The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1888-12-21
SENATE BUSINESS.
Various Matters Demanding the At
tention of the Monbers.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 20.-In the Senate, this
morning, Mr.. Morrill, offered an amendment
to the House holiday resolution providing fol
recess from Friday, December q, to Wed.
nesday, January 2. The amendment was
agreed to.
The House amendments to the direct tax
bill, were non concurred in and conference
was ordered.
Mr.. Morrill, asked unanimous consent that
the voting on the tariff bill and all amend.
ments thereto shall begin at one o'clock D.
M, on the 2lst of January next, after which
there shall be no further debate without
unanimous consent. Unanimous consent
was given and that order was made.
Mf. Gibson offered a resolution which was
ordered printed, for the appointment of Sc
lect committee of thirteen Senators to in
inquire into the state of suffrage throughout
the United States, and especially to investi-
gate the election of State officers at the cleo
tions held in November last in Rhode Island
and Louisiana, and the Presidential elections
in the States of New York and Indiana and
to report all the facts showing whether any
improper, undue and unlawful influences and
practices were employed through cOnspira-
cies, trades, combinations. intimidations, or
rupt use oi money. purchase OF votes or voters,
false registering voting, Stufing ballot boxes,
bribery, or In any way whatever, and to
what extent and to make such recommends
ti0ns as it may deem necessary. The tariff
bill was then taken up beginning with the
schedule relating to tobacco and cigsrs.
Amendments were offered by Mr.. Pasco and
Mr.. Vance, but were rejected. The schedule
relating to provisions was taken up Mr..
Vance offered an amendment relating to
horses and mules, changing the rate from
$40 per head to 20 per cent. ad yalorem. Re-
jected.
Senator Hoar presented petition today
signed by 1928 citizens of Massachusetts,,
praying for the adoption of constitutional
amendment, which will prohibit the interfer-
ence of any religious sect with the system OF
common public schools. The petition is the
expression of a late public gathering of citi-
Zens OF Boston, and asks the Senate to speedy
frame such constitutional amendment for
submission to the legislatures of the several
States for their approval. or rejection.
Consideration of the tariff bill was then
resumed.
Mr.. Call moved to add bananas. pineapples
and cocoanuts to the existing tariff bili at
10 per cent ad valorem. The motion was re-
jected.
Mr.. Vance offered various amendments to
succeeding sections, all of which were re-
jected.
Consideration of the tariff bill was then
suspended, when the following proceedings
took place
Mr.: Plumb offered resolution calling on
the Secretary of the Treasury for a full
statement OF all the purchases of bonds by
the Treasury Department since March 4th,
1885, specifying in detail the classes of bonds
the amount, date of purchase and parties
from whom purchased; the price paid, New
YORK quotations, and the available surplus
in the treasury on the first of each month
during that period.
Mr.. German SUI gested whether it would
not be proper to omit the names and parties
from whom the bonds were purchased.
Mr.. Plumb said there had been already a
partial statement of that kind, which had
done no harm and he proposed simply to en-
large the scope of the statement
Mr.. German objected to the present con-
sideratlon of the resolution and it went over
until tomorrow.
On motion of Mr.Sherman the action of the
Senate this morning on the direct tax bill
was reconsidered and the bill was referred
to the finance committee.
When schedule of the tariff bill relating
10 cotton manufactures was reached, MeSsrs
Vest and Vance said they were not prepared
to go on with the cotton schedule today.
Mr.. Allison suggested that the free
list schedule might be taken up, but Mr.. Vest
made the same objection to that.
Mr.. Vance could not see what was to be
gained, now that a day was fixed for voting
on the bill, in applying the whip and spur.
The tariff bill was then laid aside, the pro-
greSs today having been about ten pages,
snd the Senate then took up the private pen
sion bills on the calendar All the pension
bills on the calendar, 90 in number, were
passed, occupying 80 minutes. The legisla.
tive appropriations bill was referred to the
committee on appropriations, and the Senate
adjourned.