account in the granting
of pensions, considerations other than the merits
of the applicants. Mr.. Harrison requested that
the resolution might 60 over for to-day, and by
unanimous consent it went over.
Mr.. Van Wyck offered resolution, which was
agreed to, directing hecommittee on education
and labor to inquire how many hours Of labor
per day were exacted of men and boys in the
employ of s.reet-car and other corporations in
the District of Columbia and to report whether
euch number of hours of labor were unreason-
able and inconsistent with former acts of Con-
gress; and if So what remedy was necessary in
the promises
Mr Edmunds then called up the Utah bill
reported by him from the committee on the
judiciary.
The bill having been read at length Mr.. Hoar
moved to strike out the seventh secton-being
the section prohibiting the exercise of suffrage
by women in Utah. In making this motion Mr..
Hoar said he approved the purpose of the bill
and the method by which that purpose was
sought to be effected, with the exception of the
disfranchisement Of the women of Utah.
Woman suffrage, exercised in Wyoming and
Washington Territories had proved most bene
fetal. TO deprive such of the women of Utah
AS Were not plural wives Of the right which they
ALREADY had to exercise the suffrage, was under.
taking to place them in the same category with
what the law regarded as criminals, and was in
violation Of sound principle of legislation
Mr.. Edmunds replied that Whenever majority
OF the women OF the United States or any
State desired to have the suffrage they would
have his iMr Edmunds) vote in favor of that
desire Whenever our wives, sisters and sweet
hearts, he said "coma to believe that they
could better serve society and themselves by ex-
ercising the suffrage and going into the political
held, instead of combining themselves to the field
in which they were now employed. they shall
have my aid in attaining their object" He denied
that the women of Utah had now, In the sense of
final and complete law, q lawful right to vote.
prevail Of the United States Congress-. The law.
too was Intended to relieve the Utah women of
condition OF slavery in which they were held
by their heriarehy.
mr. 1oaE tuOugHt THIS point not applicable A
similar remark would have been made by some
people twenty years ago. he said. with regard to
women protesting the Roman Catholic faith, and
the debates In the English Parliament for the
last fifty years showed that many Englishmen
asserted that the political movements of the
Irish people were due to their submission to
their priesthood. The right to vote once con-
ferred vas as much vested right as any right
of property.
Mr.. Edmunds replied that the position in Utah
was uncqual-the plural wives were persons I'M
der an influence entirely different from that
which could be asserted of men or women pro-
Tossing the Roman Catholic faith. the Episcopa-
liam, the Methodist or any similar religion It
came nearer to state of serfdom.
Mr.. Blair thought if the women who believe in
Yeiygamy were to be DISTINGUISHED the men
ahould be also.