Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1888-02-21
THE NATIONS SCAPITAL.
The Proposed Constitutional
Amendment Defeated.
EdmundS Forces a Tariff Vote in the Sen-
ate TO the Discomfort Of the
Democrats.
Boutelle's Battle Flag Resolution Calls
Forth voluminous Reply From
the Secretary Of War
WASHINGTON, Feb, 20.
Senate.

~NS S~SA$eNsy "a w 60
WASHINGTON, Feb, 20.
Senate.
Among the petitions and memorials pre-
sented and offered ON Monday, was one signed
by the governors of Massachusetts, Vermont
and New Hampshire, and the directors of the
Bennington Battle Association, setting forth
the progress made and need of further mod
crate aspiration
Mr.. Blair presented number of petitions
from the Woman's Christian Temperance
Union in favor of prohibition and for the bet
ter protection of women. The latter petition
he said, had been circulated through the
country BY direction of the W. {. I. T.,
aided by the knights of Labor; that these
two great organizations were working in
unison for the promotion of that great
object; that the civilization of the present
day had developed crime almost unknown in
the annals of the race, SO that.
those crimes against girls and young
women especially had come TO be worse than
were ever perpetrated against the women of
Circassa. He said he believed, and, in fact,
knew, that the appeal thus made TO Congress
in favor of womanhood would not be in vain.
He asked that memorial and bill which had
been prepared on the same subject be re-
ferred to the judiciary committee 1t was SO
ordered.
Among the bills introduced and referred
were BY Hoar one III aid of the erection of
monument in memory of
Gen. Joseph Warren, who fell at Bunker
Hill by Chandler "A bill To make the Com
missioner of fish and fisheries, an officer
of the navy department.
A bill to incorporate the Washington Elec-
tric Cable Railroad Company of the District
of Columbia was taken from the calender
for consideration, When the amendment
(reported by the committee,) requiring the
rails to be of American manufacture, was
reached, Edmunds suggested that that was in
opposition 10 the Presidents message, and ut
variance with the principles of the admins
tration. 1t was opposed by Vance as unusual
i'll bill of this character and altogether alb
surd. Senator Edmunds moved to have the
votes of the senators placed on record Oh this
indirect tariff question, and demanded that
the yeas and nays be taken. The vote was
taken and the amendment was adopted by a
vote of % to H.. The vote is as follows
YEAs--Blair, Bowen, Brown, Chase.
Chandler, Davis, Dawes, Edmunds, Farwell,
Frye, German, IIiscock, Hoar Henderson,
Mitchell, Morrill,, Paddock, Palmer, Platt,
Plumb, Kddleberger, Spooner, stanford,
Stewart, Stockbridge.-21
NAys.-Bates Blackburn, Cal, Coke, Dan
iel, Eustis, George, Gleason, Hampton, Har-
ris, Hearst. Pugh, Reagan Vance, Vest
Walthall, Wilson of Mary land.-l7.
Among the pairs announced were Cullom
with GRAY, Evarts with Morgan, Hale with
Beck.
The half completed bill was laid aside in
formally.
Palmer from the committee ON agrcul-
ture reported bill for the establishment of
a bureau of animal industry. 1t was placed
on the calendar.
Among the executive communications laid
before the House, Monday morning, was one
from the Secretary of War in response to
the Boutelle battle flag resolution. Referred
to the Committee ON Military Affairs.
The House refused by a vote of 1873 to l2s
(not the necessary two-thirds), to pass the
Hoar joint resolution, changing the date of
the Inauguration day and extending it to
April 80, 1889, the term of the tiftieth Com
gress.
The speaker again laid before the House
a volumnous report from the Secretary of
War, in response to the Boutelle resolution,
calling on him for the history of the flags
captured i'll war. The report quotes the
resolution in full and then traces the history
of the disposition of the captured flags. Ac
companylng the report is number of ex-
hibits heretofore published, including the
list of recaptured Union flags, delivered by
the war department to the state governors
and others, of confederate flags delivered to
certain parties on application, the letter of
the Adjutant General, suggesting the return
of the flags with the Presidents approval,
the Presidents revocation, and descriptive
list of the flags remaining in the department
as far as identified. The Secretary states
none of the flags have been out of the war
department during the present administra-
ton but that some were returned to the cap
tors under the administration of Secretary
Stanton. The law of 1914 the Secretary
says, which applies to the return of flags
captured from foreign countries, is not in
tended to authorize the return of the flags
captured i'll the United States.
Cullerson of Texas on behalf of the com
mittee on the judiciary, moved to suspend
the rules and place upon its passage the Eosr
point resolution, proposing constitutional
amendment changing the date of Inaugural
ton day and extending the terms of the
members of Congress until April Both
Collins of Massachusetts supported the
measure.
Reed regarded this proposition as a step in
the dark. 1t was proposed to add two
months to Congress. a step which has no
justification in reason or good sense. The
reason why, was because the short
session is so crowded with busi-
ness and was not its length. 1t was
crowded because they had fixed the term
and would be crowded whether the term ends
on the 4th of March, the Both of April or the
30th of August. The real reason for the
change was that the last day of April would
be much nicer holiday for Washingtonians
than the 4th of March. Gaughter.j
Lodge of Massachusetts. thought of chang
ing the date to u more pleasant season. It
was certainly not an objection, and it was
worthy the consideration that Washington
had been inaugurated on the Both of April.
He said that the real reason for a change was
the fact that it added 60 days to the session !;
that such an extension was beneficial to the
interests of the people and the indirect effect
might be to shorten the long session by two
of the most disagreeable months of the year.
Other members then spoke. Collins again
spoke. He quoted Speaker Winthrop, as
being the first person who suggested by his
oration upon the completion of the Washing
ton monument the change of Inaugural
ton day. Mr.. Collins replied to the slight
ing remark in reference to Winthrop made
by Reed, Ito the effect that Winthrop was
distinguished member Of the House long
time ago., and declared that Winthrop was
just as live man in this generation as the
gentleman from Maine, and that he (C0llins)
would rather give heed to the sayings Of
such man as the Massachusetts statesman,
than to be diverted by the shallow persifiage
of modern politician. motion to suspend
rules and pass joint resolution was lost,
yeas. 1923, nays 1928. 1t was not necessary
for two-thirds in the affirmative. The house
then adjourned
General Congressional News.
The fisheries treaty has been taken into
the executive office of the Senate. the doors
of which have been closed and guarded.
Senator Sherman chairman of the committee
of foreign relations is closeted with the exc