The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-05-01
THE FORTY-NINTH CONGRESS.
Routine Business in the Senate-Further De-
bate on the POstofiice Appropriation Bill.


bate on the POstofice Appropriation Bill
WASHINGTON, April 30.--On motion of Mr..
Vance, the Senate took up the Presidents veto
of the bill ito prevent the dissertation of graves"
The bill relates to the District of Columbia, and
provides that the unclaimed bodies of deceased
paupers, now required by law to be buried at
the public expense, might be turned over to the
medical colleges of the District OF Columbia.
The President declined to approve the BILL on
the ground that certain of its provisions were
indefinite and did not supply sufficient safe
guards.
After short debate the Senate refused to
pass the bill over the Presidents veto-yeas 6,
nays 49,
The conference report on the Indian appropri
alton bill was submitted by Mr.. Dawes and con-
Cured in by the Senate.
Unanimous consent having, some days ago,
been given, on the request OF Mr.. Pike, that pri-
vate claims on the calendar should be considered
this morning, that order was entered upon, not
however, without a milo protest from Mr. Plumb
in the interest of the rostoffice appropriation
bill, and Mr.. Hale resumed his speech. His ar
gument was, for the most part, directed to show
ing the necessity Of securing the trade of Gen.
brdl anu DOutH Amorlcd, anu tuo Importance OF
liberal subsidies to American vessels as great
factor in increasing commercial relations. Re-
ferring to the refusal Of the Postmaster general
to carry out the act of Congress of last year, on
the ground that it was not for the interest of
speedy transit of mails, it did not follow, Mr..
Hale said, that putting the mails foreign ships
was always a speedy transit. Mr.. Hale had
heard of one incident that went TO prove this.
The incidepb, as he had heard it, was, that fifty
two bags of United States mail for Brazil had been
No. H. .1s-t,
ship going to Brazil. The shipmaster was, of
course, under no obligations to the American
government. When he reached Pernambuco,
hundreds of miles from the destination of
the mails, he was able to sell his cargo.
and he dumped the United States mails on the
wharf at Pernambuco, filled his ship with what
freight he could get, and sailed for England. In
few days, along came an American ship of a
line which it had been sought to encourage by
the postofice appropriation bill of last year.
Although under no obligation to take these mail
bags, still, from feeling of loyalty and patriot
ism, it took them voluntarily, made it's way to
Rio Janerio, the destination of the mail. which
the Postmaster general had entrusted to the En-
glish tramp" When the captain got to Rio
Janeiro, not only did he receive nothing from
the government of Brazil but was actually fined
because the mail was late. When he undertook
to expostulate with the Brazilian government
and show the situation, that government refused
to believe that the American government had
Il
had committed its mail to outside ship when
there was an American ship that could take it.
The administration Mr.. Hale said, made war
on this proposed appropriation through its lead
err in the Senate. That was no little
thing. An appropriation for such a purpose had
never been opposed by the administration of any
other country. We were looking for market
for our surplus productions, and the market was
ready for us-the way was clear. We needed
only such provision that now before the
Senate; and the Republican party would con-
tinue to advocate the policy indicated by that
provision, no matter what the Democratic party
might do
Mr. Brown favored the proposition, and said
he was in favor of paying liberal price for the
carrying of the mails 20 South America. He be-
lieved an immense ao vantage would accrue not
only to the South, but to the whole country
from the adoption of the proposition. While we
were in such manifest want of markets for our
surplus products, was it not sensible to make
this appropriation? Indeed, was it not stupid
not to make it, This was not party question.
A running debate followed, during which the
question was discussed from tariff point of
view.
Mr.. Harris made the point of order that the
amendment was general legislation, and there
fore obnoxious to rule of the Senate
The Chair overruled the point of order
Mr.. Plumb secured an understanding that at
o'clock Monday the general debate should
close. and the Senate then adjourned until Mon
day.