The Portland daily press., 1890-04-26
GENERAL WASHINGTON NEWS.
Senator Call Complains Because He
Has Few hearers.

WASHINGTON, April 25.-The Senate to-
day resumed consideration of the railroad
land forfeiture bill, and Mr.. Call went on
with his argument in favor of his amend
ment as to the forfeiture of railroad lands in
Florida. Mr.. Blair. noticing the few Sena-
tors in their seats, called attention to the
fact and call of the Senate took place.
During its progress Senators came in from
the committee and cloak rooms, and 56 re-
sponded to the roll. Mr.. Call then went ON
with his speech, but before he had been
talking half an hour the same state of things
was repeated. He stopped to complain. He
had but few hearers, he said, and if the peo-
pie could witness the scene in the Senate
chamber they would form an opinion that
the day was passing by when Senators were
of any use in the government of the country.
III Il pgb1ie Ssaste afmspasd ss psdbs SSga1 5a @ S
distant day. There was enough intelligence
to demand that proper attention be given to
the consideration Of question of public in
teresJ.
The Vice President announced that he
had signed the Joint resolution passed today
appropriating $500 for the relief of the
sufferers by the Mississippi overflow and the
joint resolution was sent to the. President
for his signature. The land forfeiture bill
went over without action.
Mr.. Gibson offered joint resolution de-
the announcement of the death of Hon. Ed
ward J. Gay. late representative from Louis
lana. Eul0gies were pronounced by Messrs.
Gibson, Cockrell and Eustis, resolutions
agreed to, and as further mark of respect,
the Senate, at 4.30, adjourned.
In the House..
WASHINGTON, April 25.-The House to-
day went in committee of the whole on the
legislative appropriation bill. The appro-
priafion for fhQ 0ffipQ Of fhQ director 0f the
mint was reached and Mr.. Breckinridge of
Kentucky, offered an amendment providing
that the appropriation should not be ayaila-
able until all laws limiting the free and un-
distinction between the coinage of gold and
silver are repealed. After a short discus
sion the amendment was ruled out on point
of order.
In speaking to verbal amendment Mr..
Cummings of New York. gave the reason
for striking out necessary" travelling ex-
penses of the civil service commission, and
inserting actual travelling expenses. He
read list of the expenses of the members
Of the commission in which the articles
did not consider these necessary" expenses.
Mr.. Wilson of West Virginia, inquired
whether Civil Service Commissioner did
not have to see double in order to. see. any
civil service reform under this administra-
tion. Laughter
Mr.. Cummings-"I think he does, or un-
der the other either" Laughter
Without completing the consideration OF
| the bill the committee rose and the House,
at 5 o'clock, took recess until g.
At the evening session the House passed
| 80 private pension bills.
Diplomatic Jap.
WASHINGTON, April 25.-Kentaro Kane
ko, the secretary of His Imperial Japanese
Maiesty's privy council, who has been trav-
elling through Europe studying the modes
of procedure in the various parliamentary
bodies, has arrived in Washington. He will
observe the methods of business in Congress
and report to his government a system of
parliamentary procedure to be adopted by
the coming parliament of Japan, which has
been granted by the new constitution. Thus
far he prefers the English system.
The Pension List.
WASHINGTON, April %. Pensions have
been granted to the following Maine people:
ORIGINAL.
Thomas Kenney, Frankfort.
INCREASE.
Edwin Bradbury, Benton.
John r. Bryant, Searsmont.
George Merrill Calais.
James McKenney, Fort Fairfield.
Collectors Nominated.
WASHINGTON, April 25-The President
| today sent to the Senate the following nom-
| nations:
| zTo be collectors oficustoms-John d. Hopkins,
district of Frenchman's Bay, Maine; and George
| NJ Warren, district of Castine, Maine.
Washington Notes.
| Secretary Blaine has sent messages to
| Southern cities which had prepared to enter
tain the Pan American delegates stating
| that the trip was abandoned owing to the
| fact that there would be only one delegate
| in the party after it left Richmond.
The President has signed the Worlds Fair
| bill.
In the House yesterday Mr. O'Neill of
| Pennsylvania, presented the proceedings of
| meeting of business men of Philadelphia
and a memorial with 1000 signatures and the
signatures of the board Of trade of that city
asking the aid of Congress in the promotion
of the building of American ships to trade