The Portland daily press., 1895-12-25
1'HE SENATE
kepeals fDle Confederate Prohibitory
Law.
EX.SOlUTHERN SOLDIERS NOW
ELIGIBLE FOR SERVICE.

a communication from the Interstate Com
| mea'ce Commission-Senator Vest NIodi-
fieE, His Silver Coinage Resolution-The
| Appointment of Democrats to the Sem
| at's Committees-Adjour till Friday.
| Washington, December %. in the SEN
ate to day after discussion on the bill
| TO epeal the statute prohibiting ex-
COIlfederate officers from holding posi-
tlons in the army or navy, vote was
taken on Mr.. Sherman's motion to refer
the bill and the result was: yeas, 8 nays,
3(t-less than quorum. A subsequent
rehl call showed the presence of AZ Sena-
tt1rs-oyer quorum; then Mr.. Sherman
Withdrew his motion to refer, and the
| bill was read a third time and passed.
Mr.. Vest. Democrat of Missouri, modi.
fed his silver coinage resolution of last
week, by making it joint resolution and
changing it in some other particulars,
SO it now Directs the secretary of the
treasury to coin as rapidly as possible
the silver bullion in the treasury, pur-
chased under the act of July 49,, 1890,
into standard silver dollars and with such
dollars to redeem the treasury notes is
sued for the purchase of bullion when
offered for redemption. ''Such notes to
be destroyed as soon as redeemed" 1t
directs the secretary of the treasury to re-
deem the treasury notes commonly called
greenbacks when presented for redemption
Gt lfa1s dci1x oil cy,d hafh
as condi ton of the treasury may require
I-greenbacks so edeemed to be re-issued
as provided by the act of May 81, 1875
/ Mr.. Hill Democrat of New York indi-
GATED his purpose of discussing the resolu-
tion and questioned the propriety of be-
ginning the debate today.
Mr.. Morrill,, Republican of Vermont,
Ilnoved to refer it to the finance commit
tee before calling for vote on that mo-
tion and moved for an adjournment.
| The Senate at p. m. adjourned till
Friday.
| The Senate today received from the in
| ter-state commerce commission in re-
sponse to the Senate resolution, rep ort
on the joint traffic agreement recently en-
tered into between the trunk lines, oper-
ating between the Atlantic seaboarrd and
the West. Chairman Morrison in the re-
port says. 1t. is owing to the fact that
the agreemen is incomplete that the COM
| mission cannot determine whether con-
| ts2ct which. may bo finally perfected, will
i5be in violation of law or not. Mr. Nor
i rison says 1t is competent for the commits
| sion of it's own motion under the recent
decision of the courts to begin proceed
| ings in the case of an obstruction to in
| ter-state commerce, caused by such a
| on N QC is to5 in, ic
agreement.
With regard to the feasibility of enforc-
| ing the penal provisions of the interstate
commerce law, Mr.. Morrison calls atten-
tion to the fact that it has so far been
found very difficult to secure the neces-
| sary testimony. Under the present ruling
of the courts any inquiry may be arrest-
ed by a refu sal of the witnesses to testify
if the plea of self incarcetation is enter
ed. Mr.. Morrison says: In view of the
fact that any action by injunction or
otherwise which might be used to pre-
vent the completion or consumm alton of
the contract, agreemennt or.combination,
has not yet been made. it can be used to
prevent its being carried into effect in the
event of its being finally filed, and in
addition thereto persons representing cor
porations becoming liable for misde-
meanor, the commission believes it best
performs its duty by postponing any
torney to institute a suit until the rail
road companies shall actually form a
joint traffic association and enuer into
agreement which will be unlawful.
In response to the Senate resolution the
Secretary of the treasury today sent to
the Senate statement showing during
each of the last five years and for the
whole period, the gross amount Of i'm
ports from the ports of Great Britain
and her colonies and dependencies with
the amount of exports to such ports.
The total for the whole period of five
years: United Kingdom, imports, $500, :
$40, $50; exports, 50, 1S4, 04S 634. Bermuda,
British Honduras, imports, 1902, 554; ex-
lports, 50, o65. 769. Canada, including
Novai Scotia, New Brunswick, Quebec,
Ontario, British Columbia, ETC., i'm
ports, s179, 1874, ,6S2; exports, $237, &C, ,759
New Foundland and Labrador, imports,
S2, 103, 627; exports, 81, 1872, 4S3. British
West Indies, imports, S67, 556, $50; exports,
$42, ,230, 435. British Guiana, imports, $21,
os1 .o62; exports, SO, 1913. o63 British india
and East Indies, imports, $110 1874, 1924;
exports, $1S, 41O.214. Hong Kong, i'm
| ports. So. S73, ,663; exports, 1920, a4a, s35
British Australia, imports, $50, 635, 9Ss;
exports, $40, All. .244. British Africa, i'm
ports, So, 732, SIS; exports, $19, ss2, s24 All
other British dependencies including
Aden, Falkland Islands, Malta, etc., i'm
ports, $9,313, 52S; exports, So, S04. $50.
The committees OF. the Senate will be
reorgsnized next week and it will then
pass into the hands of the Republicans.
The Democratic stering committee held
a long session this afternoon, heard those