Birmingham state herald., 1895-12-10
NATIONAL LAW MAKERS Members of Both Houses Are
 Hard at Work. SENATOR JOHN I. MORGAN Addressed the Senate at Length on the Beh-
 ring Sea Claims.
SIR JULIAN PAUNCEFOTE ROASTED
His Recent Utterances Characterised as "Ofensive''-Bills for Public Build ings Aggregating $3, $50, 1000
 Introduced in the House.

Washington, Dec. 9.-The senate was addressed today by MT Morgan chair man of the committee on foreign rela- tions and formerly a member of the Beh- ring sea Paris tribunal, in support of his resolution offered on the 3d of December referring to the committee on foreign relations, the presidents special mes sage on February 8, 1895, and his recent annual message relating to the payment by the United States of the claims of Great Britain arising out of the Behring sea controversy, with instructions to ex- anime into the question of liability on the part of the United States and of lia- bility on the part of Great Britain or Canada. MT. Morgan, who read his speech from printed slips, was very se- were upon the British ambassador, Sir Julian Pauncefote, characterizing as offensive the ambassadors comments upon the action of congress in refusing an appropriation to pay the indemnity for losses of British subjects owing to the seizure of ''sealers," and asserting that, as to many of those sealers, they were the actual property, in whole or in part, of American citizens who had no such claim upon their own govern ment. The British ambassador, MT MOT gan stated with emphasis, had no right to question members of congress for the words spoken in debate, and his dolngs also in diplomatic papers, which he hand ed over to the American press for pub lcation, was an act of intrusive arro- gance." At one point of the speech he indulged in a touch of sarcasm at the expense of Sir Julian Pauncefote, who had, he said "buried him under his pom derous logic," and of the Earl of Sails bury, who had "exhumed him for such use as he might be found most conven- lent"
 MT. Morgan occupied two hours in the delivery of his speech. and then the res olution was agreed to.
 The first two bills of this congress were passed today-one of them to allow the superior court of Pennsylvania the use of the United States court houses at Scranton and Williamsport, and the oth- CT making an appropriation of SlOo,ooo for a survey and plans of improvement at the entrance of Biscayne Bay, Fla.
 Senators Hill of New York and Caffery of Louisiana made their first appearance at the session today Tn the senate chaili- Der, and the latter took the oath of office under his election for the full term De- ginning March 4, 1895.
 MT. Cullom gave notice that he would address the senate tomorrow on the sub- ject of the Monroe doctrine.
 Mr. Berry of Arkansas introduced Dill to form the Indian territory into the ter ritory of Indianalo, and gave notice that he would hereafter address the senate up- on the subject.
 Among the number of bills referred was one by MT. Voorhees, to pay pension of S2O0 a month to the widow of the late Secretary of State Gresham.
 A resolution calling on the president for copies of all correspondence in the state department on the subject Of the trial and imprisonment of John L. Wal Ter by the French authorities at Mada- gascar as introduced by MT. Baker, re- publican, of Kansas. and was agreed to.
 MT Hale offered a resolution instruct ing the judiciary committee 10 lnquire and ascertain what is the existing law in the District of Columbia in relation to the custody of minor children, and es- pecially whether the father of any minor children may dispose of their custody after his death by the provisions of his last will and testament. The resolution has reference to the@ease of the Slack children, now pending in one of the. dis trict courts in which the mother seeks to regain possession of her children, now held from her by virtue of their fathers will. Mr. Hale said he wanted to know whether any such relic of barbaric law existed here.
 Mir. Harris suggested the committee on the District of Columbia as the proper committee to which the resolution should be referred.
 MT. Hale expressed his willingness to have the change of reference made.
 MT Vest argued against the making of any report while the subject was pending in court of justice.
 MT. Pugh objected to the resolution being referred to any committee.
 MT. Hale said that if the law stands as it is set out in the petition of the Slack case, then the thing is intolerable and the committee, should report a new law on the subject.
 The resolution was finally referred to the committee on the District of Colum-- bia.
 By MT. Quay-To establish postal saw ings banks. It provides for deposits of. from 10 cents to $10 at all money order postoffices and for interest on deposits which do not exceed $500.
 By MT. Kyle, populist, of South Dakota Providing for the erection of buildings costing not less than $6000 or more than $50 OO00 in all towns with population Of 5000 or more, provided suitable site Is donated by the people.
 It also provides for the issuance CT treasury notes not to exceed in the ag-- gregate s10O. 900. 900 to defray the cost of these buildings.
 Among the public building bills intro duced were the following:
 By MT. Call-Appropriating $200.000 for building at Ocala, Fla; appropriating $125,000 for a light house steamer for use on the gulf coast of Florida; also appro- priating $25.000 for range lights at St. Joseph bay and at St. Andrews bay, Fla; also placing the river and harbor inn provements of Pensacola, Fernandina, Key West. Tampa bay. Charlotte har- bor and St. Johns river under the con- tract system, and appropriating $150.OO0 for various other river and harbor im- provements in Florida: also igranting American registers to the foreign built barks Minde and John Ludwig, owned by citizens of Florida.
 By MT. Cameron-Authorizng the sale of St. Francis barracks. St. Augustine, Fla, and the purchase of site of nine acres between Maria Sanchez creek and Matanzas river at cost not to exceed