Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1888-04-04
CONGRESSIONAL PROCEEDINGS.
The Senate.

WASHINGTON, April 3d--In the Senate
to-day Mitchell, from the Committee on
Railroads, reported the bill appropriating
$500, 600 for boat railroad around the OBJ
structions to navigation in the Columbia
river at the Cello Falls and The Dalles.
The bill was placed on the calendar.
The resolution heretofore offered by Rid
dleberger to suspend so much of the rules
as provide for executive sessions during the
consideration of the fisheries treaty was
taken up. He gave notice yesterday that
he would cali up the resolution in order
that those who were opposed to it might
absent themselves and draw upon the
courage which they lacked to vote for it.
His proposition had been beaten from time
to time, and had been for five years, by Just
the same kind of parliamentary practices
that had been tried to-day, the interposing
of other morning business. He called for
the yeas and nays.
Edmunds said he desired to submit some
observations to the Senate which he did
not care to submit to her Majesty's Minis
that the galleries be cleared and the doors
closed.
The motion was agreed to and the order
given for an executive session.
The Senate after two hours spent in Sc
cret session, opened the doors.
During the secret session Riddleberger's 8
resolution to consider the fisheries treaty
in open session was the only subject of de-
bate.
Senators Edmunds and Hoar made a
strong fight against the resolution.
Upon motion of Senator Butler, the reso-
luton was ordered to be referred to the
Committee on Foreign Relations, only
eight members voting against it.
\ How, l.
of the bond bill.
A vote was taken on Palmers motion to
recommit the bond purchase bill, and the
motion was rejected-yeas 20, nays 81.
A substitute for the bill, declaring that
the authority to purchase bonds, given in
the Act making appropriations for sundry
expenses for the year ending June 80, 1882,
was intended to be a permanent provision
of the law and is declared such and to be
now in full force and effect, was offered by
Spooner and was agreed to.
Spooner's substitute was agreed to with
out discussion.
Beck then offered an amendment, as an
additional section, providing that whenever
the circulation, or any portion thereof, to
any bank not in liquidation shall be sur
rendered and shall not be taken up by
other national banks, the Secretary of the
Treasury shall purchase at the market price
an equal amount of silver bullion in excess
of the minimum monthly coinage, which
shall be coined and used as provided for in
the silver coinage bill Of the 2Sth of Feb
ruary, 1878.
Stewart proposed an addition to the
amendment, and Beck accepted it, provid-
ing that nothing in the Act shall alter or
repeal the Silver Coinage Act of 1878.
Sherman approved fully of the substitute
as agreed to. and thought it an improve
ment on the House bill, but thought it best
to postpone the consideration of Beck's
proposition till more convenient season.
He was clearly of the opinion that it was
not wise to continue the coinage of silver
when purchased. IF the proposition was
stripped of that feature, and if it applied
only to the purchase and deposit of silver
bullion, it would be relieved of all OBJ
lection. Would it not be best to let the
bill, as it now Stood unobjectionable in
form, go to the President and be approved
aud carried into execution, and let the pro-
posed amendment and all propositions as
to the silver question go to the Committee
on Finance and be carefully considered?
After further debate by Beck, Mcpherson
and Plumb, and without action on the
amendment offered by Beck, and with the
substitute for the bill still to be reported
Senate adjourned.
The House.
WASHINGTON, April 3d.--In the House
to-day Culbertson called up the special or
der, the Senate direct tax bill.
Foran moved that the House go into
Committee of the Whole on the pension
appropriation bill Lost
Wheeler moved to reconsider the vote.
Tabled.
The House then went into Committee of
the Whole for the consideration of the spe-
cial order.
Teller of Ohio said that while the bill
was an important one on account of the
money involved in it, the facts of the case
were SO simple that he did not think any
extended discussion necessary. The bill
proposed to relinquish the amount of di-
rect tax uncollected and to provide for re-
payment TO States and individuals who
had paid any of the money.
Oates of Alabama, in opposing the bill,
argued that under the Constitution Con-
gress had a perfect right to levy direct
tax. but he denied the constitutional right
of Congress to refund tax which had been
legally levied and applied. If the House