Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1888-04-24
The House Allows the River and HarbOr
Bill to Again 90 Over.
The Citizens Of the District Of Columbia
Petition That Their Boys Shall not
be Sold Cigars, Cigarettes and
Tobacco.
Pres ident Cleveland Maintains His Re
putation by Vetoing Other Private
Pension Bills,
WAsHINGToS, April 23.
Senate.

WAsHINGToS, April %.
Senate
Mr.. Chase presented petitions signed BY
257 physicians, Sc pastors and 554 su-
perintendents. officers, and teachers of the
public schools of the District of Columbia
asking that legislation to prohibit the sale of
cigars, cigarettes aud tobacco to boys under
Is be had. He said that the signers had in
vestigated the subject and found the evil
very grave. Mr.. Stewart added: the use of
cigarettes is destroying the rising generation
and eifectng inuriously the prosperity of
the country. The petitions were ordered TO
be printed.
! The conference committee on the House
joint resolution accepting the invitation of
the French Republic to take part in the Inter
national exposition at Paris i'll 1859, was
dcred and Senators Sherman, Evarts and
Brown were appointed.
The Senate resumed consideration of the
bill TO forfeit certain lands heretofore grant
ed for the purpose of aiding the construction
of railroads, the question being on the amend
ments offered by Mr.. Stockbridge and
amendments thereto, offered by Mr. Palmer.
Mr. Stewart addressed the Senate, giving
a historical review of the general land policy
of the Government. lie summed up his
views by saying there should be no more
swamp and over-howed lands granted to
states that the preemption law should be
repealed as it was now used only for specu
latlve purposes that no more land script be
issued to soldiers or for educational purposes
OF otherwise as it was an unmtigated evil
that no more lands be granted TO railroads
the necessity of such grants had passed; that
every proposal in the homestead law which
allows person to acquire title with
out bona fide residence of five years be re-
pealed that timber culture be repealed, and
the only land laws preserved shall be the
| home stead (amended), the desert land law
/ (reformed as to prevent frauds, the min
eral land law (with slight amendments) and
IA well guarded law that would enable per-
sons to buy at a reasonable price sufficient
timber land, unfit for cultivation.
The bill was laid aside without action and
the Senate proceeded to the consideration Of
the international copyright bill
Mr.. Chase made a statement in its sup
/ port
| Mr.. Morrill, offered an amendment provid-
ing that the publishers of newspapers or 9th
er periodicals. in the United States be al
lowed to copy articles in newspapers and
periodicals of foreign country, and import
!
purpose.
Mr.. Vance moved to insert proviso that
newspapers, magazines and periodicals shall
not be entitled to a copyright.
After further discussion without action the
/ bill went over, and the Senate adjourned,
/ The Senate bill granting a pension of 500
month to the widow of General James
! Brickett with an amendment reducing the
amount to $50 was passed.
| Under the call of states, several bills and
/ resolutions were introduced and referred, in
/ GLIDING resolution directing the committee
on merchant marine and fisheries to fully
aud thoroughly investigate the fur seal fish
cries of \ Aaska, and ali contracts or leases
made by the government, etc :: bill to exc
cute certain treaty stipulations, prohibiting
Chinese immigration; also authorizing the
Secretary of the Navy to make surveys IN
the PacIhc Ocean to determine the existence
and position of dangers in the track of com
mercc. etc +: also bill directing the Attor-
ney General to commence judicial proceed
ngs against the Union Pacific railroad also
bill for the construction of seven vessels
| for revenue cutter service, and for the con
struction of a revenue cutter for use at Bos
ton.
The IIou went into committee of the
whole on the river and harbor bill. After
unimportant discussion on various points the
committee rose and the House adjourned
General Congressional News
The committee on ways and means held
long meeting Monday morning to finally
agree upon the length of time to be allowed
for the general debate upon the tariff bill.
The republican members of the committee
asked that ten days of five hours each, or
fifty hours in all, be set for that purpose.
The democratic members held that shorter
time would suffice if evening sessions were
held for debate only, and evening sessions
were not acceptable to the republicans. 1t is
expected that an agreement will be reached
on Tuesday, when another meeting will be
held
The democratic Senators held caucus
Monday morning to further discuss the fish
cries treaty 1t was proposed in case the
republicans showed an unwillngness to rat-
fv the treaty to suggest that action be de
layed until the fishermen have chance to
test the new provisions in actual practice,
but to support the treaty whenever it shall
come up and if possible to secure its mme-
date ratification This policy seemed to
lind general favor in the caucus buf\was not
formulated into resolution and no spte was
taken on that or any other subject.
Notes.
An interesting story is in circulation
which, if true, will relieve the President
from what i. regarded as an awkard political
embarrassment The President, it is well
known, is desirous of appointing Minister
. Phelps to the vacancy on the supreme bench,
but faars tho couseuupDces that vouii follow
the selection Of gentleman for whom the
: ish-Americans entertain so cordial dis
/, like. As the story goes, certain New Eng
land influences are being exerted to p ace
Mr. Phelps ON the bench, send Secretary
Endicott to England, and call Patrick A.
Collins of Boston, into the cabinet. Ii il
: said that this acton on the Presidents part
would not only neutralize the bal effects OF
the Phelps appointment, but would in reality
strengthen the administration with the Irish
Americans, with whom Collins is universally
popular.
Minister Phelps visited the Senate today
and was introduced by Mr.. Hawley to sever
. al of his colleagues.
The President has vetoed House bill mum
Der s23. granting a pension to Hannah C.
Dewitt on the ground that he had already
I approved an act the precise duplicate of il
passed by Congress earlier in the season
and because in consequence of the name o!
the beneficiary in both cases is already OF
the pension rolls He also vetoed tbs
House bill granting pension to Moses I
Manton on the ground the claim was who'll.
v without merit and properly rejected by thu
e pension bureau. Also returned without ap
e proval the House bill granting pension tt
VIM. II. Brockenshaw-