The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-02-22
USE OF STEAM PRESSES.
SENATOR BLAIR OPPOSED TO
LABOR SAVING MACHINERY.

He Applies Uncomplimentary Epithets
to superintendent Graves and to the
Senate Finance Committee-The Re-
marks Bring Forth Retorts in Kind
From the Senators Affected.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 2l.--In the Senate
to-day consideration of the sundry civil
bill was resumed, the pending question
being upon an amendment relative to the
use of steam presses in the bureau of en-
craving and printing. The House has pro-
vided for a discontinuance of the steam
presses and the Senate finance committee
reports in favor Of their continued use.
Mr.. Blair was the principle advocate of
the House provision, making three separate
speeches in the course of the debate.
He spoke of Mr. Graves, superintendent
of the bureau of engraving and printing, as
''the agent and attorney of the steam press
owners to all appearances; :" and as "proba-
bly, having his official head in his pocket"
and of the report of the Senate committee
as "a rotten report" aud as mot worth a
rush."
AROUSED THE COMMITTEE.
This aroused the resentment of the finance
committee. After paying a compliment to
Superintendent Graves Mr.. Morrill, said as
to labor-saving machines diminishing the
number of workmen, such talk was utterly
valueless. AS to abolishing the use of steam
printing machines in the bureau of engrav-
ing and printing, if it were done, it would
be necessary to enlarge the building for the
accommodation of eighty hand printers;
and it would be necessary to increase the
annual appropriation by 100000 If the
business of that bureau was to be continued
hnA 80 hn A11 h,r AY.{D al
pies. Otherwise work there would have to
be abandoned and given out by contract,
as it was years ago.
HARRIS BELITTLEs BLAIR.
Mr.. Harris declared that there was not
fair-minded man in the Senate who would
carefully examine the testimony who would
arrive at a conclusion different from that
reported by the finance committee AS to
the TRADE and criticism against the finance
committee he did not propose to notice it
further than to express his belief that no
opinion or declaration Of the senator from
New Hampshire could harm or hurt the
finance committee or anybody else.
Mr. Allison defended the action of the
committee in reporting the amendment. If
the house provision was agreed to, he said
the bureau of engraving and printing
would either be compelled to cease oper-
ations or congress would have to increase
largely the appropriation for its mainte-
nance.
HIsCoCK'S CHEAP REPUTATION.
Mr.. Hiscock said that the reputation of
the finance committee and of the sem
ators for honesty, fair dealing and thor
ough investigation did not depend upon the
over-zealous remarks of the senator fro n
New Hampshire. He would as lief let his
reputation Cheap as it was stand with that
senator's attack as without it. That sem
ator'S remarks did not weigh, and were not
counted. They were not respectful or
respectable. The whole movement was
crusade against labor-saving machinery;
that was all there was of it.
THE AMENDMENT AGREED TO.
Finally a vote was taken, and the amend
ment as reported by the committee was
agreed to.
Among other committee amendments
agreed to was one appropriating 5000
additional for the expenses of the interna-
tional conference of American states.
Mr.. Harris offered an amendment, which
was agreed to, appropriating S3350O0 addi-
tional, under the head of prevention of
epidemics."
Mr.. Colquitt offered an amendment which
was agreed to, appropriating $4,000 for
brick hospital at the United States arsenal
at Augusta, Ga.
CENTENNIAL OF THE CONSTITUTION.
Mr.. Hiscock offered an amendment ap-
propriating $500. 900 for the expenses of an
adequate preparation for appropriate
celebration of the centennial of the consti-
tuition of the United States, and authoriz-
ing the President to invite the chief execu-
tive and judicial officers of Mexico and the
Central and South American states, and of
several states and territories of the United
States and to entertain foreign guests in a
suitable manner.
EDMUNDS OBJECTS.
Mr.. Edmunds said he did not feel willing
TO vote $500, 900 out of the taxes of the peo-
pie for a mere glori6cation, and he called
for the yeas and nays The vote resulted in
16 yeas to IL nays, mo quorum).
A motion to adjourn having been made,
Mr.. Harris gave notice that if such thing
occurred again during the expiring hours
of congress the absence of a quorum) ne
would insist on a regular call of the Senate.
and on having the sergeant-at-arms send
tor the absent members.
Mr.. Blair Withdrew from the congress
sional Record the epithet which he had
applied to the report Of the finance COM
mittee and modified his remarks as to Mr..
Graves.
The Senate then at Gas o'clock adjourned
till tomorrow.
DES MONIES RIVER LAND VETO.