The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1888-08-30
THE MESSAGE AND OTHER MATTERS,
Which Occupied Attention In the
National Capital Yesterday.
Civil Service commissioners Finan-
cIaIIy Embarrassed.
Mr.. Ford Tells Something About the
DeIuded Immigrants.

WASHINGTON, Aug. 29.-The Senate to-
day resumed consideration Of the conference
report on the deficiency bill.
Senator Berry denied the statement by
Senator Hale that preference was given
Southern cities in public building appropria-
tions.
Senator German agreed with Senator Al
lison regarding the bill, and bore testimony
to the fairness of the committee on appro-
priations in considering matters without re-
gard to politics, but he was amazed at Mr..
Allison's statements which showed 500, ,OO0,-
0c0 difference between President Arthur's
and President Cleyeland's administrations,
and considered it purely a partisan state
ment. He thought that Senator Allison re-
gretted it himself. He admitted the defcien-
cy, but 1t was due to sectional feeling en-
2endered by Republican Senators and the
Republican press. The time had come when
there must be some limitation to pensions.
The Republican party had forced the issue
and now attempted to hold the Democratic
party up to the country as extravagant. He
said there was an increase of nearly 3d.
OOO,Oc0 between President Arthuf's and
President Cleveland's administration and
there would have been at least S25, 900, 900
were 1t not for Presidential
vetoes and Democratic opposition. The
naval increase of S17,000,000 was to build up
the navy. The postal expenses had in
creased S45, 100000, most of which had been
put back by postal revenues and had letter
postage not been reduced, there would have
been q surplus instead OF a deficit. The 9TH
er factors were the Alabama and Choctaw
claims, aggregating nearly 100000 TAX
ing these sums together, SS4,000,000 Of the
S95, 900, 900 was accounted for.
Senator German closed his argument by
saying that he trusted that Senator Allison
would regret and never repeat his partisan
speech.
Senator George characterized Senator Sher-
mans speech of yesterday as a scare-crow
After reviewing the treaties between the
United States and Great Britain, he asked if
the act Of March 3, 1887, was sufficient as an
not cover all the grounds the United States
had for retaliation. 1t did not mention the
inequality of tolls on Canadian canals
which would require an additional act Of
Congress, Replying to Senator Frye as to
whether Canadian vessels could not be kept
out of the Sault Ste. Marie canal or tolls i'm
posed, he did not know any reason to the
contrary, but such little retaliation would
amount to nothing. Ii retaliation were re-
sorted to, 1t should be adequate and effectual.
At this point Senator George assented to
the request of Senator Allison to have vote
taken on the conference report on the sum
dry civil appropriation bill, and the report
was agreed to.
Senator Allison then moved that the Sem
ate insist on its amendments other than
those settled in conference, and asked for
a further conference.
Senator Vance moved that the Senate re-
cede from 1t disagreement to the provision
IN the bill in reference to prosecutions under
port of his motion.
Senator Allison opposed the motion and
stated that all such legislation tended to re-
lax the enforcement OF the internal revenue
laws.
The motion to recede was disagreed to !;
Yeas, IT; nays, 50, and Senator Allison's
motion was agreed to. Senators Allison,
Hale and Beck were appointed conferees. .
Senator George resumed the floor and pro-
ceeded with his discussion OF the Presidents
retaliation message. He said that under the
act Of March 3, 1887, the President could not
deny the right Of transit over American ter
rltory TO goods going from a foreign country
70 Canada, or to goods going from Canada
through the United States intended for
foreign countries, and said that in the mes
sage sent to Congress on Dencember 5, 1870,
PRESIDENT Grant had recommended the very
tnlng which President Cleveland now re-
commended.
:. The Senate adjourned before Senator
George finished his speech
Deiuded Emigrants.
Representative Ford's committee on con-
tract labor returned this morning Mr..
Ford stated that the investigation was not
yet completed but enough had been learned
to convince the committee that something
positive must be done relative to contract
labor as the laws had been violated to an
alarming extent. 1t was discovered that the
whole of Italy was flooded with steamship
agents telling lies about the United States
to induce emigration. and that naturalization
was being issued to an alarming extent.
Also that % per cent. Of the men engaged in
the New England fisheries were aliens and
legislation in that direction was needed. He
recommended that man be required to de-
clare his intention of becoming an American
citizen some months before leaving his native
land thus enabling the American consul to
enquire into his character.
Out of Funds.
The report Of the civil service commission
covered year and half in time Of the
operations Of the commission, and in sketch
ing the history Of the attempts to reform the
service 1t goes back 80 years. The result
was a pretty good sized book. The 1900
copies which have been ordered cost $4,000.
The Commissioners charged this to the ap-
for printing for last year, the
year within which the report should have
been published. When the cost of publish
ing the recent annual report came up for
consideration the Secretary of the Interior
decided to charge it to the appropriation for
this fiscal year. This action created no
little CONSERVATION, and It's consequences are
The commission Is absolutely
without money for printing purposes; in
fact, 1t has several hundred dollars on the
wrong side. Of the printing account. 1t has
no money for printing questions or ANYTHING
Of the blanks in daily use; even the new
classification cannot be put into printers
INK for the information of the interested.
commissioners may well say, Heres
state Of things" They have virtually come
relief. OF course, they are doing business.
and great deal of it, but without the aid of
'he printer the commission cannot very we'll
place its rulings and important information
concerning civil service matters in proper
shape before the many who watch its pro-
,eedings with interest.
Speeches on the Message.
The list Of Senators who have already an
their purpose to take part in the
iebate on the retaliation message includes
besides Mr.. George, Messrs. Cullom, Vest
spooner, Teller, Edmunds, Morgan and
tray. Neither of these Senators is likely to
Dc brief In his remarks, and it will be a long
lime before the message is formally referred
10 the Committee on Foreign Relations.
Notes.
Joseph Mckinney, of Lincolnsville, Me-,
has been granted an original invalid PEN
sion.
Mr.. Mason's resolution inquiring whether
the national banks in which the President
has deposited without interest nearly $780,
100000 are contributing to the Democratic
campaign fund. will bring out some interest
ing hgures. Secretary Whitney denies the
charge.
Pensioner Commissioner Blacks annual
report shows 60,252 new names, making q
total of 452, ,557 ON the rolls; paid during the
year, S78,775, 1862, an increase OF *, ,3Oo, ,2oO
Mr.. Reagan introduced in the Senate today
a bill to permit the importation OF jute bag
ging tree of dnty. and 1t was referred to the
on finance.
A .joint resolution providing temporarily
for the expenses of the government, was
passed by the House today.
After the morning hour today, the House
went into committee of the whole on the
Oklahoma bill. and spent the session in con-
sidering amendments to it.
The subcommittee Of the committee on
foreign affairs was in session this morning
discussing the Wilson bill and Presidents
message. 1t has already decided To recon-
mend amendments to that section of the
Wilson bill concerning canals. The bill was
regarded as subject to misconstruction in
that section, and the purpose has been more
clearly expressed by changes in the phrase