The National tribune., 1889-02-14
CONGRESS.
An Abstract Of the More Important
Proceedings in Both Houses.
WEDNESDAY. FEE. 6.

/
| Commission. A long discussion ensued, aimed
principally at the derelictions of the Post Office
Department.
! Mr. Daniel (Va) attacked the civil service
| system itself, as being un-American, n-Repub-
lican and un-Democratic, and that while he re-
| GREETED the defeat of the present Administra-
| ton he felt that there would be some conSola-
| ton in Tiff the incoming Administration should
manifest no affection for the modern machine
| system of appointments
Mr.. Chandler IN. H. defended the Admins
tration of the Navy Department under himself
from some allegations as TO civil service mat
| ters made by Mr.. Cockrell MOI He had been
| speaking for about quarter of an hour when
he yielded to a motion to adjourn Mr.. Harris
| (Tenn.) stating that he had special reason for
desiring an early adjournment, and the Sem
ate at 435 adjourned. Mr. Harris wanted the
adjournment in order to give the Democratic
members opportunity to hold another eau
GUS Nothing, however, was decided upon at the
caucus.
In the House, Frank B. Posey, elected to fill
the vacancy Occasoned by the resignation of
A. p HOvey, took the oath as Representative
from the First Congressional District of Indi-
| ana. The consideration of the conference re-
port on the Nicaraguan canal bill was re-
sumed, it being agreed that debate should be
closed at O'clock.
Mr. Kelley pa regarded the construction of
the Nicaraguan canal as essential TO the mainte-
nance of our influence over the American Con-
tineut, an influence which was called the
Monroe doctrine, and of which generations had
been proud.
Remarks were also made by Mr.. Chapman
(Mieh.), who favored the annexation of Mica
ragua to the United States; Mr.. Buckalew
tPa.), Mr.. Scott tPa.), and then the conference
report was agreed to by a vote of III yeas to
90 nays
Mr.. Dingley (Ie.) reported resolution call
ing upon the Secretary of the Treasury for in
formation as to what action had been taken
regarding the protection of the seal fisheries in
Boring Sea in the Spring of 1883, and whether
those instructions differed from those given for
the year previous; and if so, what reasons ex-
listed for a change.
Mr.. Hatch (Mo) brought forward and en-
deavored to secure the consideration of the agri-
cultural Appropriation bill, but was antagonized
by Mr.. oNeill Pa with the pension bill of the
widow of Gen. w. H. Emory, on which the
previous question had been ordered since June
last. Dilatory tactics were reSorted to- and
the House took recess at o'clock, Teconven-
ing at 100 for the consideration Of bills re-
ported by the Committee on Indian Affairs.
The House adjourned ut 10 o'clock p m.
THURSDAY, FEB. Z.
In the Senate, the conference report on the
bill TO incorporate the Nicaraguan canal was
presented and agreed to, aud the bill now goes
to the President for his approval.
Dir Blair N. H from the Committee on Wonl-
ans Suffrage, reported favorabiy joint resolu-
| ton proposing constitutional amendment to
prohibit the denial or infringement of the right
TO vote by the United States or by any State on
account sex. The joint resolution was placed
OH the calendar, and Mr.. Cockrell MOI said
thata minority report would be made hereafter.
The resolution heretofore offered by Mr..
Chandler On. II. J instructing the Committee on
Appropriations to make an investigation in re-
lation to the longevity, mileage and sea serv-
ice" claims of naval officers was taken up.
After some debate it went over until to morrow.
The House amendments TO the Senate bill for
a survey for an avenue from the Aqueduct
Bridge to Mount Vernon were concurred in.
Senators Davis (Minn.) and Daniel (Va.)
were appointed on the Board of Visitors to the
Military Academy.
The Senate resumed the consideration of the
Legislative, Judicial and Executive appropria-
tion bill, and long discussion took place as 10
whether the Board of Pension Appeals-which
is fixed in the bill at three members-should
be increased to six members; the latter motion
prevailing. Without finishing the bill, the
Senate adjourned at 6:10 o'clock D. m.
In the House, Mr.. Holman (Ind.), from the
Committee on Public Lands, reported back the
Senate bill providing that the public lands of
the United States now subject to private entry
or are adapted to, and chiefly valuable for agr-
culture, shall be disposed of according to the
provisions of the homestead laws. On motion
of Mr.. Holman an amendment was adopted
striking out the words which exempt Missouri
from the provisions of the bill. An amend
ment was adopted also repeating the cOmmuta-
ton clause of the homestead law. On motion
of Mr.. Turner Kan.) an amendment was adopt
ed allowing persons who have abandoned or
reilnquished their homestead entries to make
another entry. The bill was then passed.
Mr.. O'Neiil (Pa.) called up the bill increasing
the pension of the widow of Gen. w. IL. Emory
to 500 per mouth, and Mr.. Cheadle lind
moved TO amend and fix the rate at $50 per
month. The amendment was rejected by yeas
50, nays 1873, aud the bill WAS then passed
The House then went into Committee of the
Whole on the Army appropriation bill, which
took up the balance of the day, the House ad-
journing at o'clock p. IN.
FRIDAY, FEB. g.
In the Senate both the naval and fortiica-
ton bills were reported with amendments and
placed on the calendar.
Mr.. Paddock (Neb.) introduced bill declar-
ing that the provisions of the civil service shall
not be construed as embracing within its scope
the officers and employees of the railway mail
service.
The Senate then resumed the consideration
of the Legislative, Judicial and Executive an
preparation bill; the amendment to increase
the clerical force of the Civil Service Commits
sion was defeated, and the bill was then passed.
bill was presented which states that after a
full and free conference the Committee on Ter
rtories had failed TO agree to the House amend
ments and new cOnferesce was ordered
The Senate then took up the private pension
bills on the calendar, and, after passing So of
them, at 5:3O o'clock p. m. adjourned
The House went into Committee of the Whole |
on the Army appropriation bill, the pending |
question being on the point of order raised by |
MIR. Randall Pa against the clause appropri- !
ating S5OO,O00 for the purchase of subj marine |
torpedoes. The Speaker sustained the point |
on the ground that the item belonged properlv |
in the fortifcaton bill.
An angry discussion ensned between Mr..
Spinoia IN. " Mr. Townshend GlI.) and Mr.. |
Randall Pa, the two first named claiming |
that Dir. Randall was usurping everything per- |
tanning to appropriations.
On motion of Mr. Mash PA an amendment |
was adopted appropriating 5000 to enable the |
Secretary of War to eause examinations and |
tests TO be made in converting existing ord |
nance of the War Department into steel lined
breech-loading torpedo howitzers, according
to the plans of S. II. Emmons The commit
tee then arose and the bill was passed.
The agricultural appropriation bill was then
taken mp, and elected no opposition until the
clause for distribution of seeds was reached
which system was attacked by Mr.. Enloe
tIenn.), but his motion to strike out the clause
1pfaata5 no