Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1888-09-01
THE NATIONS SCAPITAL.
Big Guns and Little Guns Inter-
est the Senate,
But With Difficulty a Quorum
Votes on Them.
House DiSasreeS With Senate Amendment
Relating to the Library,
The Construction OF which is not Con-
sidered Jeffersonian.
The Construction of which is not Con-
sidered Jeffersonian,
WASHINGTON, Aug. 81.
Senate

The House joint resolution to extend til
the 18th of September next, the joint reso
luton of July IL, to provide temporarily fo
the expenses of the government was reported
and passed
The resolution offered on Thursday by Mr.
Cullom, calling on the Secretary of the
Treasury for information as to whether the
transit in bond without payment of duty on
goods, wares aud merchandise TO and from
Canada, has been permitted since July LIST,
1885 was taken up for consideration.
The resolution went over without action.
After some discussion the matter was al
lowed to drop, and Mitchell addressed the
Senate on the resolution heretofore offered
by him, calling on the state department for
correspondence relating to the recent dis
turbance and alleged massacre of Coreas in
Soul Corea last June, and touching cases in
citing thereto.
The resolution was referred te the commit
tee on foreign relations.
The Senate then resumed the considera-
ton of the fortiteation bill begun yesterday
the question being the adoption of an amend
ment to section six authorizing contracts for
cast iron breech loading mortars, not less
than thirty nor more than Que hundred at a
cost not exceeding $4,000 each and of single
charge breech loading steel guns not less
than fifty ten inch and fifty twelve inch at a
reasonable price: appropriating $500, 900 for
Investigations experiments and tests and
providing that the contracts shall not involve
an aggregate expenditure of more thau six
millions or an annual expenditure of over
two millions, requiring all guns, etc, TO be
of American production and be furnished by
citizens of the United States, and appropri-
ating $1,000 for the expenses of the board
The amendment was adopted.
Hawley offered an amendment providing
that nothing in the act be construed to repeal
existing provisions of the law prescribing the
duties and powers of any department of the
army.
Gorman opposed the amendment as one
that would destroy the whole harmony of the
bill
Hawley said his amendment was merely an
excess of caution. The discussion branched
off into the question of private interests as
involved in the bill, and as sought to be an
tagonized by the ordinance officers.
Pending the vote on Hawley's amendment
there was call of the Senate, and when the
presiding officer announced that 80 senators
(less than a quorum. answered to their
names, it was inquired of by MIR. Riddleber-
ger whether it would be in order to state that
only IA of them were democrats. The pre-
siding officer said he thought not, and Mr.
Riddleberger remarked: "then i have not
said it,"
After some delay the presence of quorum
was procured. Hawley's amendment was
rejected and the bill was passed.
A conference on disagreeing votes was
ordered, and Senators Dawes, Plumb and
German were appointed conferees on the
part of the Senate.
Stewart asked unanimous consent that the
bill for the admission of the State of Wash
ington be taken up at 2 o'clock Monday and
continued until disposed of.
Riddleberger objected.
Stew art gave notice that as the bill was
unfinished business he would after o'clock
Monday insist upon consideration.
House joint resolution to authorize the
Secretary of the Interior to certify lands to
the State of Kansas for the benefit of agri-
culture and mechanical art was passed
Hoar moved the passage of the Senate
bill restatement, settlement and payment
of the balance of the commissions due to the
owners of private dies and appropriating
1855 900 for it,
Allison said that the statute of limitations
and rules of the department were against the
proposed allowance and was in favor of en-
forcing the statutes and rules in these be-
cause there was no equity in it. He ex-
planned that the claim originated 20 years ago
In an unreasonable law which al
lowed rebate of 10 per cent. on
proprietary" stamps, where over $500
that this law operated largely to the advant-
e al. .tl L. tLat