Democratic Sentinel, Volume 6, Number 5, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 3 March 1882 — DOINGS OF CONGRESS. [ARTICLE]

DOINGS OF CONGRESS.

The Senate held no session on the 18th. The House took up the Immediate-Deficiency bill, which appropriates $1,822,983. Mr. Singleton resented charges of extravagance brought against the Printing Committee of tne last congress. In regard to the clause for additional vaults in the treasuries, Mr. Hewitt characterized the silver dollar as a fraud, while Messrs. Stephens and Marsh declared it the true unit of value. The bill passed by 155 to 26.

Mr. Hale made a favorable report in the Senate, Feb. 20, on the House Apportionment bill, but objection to its immediate consideration was made. Mr. Saunders introduced a bill to improve the navigation of the Missouri river, and Mr. Windom a measure for the erection of a public building at Duluth. Mr. Call offered a resolution favoring a congress of representatives of the American republics to settle the controversy between Chili and Peru. Mr. Logan callod up the bill to place Gen. Grant on the retired list, favoring the measure on its merits. Mr. Vest objected that Grant was rich and the precedent would be a bad one. Mr. Butler said Grant had not asked for retirement, and would reap no honor by the measure. Mr. Logau repiied that the act would be appreciated by the beneficiary, and the bill would soon be pressed to a vote. Iu the House Mr. Hewitt rose to a question of privilege to announce that the u.->e of his name iu connection with the Peruvian company was entirely unauthorized. A bill was passed to authorize the loan of tents for a soldiers’ reunion at Grand Island, Neb. Bills were introduced : To provide for tho redemption of defaced silver coins at face value; for the construction of a bridge across the Mississippi near St. Louis ; to force the use of material from the same State in the construction of public buildings at any point, and to transfer to a PUiladelplua association 100 condemned cannon for an equestrian statue of President Garfield. A bill was passed to refund duties paid on certain copies of the revised Testament, as also one to promote the efficiency of the life-saving service, and another to refund to Japan $1,770,340 of the indemnity fund.

Mr. Dawes presented a petition in the Senate, on the 21st, in behalf of the Indian tribes, and called attention to the fact that 100,000 citizens of influence had signed similar appeals." Mr. .Plumb favored less sentimentality, and hoped to see the relations of the Government to the Indians placed on a practical basis. The House Apportionment bill was passed. Mr. McMillan introduced an act to. set apart a portion of Montana for certain Indian tribes, and to pay each $50,000 per annum for ten years. The resolution that the Arrears of Pensions law should be repealed was tabled by 26 to 23. The Senate, in executive session, confirmed John C. New as Assistant Secretary of the Treasury, P. B. S. Pinchback as Surveyor of Customs at New Orleans, and W. Q. Frye as Consul General at Halifax. The House of Representatives adopted a resolution that the Secretary of the Interior report the gross and net earnings of the roads now comprised in the Union and Central Pacific lines since the commencement of operations. In committee of the whole on the Postoffice Appropriation, an amendment was agreed to that mails shall be carried on the fastest trains without extra charge, under penalty of a loss of half the compensation. Mr. Singleton was defeated in an effort to secure steamboat mailservice throughout the season of navigation between St. Louis and St. Paul. It was agreed that not more than $25,000 per year should be paid to the St. Louis Bridge Company. The bill to retire Gen. Grant came np in the Senate Feb. 23. Mr. Bayard moved to amend by providing for the payment of a quarter salary to each ex-President for life, but it was rejected. It was agreed that the proposed retirement shall be additional to the number authorized by law. The bill then passed, by 35 to 17, David Davis and four Southern Senators voting for the measure. This will give Gen. Grant $12,500 per year for life. Mr. Harris presented a memorial frpm the cotton exchange of Memphis, stating the danger to the river front from the encroachments of the Mississippi. Mr. George introduced a joint resolution authorizing the Secretary of War to issue rations for the relief of the laboring classes in the overflowed region between Mem- • phis and Vicksburg. An appropriation of SIOO,OOO was quickly passed. In the House Mr. Chalmers introduced a bill for the relief of sufferers by the overflow of the Missis-

sippl, and an appropriation of SIOO,OOO was railroaded through, un committee of the whole the postoffice appropriation was taken np. It was resolved that no contractor shall be released until a bond has been made by the sub-contractor. A proposition to increase to $1,800,000 the amount set aside for postal clerks was rejected, as was also an amendment increasing by SBOO,OOO the appropriation for rsute agents. A resolution offered by Mr. Davis was adopted by the Senate, on the 24th, to inquire into the expediency of giving to States and Terri* tories more aid in organizing their militia. Mr" Bayard introduced a resolution that the Committee on Foreign Relations inquire into the charge that persons officially connected with the Government of the United States have promised intervention in the controversies in South America in connection with gnano contracts. A lengthy discussion took place on the bill to restore Mark Walker to an army Lieutenancy from which he was dismissed for drunkenness, it being finally recommitted. Mr. Van Wyck spoke on the necessity for an investigation of alleged fruds in the townshipsurvey system. The Immediate Deficiency Appropriation bill was passed. When the nomination of ex-Senator Conkling as Associate Justice of the Supreme Court was read in executive session, this afternoon, a motion was made to take it np for immediate confirmation. Senator Hoar thereupon took the floor, and warmly said that, while he conceded Conkhng’s freat abilities, and that no man since Webster ad surpassed him in intellectual force, he believed Conkling had used his powers for bad purposes, and he did not believe him honest. ‘•His elevation to the Supreme bench.” said Mr. Hoar, with great excitement of manner, and pounding his desk with emphasis, “would be a disgrace to the judicial ermine and he therefore interposed objection to present consideration of the nomination, and insisted that it should take the regular course of reference to the Judiciary Committee. Senator Ingalls made a short speech defending Mr. Conkling in a measure, as also did Senator Teller. Senator Teller said that, whatever might be said about Mr. ConkliDg, no one could say he was a corrupt man. A single objection being sufficient to prevent immediate consideration, the nomination was accordingly referred to that committee under the rules, without opportunity for debate or any reply to Mr. Hoar’s remarks. The nomination of ex-Senator Sargent as Minister to Germany was then referred to the Committee on fioreign Relations, under objection to its immediate consideration, which was - interposed by Mr. Cameron, of Pennsylvania, understood to be friendly both to him and Cottkling, but who desired to prevent the appearance of any distinction between the cases of the two ex-Senators. The House adopted a resolution that the Committee on Foreign Affairs inquire into the allegation that certain papers connected with the] Chili-Peru-vian correspondence, whieh are supposed to show the improper co anection of one or more Ministers of the United States with business transactions for which intervention was expected, have been lost or removed from the files of the State Department. Bills were passed to retire William P. Chambliss with the rank of Major, and Carlisle Boyd with the rank of Captain, and to grant arrears of pension to the widow of Maj. Gen. Alexander Hays.