Democratic Sentinel, Volume 6, Number 2, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 10 February 1882 — FORTY-SEVENTH CONGRESS. [ARTICLE]

FORTY-SEVENTH CONGRESS.

A favorable committee report was made to the Senate, on the 30th ult, on the bUI for a public building at Peoria, HL Mr. Edmunds reported favorably the bill to re-establish the Court of Commissioners of Alabama Claims and for the distribution of the remainder of the Geneva award. Mr. Ferry introduced a bill for a water route to facilitate transportation between Lakes Michigan and Erie. In the House, Mr. Berry introduced a bill to fix railroad fares at 3X to 4W cents per mile. Mr. Berry also introduced a bill proposing a constitutional amendment making any person bolding the office of President of the United States ineligible for re-election, granting an annual pension of $6,000 to all exPresidents, and making Cabinet officers ineligible to election to the Presidency for the term following that during which they served as members of the Cabinet Mr. Cobb handed in an act to repeal the land grants of several of the unfinished Pacific railroads. Measures were also presented for the admission of Arizona and Idaho as States. The Consular and Diplomatic Appropriation bill, setting aside $1,198,530, was reported. Mr. Windom reported a resolution to the Senate, on the 31st ult., requesting the President to transmit all correspondence with our diplomatic agents in Mexico and Guatemala since January, 1881. Mr. Harris introduced a bill for a bridge across the Mississippi river at Memphis, and Mr. Morgan an act granting the right of way over public lands in Alabama to the Chicago AirLine railroad. The Sherman funding bill was taken up, and the Vest amendment was defeated and that by Mr. Plumb was agreed to. The latter provides for a redemption fuud of only $100,000,0(16. In the House, Mr. Springer introduced a resolution calling on the Postmaster General for copies of all correspondence in regard to the necessity of weighing the mails between New York vnd Chicago. A resolution was adopted requesting the President to obtain a list of American citizens confined in English prisons. Mr. Robeson modified his resolution as to railroad land grants to include all but the Pacific roads. The annual post-route bill was reported and passed. Mr. Colerick introduced an apportionment bUI fixing the number of representatives at 316, and Mr. Cox presented one providing for 307. Several petitions for the suppression of polygamy were reported in the Senate on the Ist inst A favorable report was made on the bill appropriating $15,000 to the National Board of Health for supplying the people with vaccine virus at cost price. A resolution was adopted calling on the President to furnish copies of alt correspondence relating to a congress of American nations. The Sherman Funding bill was taken up, and amendments were adopted recognizing as binding the agreement made for the extension of the 5 and 6 per cent, bonds, and providing that the act shall not be construed to authorize the increase of the public debt. Mr. Sherman said that if Mr. Plumb’s amendment were not stricken out he should vote against the bill. The President nominated J. 8. Runnels as United States District Attorney for Iowa; Marsden C. Burch, United States Attorney for the District of Michigan ; Hugh J. Campbell, for the District of Dakota ; W. H. Armstrong, of Pennsylvania, Commissioner of Railroads. The House fixed upon February 27 for the Garfield memorial services. Mr. Hill introduced a bill for a reduction of letter postage to 2 cents per half ounce. In committee of the Whole the .postoffice appropriation of $43,529,300 was discussed for three hours. In response to the call of the House for information, the Commissioner of Pensions estimates the amount of money required for the next twenty-five years at $1,347,651,593. The sums grow gradually less annually, ranging from $62,000,000 to $23,000,000. The Sherman Funding bill being under consideration in the Senate on the 2d inst., Mr. Plumb’s amendment to leave in the treasury only $100,000,000 for the redemption of greenbacks, was defeated by 25 to 27. An amendment by Mr. Hoar, asserting the legality of the action of Secretary Wiudom in extending the 5 and 6 per cents, was adopted, after a hot debate. Mr. Ferry reported adversely on the resolution to grant the franking privilege to Senators and Representatives for ofticiil business, and introduced a bill for postal cards with flexible covers to conceal the message written thereon. The President nominated George E. Bryant to be Postmaster at Malison, Wis., and George Fisher io be Surveyor of Customs at Cairo. In theHouse, Mr. Stophens reported back bills for a metric gold piece for international use, and for goldid coins of several denominations. Mi - . Dunnell reported a measure to repeal the export tax ou tobacco, and Mr. Belford an act to lease and and desert land in Colorado. The postoffice appropriation was taken up in committee of the whole, and an attempt was made by Mr. Bingham to add SIOO,OOO for expenses of the free-delivery system, but the House idjourned without voting on the proposition. The Senate amended the Sherman Funding bill, on the 3d, by limiting the withdrawals of bank circulation to $5,000,000 per month, and requiring thirty days’ notice. The measure was then passed by 38 to 18. A bill was passed to appropriate $200,000 for the erection of a fire-proof hall of records for the War Department. The Secretary of the Interior transmitted the draft of a bill to extend over Indian lands the act for the preservation of timber. Mr. Teller reported a bill granting life pensions of $5,000 per annum to the widows of Presidents Garfield, Polk and Tyler. The bill to extend the northern boundary of NebrXtka was passed. The House devoted the day, in committee of the whole, to the private calender.’