Democratic Sentinel, Volume 5, Number 51, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 20 January 1882 — DOINGS OF CONGRESS. [ARTICLE]

DOINGS OF CONGRESS.

The woman-suffrage question assumed a new phase to the Senate on the 9th tost, which may indicate that it is to become a live issue to American politics. On Bayard’s amendment to refer the Hoar resolution to create a standing committee on woman suffrage to the Judiciary Committee, the Republicans voted “ No ” unanimously and the Democrats voted “Aye.” Davis, of Illinois, voted with the Republicans. Mr. Teller introduced a bill for the issue of certificates for bullion deposited in the treasury, and Mr. Rollins an act for the organization of the Territory of Oklahoma. Mr. Sherman explained his 3-per-cent. bond bill, and earnestly urged its passage. Mr. Logan flung to a proposition to devote to general education all tiie moneys received by Internal Revenue Collectors from the manufacture or sale of liquors. The President nominated Maj. George B. Schofield to be Lieutenant Colonel of the Sixth Cavalry, and Jack Wharton to be Marshal of the Eastern district of Louisiana. In the House bills were introduced, by Mr. Kasson; for a commission to investigate the tariff and internal revenue laws; by Mr. Caldwell, to repeal the arrears-of-pensions aot; by Mr. Page, to make the anniversary of the discovery of America a legal holiday; by Mr. Smith, for the distribution of pure vaccine matter to the people ; by Mr. Payson, to make polygamy a disqualification for office to the Territories ; by Mr. Henderson, for the construction of the Mississippi and Illinois canal; by Mr. Willis, to reduce letter postage to 2 cents ; and by Mr. Cassidy, to restore to the public domain land granted the Northern Pacific road. In the Senate, on the 10th inst, Mr. Bayard reported favorably the Morrill tariff-commis-sion bill, and pronounced against the Garland measure. He said he favored removing the tariff question from the arena of sectional feeling by selecting civilians for Commissioners. Mr. Beck opposed the Morrill bill as a scheme of monopolists to secure delay. The House took preliminary action on the Utah contest, referring it to the Committee on Elections. From the debate it was evident that among Republicans as well as Democrats there is a disposition to reject Gov. Campbell’s certificate because it assumes to decide, not the question of election, but the question of qualification to serve as a member of the House. A large number of petitions, asking for a commission to inquire into the liquor traffic, were presented in the Senate on the 11th inst, nearly every Senator submitting one or more. Mr. Morgan offered a resolution directing the Committee on Woman Suffrage to report a bill to annul any law conferring upon women in Utah the right to vote. The Sherman funding bill was taken up, and Mr. Vest declared that the Democratic measure of last year would have saved the people $15,000,000 annually in interest; that the payment of the public debt would wipe out national banks, and the latter do not intend to surrender their charters. Mr. Sherman replied that the banks were subject to the will of Congress, and that it is fortunate that the bill of last year failed. Mr. Brown offered a resolution to supply each Senator with a clerk. In the House, Mrs Orth offered a resolution instructing tho Committee on Civil-Service Reform to report a different mode of appointing committees. After a spirited contest the resolution was referred to the Committee on Rules. Mr. Haskell, as a question of privilege, presented a resolution declaring that no Polygamist is entitled to admission to the House as a delegate, but the House voted that the resolution did not present a privileged question. Mr. Burrows presented a bill to define the qualifications of Territorial delegates, making polygamists ineligible, but Gen. Singleton objected. Mr. Robeson introduced a bill which calls for a return to the Government of lands granted to railroads in those cases where the conditions of the grant have not been fulfilled. A bill to authorize a bridge across the Missouri river, within five miles of St Charles, was passed by the Senate on the 12 th inst Mr. Ingalls defended the Arrears-of-Pension act, and offered a resolution against its repeal, which was laid over at the request of Mr. Beck. Mr. Kellogg introduced a bill to extend the limits of the port of New Orleans, and appropriating $200,000 to improve the harbor. A communication was presented from the Chicago Historical Society, asking ca operation in the celebration of the two hundredth anniversary of the discovery of the mouth of the Mississippi by La Salle. A prolonged debate took place on the 8 per cent funding bill. Mr. Plumb renewed his amendment requiring the redemption of all United States bonds from the treasury funds in excess of $100,000,000. In the House, Mr. Bayne introduced a bill to sweep away all the bank taxes, and Mr. Browne a measure for the issue and exchange of fractional treasury notes. An appropriation of $540,000 for work on the census was passed. Mr. Browne offered a resolution calling on the Secretary of the Interior for a statement of the amount annually required for pensions during the next quarter century. Both houses adjourned till Monday, the 16th.