Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1888-08-02
THE NATIONS CAPITOL
The Senate Concludes Not to
EIcaVate the POI's Den
And Tables Calls Amendment
to the Sundry Civil Bill.
All Appropriation Bills to b Disposed Of
Next Week.
The Douse Besires 4 Conference on the
Fertilization Bill.
The Venezuelan Steamship Company to
be Indemnifisd.
WAsHISGToS, Aug. /.
Senate.


joint resolution authorizing and empowering
the President to take such measures as in his
judgment may be necessary t. obtain indem-
nifty promptly for injuries, losses and DANA
ges suffered by the Venezuelan Steamship
Co., of New York, by reason of wrongful
seizure and detention of the Company's
stear. ers in 1871 calendar.
Mr.. Plumb from the committee on agri-
culture, reported back the House bill to en-
large the powers and duties of the Depart
ment of Agriculture, and to create an execu
tive department to be known us the Depart
ment of Agriculture. In the bill as r,ported,
the provisions for the transfer of the weather.
bureau to the Department of Agriculture are
struck out.
After large number of unimportant bills
were passed the Senate resumed the consid-
Grafton of the sundry civil appropriation bill,
the pending question being on Calls amend
ment appropriating $4,000 for the recovery
of property of the late confederate states,
now held in adverse possession to the gov
ernment. Call supported the amendment.
Edmunds said he had been member of
the committee a few years ago which inAes-
tigated the whole subject, and was satisfied
that the appropriation would be a useless
waste. The wisest thing to be done with the
assets of the late confederacy, as with the
late unpleasantness itself, was TO forget all
about them. The ships referred to might
be located perhaps Just as in the old fox
hunting times the fox might be located in
narrow cave in the mountain, but the ques-
ton was how to get him out. Every cent
spent in the matter would be lost.
Gibson opposed the amendment, being
convinced that on their surrender at the close
of the war, the officers of the confederate
army and navy delivered up all public prop
erty under their control. He had the honor
himself of being a commissioner for the sur
render of one of the armies, and bore willing
testimony to the courtesy and kindness of the
commissioners of the opposing army and to
the generosity of the terms extended. He
submitted that it was not proper, at this late
hour, to call in question the validity of the
surrender made by the officers of the confed-
crate forces on land and sea. The confed-
crate states died noble death on the field of
battle, many years ago, all that survived be-
ing that sentiment of honor which had beaten
high in the hearts of the men who had repre-
sented that fallen power. For one he would
have engraved on its tombstone the epitaph
engraved on Shakespeare's
Good friend, for Jesus sake forbear
To touch the dust entombed here.
Blessed be he who spares these bones,
And cursed be he who moves these stones
Dawes said his position on the committee
which examined the whole subject and posi-
ton, was that the suggestion was of such
peculiar character and inquiry. and would
have to be pursued in such delicate way,
that it not to be embarked in unless the Pres
ident or Secretary of the Treasury should
say ha bod in his Nj IN ueh in fnr
as justified him in recommending it.
After further discussion, Allison moved to
lay Calls resolution on the table. Agreed to
without division.
Evarts offered the following amendments
appropriating $500 for oil portraits of Chief
Justices Rutledge, Ellsworth and Waite to
be hung in the robing room of the supreme
court. Agreed to.
Also appropriatiug $4,000 for B. +.
Stevens manuscript of state and historical
documents relating to the early history of the
United States, taken from the archives of
France, England, Spain and Holland.
Agreed to.
Other amendments of minor importance
were offered and agreed to, but Alison's
amendment to appropriate S277 500 for the
purchase of Gen. Buffers property south of
the Capitol was disagreed to. The bill was
then passed. Allison, replying to the ques-
ton, said he thought that all the appropria-
ton bills would be disposed of next week.
Sherman said that no one could tell when
the tariff bill would be brought into the SEN
ate.
Sayers of Texas offered resolution de-
claring that the House will insist upon it's
disagreement to Senate amendments, number
26. % and 80. relating To for
tification and ordinance, and that tie
House requests a conference thereon, and
further declaring that it is the judgment of
the House that the managers of part of the
House should insist on disagreement and
should not consent that appropriations for
Notifications be placed on the army bill.
That subject had been referred to the COM
mittee on appropriations and all sub appro-
prarions shonld be placed on the fortifca-
tons bill.
Townshend raised point of order against
the resolution, and pending a decision Pugh
presented a minority report in the case of
the investigation of the election of jackson
of Mississippi, which was ordered printed
with the majority report
| At 5.l5 the Senate adjourned.
| House.
| The House went into committee of the
whole on the Senate amendments to the ar.
my appropriation bill.
| The pending amendment was finally non.
concurred in without division, as was also
an amendment appropriating $1,000 for re
pairs to the works on old fort Barrancss In
Pensacola bay, Florida, and appropriatine
$500, 900 for the manufacture and purchase
of cannon and carriages.
Bayne moved to substitute Allegheny
arsenal for Watervleit arsenal as the sigh
of the proposed gun factory. Rejected.
Townsend moved to non-concur in amend
ment providing for establishment of gun
factory and for purchase of steel Motion
was agreed to and committee rose and re
ported its action to House. Recommends
ton of committee as to minor amendment
/ was carried out and amendments were non
sconcurred in.
House at o'clock adjourned.
Notes.