The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1886-03-02
XLIXth CONGRESS- FIRST SESSION.
SENATE.

WASHINGTON, March /.
The chair laid before the Senate letter
from the Secretaryof the Treasury, trans
mitting in reply to the recent Senate reso-
luton, report showing the claims, accounts
and vouchers suspended in that department.
In discussing motion to commit the pa
pers, Mr.. Hale said the accounting officers
of the Treasury had lately taken what
seemed to him an extraordinary course OF
'sholding up" or suspending the accounts or
vouchers of officers Of the government who,
according to custom and usual authorize
ton, had paid out money which had been en-
trusted to them for the purpose of being so
paid out The contention of the accounting
officers of the Treasury, Mr.. Hale said, was
that the payments were unauthorized. The
papers were ordered printed.
Mr.. Hoar, from the committee on privi-
leges and elections. reported back without
any recommendation the resolution hereto
fore offered by Mr.. Riddleberger, and the
substitute for it offered by Mr. Pugh, relat-
ing to the right of the Senate to ask the
President for his reasons for the removals
or suspensions from office. Mr.. Hoar re-
marked that as the matter had been dealt
and as majority and minority reports
had come from that committee, the
committee ON privileges and elections did
not think it.worth while to deal with the
question. The committee was then dis
charged from its consideration and the reso-
up if desired when the report of the Judlc-
iary committee shall be taken up.
Mr.. Plumb submitted an amendment to be
offered by him to the Interstate commerce
prohibiting railroads from issuing free
passes to members of Congress or officers or
employees of the government or to members
of their families. The amendment also
makes it unlawful for any member of Con-
gresS or officer or employe of the govern
NOR fn a llXY fnT n n H.
lowed to travel on railroad at lower rate
than that charged to the general public. The
penalty for violating these provisions Is
proposed by Mr.. Plumb to be fine not to ex-
ceed $500 The amendment was ordered
printed.
On motion of Mr.. German the Senate
passed the House resolution providing for
the printing of 81 900 copies of the eulOgleS
of ex-Presdent Hendricks.
Among the bills reported and placed on
the calendar was one by Mr.. Frye, from the
committee on commerce, to abolish certain
fees for official services to American vessels
and to annul the laws relating to shipping
commissioners, seamen and owners OF yes
sells. Mr.. Frye said it was the House bill
with certain amendments suggested by the
Senate committee.
Among the bills introduced was one by
Mr.. Blair, at the request he said of the leg
islative committee of the federalism of
trades and labor, to legaliZe the incorpora-
blOu Oh udblOndl bTdu6S uUlOHS. IL WdS IT.
ferred to the committee on education and
labor.
At 1.20 p. m. Mr.. Hale moved that the Sen
ate proceed to the consideration of eXecu
tive business. The motion was agreed to and
the Senate accordingly went into executive
session.
When the doors were reopened message
from the President was laid before 'the
Senate, relating to papers concerning Sus-
pensions of officials. Much interest was
manifested in its reading. A discussion
arose between Mr. EdmundS and Mr.. Harris
OF Tennessee as to whether it should be
printed and laid on the table or re-
ferred to the committee on Judiciary.
The former said it reminded him of
the communication of King Charles
|. to Parliament, telling them what
they, ought to do and ought not TO do; do;
in Ike statement so that it shall go with this
message, so far as the newspapers viii do
me the honor to have it go that the President
of the United States has, unintentionally, no
doubt, entirely misstated lhe question. The
President of the United States undertakes
to change the question into consideration by
the Senate Of his reasons or motives for put