National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1886-03-27


An amusing incident occurred in the Sem
ate Friday. A communication from the
Secretary of the Treasury was laid before
the Senate by the president pro tenn, and
when its reading was begun, 1t was dis
covered thatit was In reply to resolution
adopted in executive session. When the
words executive session" were read, Chief
Clerk Gilfry quickly stopped reading,
folded the document, and returned II TO
the president pro TEN. Senators looked at
each other in surprise. Mr.. Platt asked II
the communication was marked "execu-
tive and, upon being Informed that II
was not, said sin that case II is for the
open session." Mr. Cockrell took the
same view, saying that II 1t were not
marked ''confldential"the open session was
entitled to II. The president pro TEN. lMr
Sherman) asserted very cmphatically that
the communication was executive bust
ness" and would be submitted to the Sen
ate in executive session.
The chair then placed before the Senate
the resolutions reported from the judiciary
committee regarding the refusal Of the At
torney General to furnish papers called for
by the Senate.
Mr.. Spooner resumed the floor and con
tinued his speech in support OF the resolu
tions reported by the majority OF the
committee.
Mr. Salisbury said he was unwilling to
content himself with a silent vote on the
question before the Senate. The President
had sought no controversy with the Senate.
He had been brought here by the Republl-
can side Of this chamber as to a matter
that was not within the jurisdiction of the
Senate.
Mr.. Colquitt obtained the floor, but gave
way fora motion to adjourn.
AT 4;20 p. m. the Senate adjourned till
Monday next.
A number of bills OF a private character
were reported to the House from commit.
tees, after which the House went into com
mittcee on the whole on the private calen-
dar.
At the evening session the House passed
thirty pension bills. The last bill to be con-
sidered was that granting a pension Of
$4,000 q year to the widow OF Gen. w. S.
Hancock.
In the Senate Monday Mr. Logan sub
United the following resolution, aud asked
that 1t might be printed and lie over, saying
he would call II up on some future day and
submit some remarks on II:
RCsg'ttd, That the sessions OF the Senate CON.
monty known as executive sessions so far rs
they apply to nominations, combinations, or
reflections, shall hereafter be held with open
doors, and that a public record of the same
shall be kept, the same as of legislative sessions.
The chair laid before the Senate Mr.. Lo-
gans bill to increase the efficiency Of the
army.
Mr.. Logan, at the suggestion Of the Sec
rotary Of War, moved for some further
amendments OF detail to the bill, and they
were agreed to.
Mr.. Hale then moved to strike out the
second section, which provides for fur
Their force of 10000 enlisted men In the
army.
In referring to the fisheries question,
Mr. Logan said Suppose, some of these
days, that Canada should take a notion to
make a row about 1t. believe there Is
fort in the senator's state.
Mr.. Hale. Fort Preble. in Portland har-
bOr.
Mr.. Logan. Suppose some 500 or 600
Canadians should run down to Fort Pre-
beg
Mr., Hale. l do not think they would
get there.
Mr.. Logan How would you stop themP
Mr.. Hale. The people would stop them.
Mr.. Logan. You have at Fort Preble,
believe, thirty-five men.
Mr.. Hale said 1t was not much Of garri
son, hut the proposed increase would not
add materially to its strength. The
Canadians indicated, however, Mr.. Hale
said, would never get as far as Portland
whether we had an army or not
MIR. Logan. In other words, the people Of
Maine would slick" the Canadians before
they got to Portlandg
Mr.. Hale. Yes.
Mr.. Logan. Well on that theory we do
not want any army at all. OF course II you
are going to rely entirely on the people
that is one thing, but If you are in favor Of
hos I'M ut nj ha usill
TO keep 1t at least in proper form Of organi-
cation.
Here the debate was cut off by limitation
Of time, and the chair laid before the Sem
ate the judiciary committee resolutions.
Mr.. COlquitt took the floor In opposition
to the majority report. If there ever was
a question, Mr.. COlquitt said, that should
he settled, It was the question involved
here. 1t had been settled by the cOnstitu-
tion, and by the first Congress, AMI had re-
NAMED settled for forty years, and when,
then. II was questioned II was again settled,
and had remained settled till this day.
Mr. Jackson followed Mr. COlquitt, also
in opposition to the majority report. lie
believed the right of removal of officers to
he wholly In the President. So far as acts
of Congress made removals dependent on
the consent Of the Senate, those acts were
an CnCroachment on the constitutional
rights and powers Of the Presidents but,
aside. from that, 1t was the candid convlc-
ton Of all real advocates Of administrative
reform that all such attempts had been un-
wise, and had been attended with no sub
stautial benefits to the public service
At O'Clock, Mr.. Jackson retaining the
floor, the Senate, on motion Of Mr.. Harris,
went into executive session, and when, at
$40, the doors were reOpened the Senate
adjourned.
Several pension bills coming over from
last Friday nights session, including that
granting a pension to the widow of Gen.
Hancock, were acted upon.
Upon conclusion Of the morning bust
ness on Thursday the Senate resumed con-
Fideration OF Senator Logans bill to pro-
mote the efficiency Of the army.
Mr.. Henderson spoke in favor Of the sec
ton increasing the force to 10000 enlisted
men.
Nj Beck said there were now no ques-
tIons OF reconstruction or questions requlr-
ing soldiers anywhere but on the Indian
frontiers. II would be very bad policy for
this administration to increase the eXpendi-
lures OF the government by this proposed
increase and thus make reduction OF taxa
tion more difficult.
air. Logan said he would not use the word
dcmagogism In respect 10 arguments made
~ The Senate; but he repealed any inslnua-
llon That the Increase proposed was for the
purpose Of using It against the people,
That was unworthy Of the senator from
Kentucky CIR, Beck Mr.. Logan had
been recommending this increase for the
past ten years, aud had introduced this bill.
Mr., Beck said he had never thought of
the senator from Illinois in connection with
this subject, lie had not even known that
the bill had been introduced by Mr.. Logan.
Mr.. Logan did not intend to have II
thrown IN his face that there was any other
intention In advocating this increase than
TO increase the efficiency Of the army.
There was no change Of front with him.
lie had for many years advocated this in
crease. lie had always found, In the
Senate, as elsewhere, that the men who had
affecting the army. Men who were Of are
auLnn LLn Num- ,rng IN md nninhL Gnun