Democratic Sentinel, Volume 6, Number 3, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 17 February 1882 — DOINGS OF CONGRESS. [ARTICLE]

DOINGS OF CONGRESS.

A resolution was adopted by the House, on the 4th inst., to pay John G. Thompson, ex--Bergeant-at-Arms, SB,OOO for expenses incurred in connection with the Garfield obsequies. In committee of the whole on the Postoflice Appropriation bill, it was agreed that SIOO,OOO may be used in establishing the freedelivery system at new points, and that $25,000 per year shall not be paid for carrying mails across the bridge at St. Louis. The Senate was not in session. The bill to grant lands in Alabama in aid of the Gulf and Chicago Air-Line railway was re' ported favorably to the Senate on the 6th inst A bill was passed directing the purchase of the Freedmen’s Bank property in Washington. Mr. Garland introduced an act for the erection or public buildings at Hot Springs. Mr. Ingalls called up his resolution declaring that the pension law ought not to be repealed. He stated that the rolls of the War Department showed 620,545 pensionable oases, and only 380,364 pensions had been granted by reason of death or disabilities. The President sent the following nominations to the Senate : CoL Daniel H. Rucker, Assistant Quartermaster General, to be Quartermaster General, vice Gen. Meigs, retired ; Maj. Win. B. Rochester, Paymaster General, vice Gen. Brown, retired. In the House, Mr. Belmont offered a resolution calling upon the President for a transcript of the letters of Jacob R. Bhiphord, of New York, and of the replies made by the State Department. Mr. Springer introduced a resolution that the President be requested to give his authority for calling a congress of the American republics. Mr. Cobb offered a resolution of inquiry as to the names of land-grant roads and the number of acres given them. A bill was passed providing thnt no person guilty of

bigamy or polygamy shall be eligible to a seat in Congress as a Delegate from any Territory. A resolution was adopted directing the Secretary of State to investigate the imprisonment in Mexico of three citizens of the United States for breach of civil contract. The bill to create a liquor commission was defeated. Mr. Garland introduced a bill in the Senate, on the 7th inst., to grant the right of way through the Indian Territory to the Mississippi, Albuquerque andlnterooean railway. Apetition was presented asking unobstructed navigation of the Missouri in the construction of bridges. The bill to donate bronze cannon for a statue to Garfield was amended to authorize the Secretary of War to pay s7ooto the Society of the Army of the Cumberland out of the sales of condemned ordnance. A report was made on the claims for depredations committed by the Utes at the White river massacre. In the House a resolution was adopted calling on the Postmaster General for information concerning the sub-letting of mail contracts. Majority and minority reports were presented on the bill to extend national bank charters. Mr. Ryan reported the Indian Appropriation bill, setting aside $1,920,203, ana reducing the number of Agents to sixty. The Apportionment bill was taken up, and six amendments were offered, fixing the number of representatives at 819 to 865. Mr. Prescott asked that the wealth of the various States be taken into consideration, for which sentiment he was sharply rebuked by Mr. Horr. Mr. Blair, of New Hampshire, proposed in the Senate, on the Sth inst, a constitutional amendment prohibiting the manufacture or sale of liquor after 1900. Mr. McCall offered resolutions directing the Secretary of State to negotiate for a reciprocity treaty with the Central and South American states. Messrs. Vest and Maxey, in a deuate on the matter of arrears of pensions, warmly eulogized the present law. Bills were passed to establish ports of delivery at Kansas City and St. Joseph. The President nominated Commodore John C. Febiger to be Rear Admiral, and Capt. John L. Davis to be Commodore. In the House, Mr. Randall gave notice of an amendment to the Tariff Commission bill, making the body consist of two Senators, three Representatives and four experts. Mr. Lacey reported a bill to establish a postal-sav-ings depository. The Sherman Funding biU was taken from the Speaker’s table, and referred to the Ways and Means Committee. After eulogies upon the late Representative O’Connor, of South Carolina, the House adjourned. The House Banking Committee made a favorable report on the bill to extend the charters of national banks. President Arthur sent a special message to both houses transmitting letters from Secretary Kirkwood and the acting Governor of Arizona in regard to lawlessness in that Territory, and urges the amendment of the posse comitatus act to permit the use of troops in assisting the civil authorities. Mr. Pendleton presented in the Senate, on the 9th inst., a petition from leading citizens of ■Pittsburgh asking that competitive examinations be held for appointments to offices, and that no removals be made on partisan grounds. A favorable report was made on the bill for the sale of portions of the reservation at Fo rt Leavenworth. Mr. Saunders introduced a bill for a bridge across the Missouri near Omaha, and Mr. Grover an act for civil government for Southeastern Alaska. Neil Brown, of Tennessee, was nominated tor Secretary of the Senate, but was defeated by the vote of Mr. Brown, of Georgia, who voted with the Republicans, much to the surprise and indignation of the Democrats. Eulogies were delivered upon the late Representative O’Connor, of South Carolina, during which Mr. Bayard paid a glowing tribute to the Irish race, lu the House, Mr. Hewitt introduced a bill to regulate the meeting of electors and the counting of the votes for President and Vice President. With Mr. Aldrich in the chair, some hours were spent on the Apportionment bill. Mr. McCoid advocated the Seaton plan, which fixes the number of Representatives from each State without regard to fractions. General sentiment seemed to favor provision for 319 members, which will divide the gain equally between the political parties. A bill was introduced to retire M. 0. Meigs with the r ank of Major General. Tne measure tor placing Gen. Grant on tne retired list came up in the Senate on the 10th, but was laid over because Mr. Logan was absent. Mr. Maxey urged the enlargement of the Mexican-war list, and Mr. Beck expressed his willingness to aid needy and deserving veterans, but not to others. lu the House Mr. Guenther reported a resolution of inquiry as to the practicability of lowering the dam constructed for the improvement of the Fox and Wisconsin rivers. The House went into committee of the whole on the private calendar and took up and passed the bill authorizing the President to appoint to a Captaincy in the army T. D. Kirby, who was cashiered for di-unkennoss when a brevet Brigadier General. The Secretary of the Treasury submitted a report showing that twenty-nine employes of the Internal Revenue Department Liaa been killed and fifty wounded while enforcing the laws against moonshiners. Both houses adjourned to Monday, 13th. At a caucus of Republican Senators, held after adjournment, it was determined to resist any motion to bring up Harris’ resolution for the appointment of Neil Brown as acting Chief Clerk of the Senate.