The Portland daily press., 1895-02-15
IN THE SENATE.
The Railway Mail Service Appropriation
Continues To Be vexed Question.

Washington, February 14.-IE the Sen
ate. in the morning hour, Mr.. Platt
(Rep.) of Connecticut, said he had Pc
tition of su fficient importanceEto justify
him in asking the attention of the Sem
ate. 1t was from certain persons, citi-
zens of the Choctaw nation, by blood.
residing under the American flag. who
represented that they. are now on trial
in the courts of the Choctaw nation on
false charge of murder or homicide.
growing out of the hospital feud. They
"implore the government of the United
States that the constitutional right OF a
fair trial be secured them as provided by
the Choctaw treaty and that the right
of appeal be provided to the United
States Court, where they shall be
Judged, free from ignorance, prejudice
or malice" He asked that the petition
be referred to the judiciary committed
MIR. Teller (Rep. Of Colorado, COM
mended the action of the Secretary of
the Interior in insisting on new trial
of the men (they having been convict
ed on former trial and sentenced to
death, and one actually executed under
cruel circumstances The fault lay. he
said, in. the United States allowing to
those Indians the right to conduct legal
trials in the way they do.
The petition was referred to tne Judlc-
larry committee.
Mr.. Henderson (Rep. of Nebraska, in
presenting an amendment to the ap-
preparation bill, said: "Its purport vas
to pay to the representatives of the men
killed in the Ford's Theatre disaster a
few years ago $500 for each DEATH" He
explained that no proposition was made
iA,, f.,r ir,i.1 o.
there was no likelihood of any action
being taken on it at this session. He
hoped that the joint committee would
continue the investigation on that point
and report bill at the next session. A
response of the Secretary of the Treasury
to the Senate resolution calling for in
formation as to the gold reserve ann the
condition of the treasury was presented
by the Vice President and read to the
Senate, and was referred to the hnance
committee.
Mr.. Lodge (Rep)yof Massachusetts,.
offered resolution that was agreed to.
calling on the Secretary of the Treasury
for an estimate of the return from the
internal revenue tax on distilled spirits.
and asking him whether he has any
reason to believe there will be any re-
duction of the revenue from that source,
owing to the closing Of distilleries, or
whether he has any information that
would lead him to suppose such closing
of distilleries and consequent reduction
of revenue is likely to occur during the
next calendar year.
At 8 p. M, in accordance with the
agreement made yesterday the Senate
service amendment to the post Office
appropriation bill, and the amendments
offered by Senators Black burn and vi
las.
Mr.. Black burn (Dem.) of Kentucky,
offered an amendment directing the re-
duction of at least ten per cent in the
rates paid railway companies; Mr.. Villas
offered as substitute his proposition for
the purchase of postal GAYS by the gov
renment. The Villas substitute was laid
on the table-yeas 81, nays 10. A vote
was taken on the motion by MI. Lodge
(Rep.) of Masss., to lay on the table Mr..
Black burns amendment, and it was
agreed to-Yeas 40, nays 10.
The Senate, by vote of yeas ~, nays
49, refused to strike out of the bill the
paragraph appropriating $196,6 for a
to Atlanta and New Orleans. An
amen dment to the paragraph offered by
Mr.. Sherman and appropriatina SIS, DOC
for special facilities on the routes, was
defeated
MIR. Davis (Rep.) of Minnesota, offered
an amendment providing that IN case OF
postal clerks being appointed before the
side on the line of railroad on which
they serve, the rule is not to be opera
tive. Agreed to.
The bill, which had been all this time
in committee Of the whole,sswas reported
to the Senate.
Mr.. Black burn moved to amend the
item appropriating S1S6, GA lot Ias'
mail service from Springfield, Mass, tc
New Orleans by reducing the amount
to SIG. 1852, ten per cent reduction or
the existing rates.
Action was not taken on this amend
ment. and the bill went over until to
morrow.
The agricultural appropriation bill
was reported from the committee on ap
preparations and placed on the calendar
After an executive session the Senate
adjourned.