Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-08-02
FyFTIITH CONGRESS-.
WASHINGTON, August 1, 1888.
senate.

WASHINGTON, August 1, 1888,
senate.
Mr.. Plumb, from the Committee on Agri-
culture, reported back House bill TO enlarge
the powers and duties Of the Department OF
Agriculture ana 10 create an executive de-
partment TO be known rs tie Department OF
Agriculture lie said the bill was in the
same shape rs when last reported and recon-
mitted. and that he would call 1t up Tor ac-
ton al a very early day. In the bill as re-
porled the provision Of the House bill Tor
the transfer OF the Weather Bureau from the
War Department to the Department OF Agri-
culture was struck out.
The Senate resumed the consideration OF
the sundry civil appropriation bill, the pend
ing question being on the amendment OF
fered Yesterday by Mt. Call apPrOpriatIng
$4,000 for the recovery OF any property Of
the late Confederate States now held In adj
verse possession 70 the Government. After
n speech by Mr. Call IN support OF The amend
ment Blr. Edmunds said he had been mem-
her OF a committee a few years ago which
had investigated that whole subject, and be
was satisfied that the appropriation would
be a useless waste OF money, and that the
wisest thing TO he done with the assets oil the
late Confoderacy (as with the late unpleasant
ness Itself was TO forget all about them ana
LET them 20. The ships referred TO might
be located, perhaps, just az in old foX-hun'-
ing tmes--the fox might be located In mar
row cave in the mountain, hut the question
was how to get him out. Every cent spent
in the matter would be lost.
Mr.. Call suggested that such things were
not 10 be decided upon the mere statements
OF senators without reasons being given for
them. Specific statements had been MADE
by three distinguished officers OF the Unlied
State navy and the Confederate States navy
"a to vessel that had been bullt ana pald
for by the Confederate Government. No at
tempi hfti ever been made to get that vessel
for the United States Government. He did
moi know how much money had been paid TO
suupress The Information, or what officials
had been corrupted TO betray the honor and
interest Of the United States, but he did
know that II was the imperative duty OF
every senator to see that the property of the
ITnIted States was recovered, and the Sena'
for from Vermont could not eyade that duty.
Mr.. Gibson opposed the amendment, being
convinced that on the surrender at the close
Of the war the officers OF the Confederate
army and navy bad delivered up all public
proDerty under their control. lie had the
honor himself OF being commissioner for
the surrender Of one OF said armies, and
| bore wiling testimony to the courtesy and
Kindness Of the commissioners OF the OPP
posiug army and to the generality OF the
terms extended. lie submitted that it was
not proper at this late hour to call IN ques-
ton the vslldi,yor integrity OF the surrender
| that was made by the officers Of the Coniede-
/ rate forces on land or sea. The Confederate
States had died a noble death on the Held
OF battle many years ago; all that survived
Being that sentiment oil honor winch had
beaten high 10 the hearts OF men who repre-
seDted that fallen power. For one he would
| have engraved on ITS tombstone the epitaph
engraved on Shakspeares:
| GOOD friend, for Jesus sake, forbear
To touch the dust enclosed here.
| Blessed he who spares there bones.
| And cursed be he VINO moves these stones"
yr. Dawes said that his position on the
committee which had examined the whole
| subject, and his position now. was that the
suggestion was Of such peculiar character,
| and the INQUIRY would have 10 be pursued
I'm such delicate way, that 1t ought not TO be
embarked in unless the President OF the
United states or Secretary OF the Treasury
should say that he bad in his possession such
information as justified him IN recommends
| ing II,
| Mr.. Reagan denied the accuracy OF one OF
! the statements submitted as 10 the existence
of Confederate property in Marion and
| Davis counties (rexaSE aud said that taking
that as an example, there was no credit to be
| given 10 the statements so reckiessly made.
! He suggested that Mulberry sellers -
! should retire from the stage and yield his
place TO the author Of these statements.
Mr.. Call replied 10 many OF the arguments
made against bis amendment, and referring
| 10 the remarks OF Mr.. Gibson) said that be
| did not sympathiZe with that Senator In the
! opinion that the dust of the Confederacy
| should be buried and that IFS good friends
sbould let it alone. The Confederate states
would live IN history for the great aud
heroic characters which they had developed.
! There was no need TO leave their dust undis-
| turbed. Their fame was written In the i'm.
| mortal pages OF history by such illustrious
characters as Lee and jackson; and ne was
glad 10 know that the loyal heart OF the
| NORTH and OF its soldiers responded to that
| sentiment. He was not ashamed Of the Con-
| federacy. aud did not want its dust to remain
undisiurbed. IL could not be shut down or
overlooked. The COniederscy had no dust,
| bit it had the immortal glory OF heroic
character OF noble seli.sacritce.
Mr.. Allison moved to lay Mr.. Calls resolu-
| ton on the table, and the motion was agreed
| TO without division.
Mr.. Daniel offered an amendment appro-
priating $50, 600 for Che extension OF the pub
! lie building at Lynchburg. Disagreed to.
! After the disposal OF a number OF amend
ments involving small amounts the bill was
reported back TO the Senate. and eli the
amendments coucurred in except that apprO-
! prialing $50. 900 FOR the widow OF Professor
( Baird, on which Mr.. Reagan demanded the
yeas and nays. The amendment was con-
CURED in--yeas, %; nays. II.
The bill was then passed.
SIR. Plumb inquired OF Mr. Allison as 10
the length OF time which IL would probably
require I'm view Of the necessary delays OF
conference fer the suudiy civil bllfto be-
come law. lie SAID that he made the in
curry with the object Of learning the proba-
bic length OF the continuance OF the session.
| Mr. Allison sisted, IN response 10 Mr..
! Plumb, that there now remained undlsposed
Of five OF the regular appropriation bile
the army bill, navy bill. sundry evil bill,
general deficiency bill, and the Notifications
/ bill. The navy bill was now in conference
and would probably be disposed OF this
week or early next week. The army bid
was now being discussed ia the House on
the senate amendments. The general def.
/ cheney bill had not yet passed The House,
nor bad the Notifications bill. The former
had bsen partially considered by TIE House,
! but the fortiGcatlons bin had only been re-
ported by the uou,e within day or tive.
OF course II was impossible for HIM 10 say
how long IL would take 10 finish the snndry
civil bill. But there we're fewer Important
amendments put on by the Senate than in
/ any similar bill for many years, so that II
could be disposed Of very readily, either By
| the House coacnrfing IN the Senate amend
ments or by conference committee. lie
thought n might be safely assumed that all
the appropriation bills could be disposed OF
next week.
Mr.. s,ewast asked Mr.. Allison whether be
bad any appropriation bill for tomorrow.