Democratic Sentinel, Volume 6, Number 8, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 24 March 1882 — DOINGS OF CONGRESS. [ARTICLE]

DOINGS OF CONGRESS.

Mr. Sherman presented in the Senate, mi the 18th, a resolution of the Cincinnati Chamber of Commeroe, asking that Congress take steps to relieve the sufferers by overflow along the Mississippi. Bills were reported for the allotment of land in severalty to Indians, and for the erection of a public building at Hot Springs. A resolution was adopted directing the Secretary es the Interior to furnish a list of Indian reservations at which troops are stationed, and information in regard to the destruction of timber. The Tariff Commission bill was taken up, and Mr. Sister urged the adoption of a free-trade policy. The President sent a message to Congress in regard to establishing a seaboard quarantine against small-pox. He recommends the passage of the Harris bill with some modifications. Secretary Lincoln sent to the Senate a statement showing that for the past ten years the cost of maintaining troops in the Indian country has been over $22,000,000 per annum. The President sent to the Senate the names of Samuel Blatchfcrd. of New York, to be Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States; John Bussell Young, of New Yo«k, to be Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary of the United States to China ; John G. Watts to be Marshal of the United States for the Western district of Virginia, and Edwin B. Kirk to be Postmaster at Bioux City, lowa. In the House, the Speaker presented a memorial from the Assembly of Ut&h asking a suspension of aotion on the affairs of that Territory until a thorough investigation can be made by a committee. Mr. Belmont asked leave to offer a resolution calling on the Secretary of State for information as to the compensation of Envoy Trescott, but Mr. Williams objected. A bill was passed permitting the bridging of the Mississippi near Wabasha, Minn. The Army bill, appfopriating $29,293,380, was referred to the committee of the whole. Mr. Dunn introduced a bill to enable women to enter public lauds. The Antipolygamy bill was taken up and fought over for hours without a vote being reached. _

A memorial from, the Legislature of Wisconsin favoring the improvement of the Mississippi in connection with the great lakes was presented in the Senate on the 14th. Mr. Harrison, in response to instructions to the military committee, reported that 60,000 persons were driven from their homes by the overflow, and presented a joint resolution appropriating SIOO,OOO additional for the sufferers, which was passed. Mr. Cockrell made favorable reports on bills to lend artillery, tents, etc., to various soldiers’ reunions. The Postal Appropriation bill was taken up and debated. A special message from the President was received, recommending legislation to prevent tb.e spread of contagious diseases. The House took up the Anti-Polygamy bill, the pending issue being the demand for the previous question, which had not been seconded Mr. Blackburn claimed an opportunity to amend the bill, in which he was supported ’by Mr. Burrows from the Republican side. It was resolved that the measure be open to change or debate under the five-min-ute rule. After long discussion the bill was passed without amendment, by 199 to 42. The anti-Chinese bill was debated at length. Mr. Brown reported a bill to the Senate, on the 15th, granting to the St, Louis and San Francisco road the right of way through the hinds of the Choctaws and Chickasaws. On account of illness in his family, Mr. Edmunds obtained indefinite leave of absence. An appropriation of $20,000 was voted toward a monument on the battle-field of Monmouth. Mr. Garland called up his bill to expend $15,000,000 on the levees of the Mississippi river, and appealed for Federal aid for the South, as did also Messrs. Jonas and Vest. The Postal Appropriation bill was amended by adding $150,000 for clerks. Mr. Allison submitted the report on the contingent fund of the treasury. At an executive session John Russell Young was confirmed as Minister to China, and Cornelius A. Logan as Minister to Chili. In the House, Mr. Houk reported back a bill appropriating $291,000 for the payment of 1,300 claims allowed by the accounting officers of the Treasury Department, and it was passed. Mr. Rice offered a resolution directing the Judiciary Committee to report if the conviction of Sergeant Mason by a military court was not in violation of the laws and constitution of the United States. Mr. Hiscock reported back the Senate bill to increase the relief for the Mississippi sufferers to $200,000, and authorizing the expenditure of a portion thereof for labor on the levees. It was amended to appropriate $150,000 and passed. Some hot words between the Speaker and Mr. Money caused a discussion oh the powers of the chair which lasted an hour.

The Senate, at its session on the 16th, concurred in tho House amendments to the appropriation for the Mississippi sufferers. Mr. Sherman presented a protest by soldiers against restoring Fitz-John Porter to the army. A bill was passed for tlie erection of public buildings at Terre Haute, Ind., and Peoria, 111. Mr. Logan addressed the Senate on his bill to expend the revenue from liquors in popular education. The Postoffice Appropriation bill was taken up. The item lor fast mails was increased to $650,000. Mr. Edmunds secured the insertion of a clause providing that the executive of each house shall have the right to send letters on nublic business in official envelopes, and that Senators or members may frank any package containing only printed or written matter. In executive session the Senate ratified the declaration that the United Stales accede to the red cross treaties of Geneva providing for the care of the wounded on tho battlefields of civilized nations. In the House, Mr. McLano, rising to a question of privilege, charged that the Speaker nad invaded the privileges of the House. After considerable argument, Mr. Kenua offered a resolution declaring that the Speaker has no right to reprimand members, but withdrew it after an explanation by the chair. The Chinese bill was taken up, and Mr. Taylor, of Ohio, made a vigorous protest against its spirit. Mr. Converse introduced a bill to prohibit the consolidation of railway companies. Mr. Belmont offered a resolution, which was passed, that Jaoob R. Shipherd furnish copies of all correspondence and any other evidence tending to show what he attempted to do to enforce the claims of the Peruvian comfanv. A resolution was passed requesting the resident to arrange with Nicaragua for the settlement of claims. Mr. Henderson reported a resolution that the Secretary of War state the reasons for sending troops to Omaha. Mr. McMillan reported to the Senate, on the 17th, a bill for a bridge across the Mississippi between Minnesota and Wisconsin. An appropriation of SIOO,OOO was made to continue work on Davis island dam, on the Ohio river. Mr. Sherman introduced a bill for a publio building at Columbus. A resolution against the withdrawal of silver certificates was referred to the Finance Committee. Acts for Government buildings for the courts and postoffices at Frankfort, Minneapolis and Jefferson City were passed. The ebair submitted a resolution of the lowa Legislature for an amendment of the act donating public lands to the States for agricultural colleges. The postoffice appropriation was taken up and passed, including the restoration of the franking privilege. The Fortification Appropriation bill was passed. Mr. Sherman introduced a bill to print 80,000 copies of Blaine’s memorial address on Garfield. Speeches on the Tariff Commission bill were made by Messrs. Beck and Pendleton. The House passed the Senate bill extending the northern bonudary of Nebraska. Mr. Page failed in an effort to resume consideration of the Chmese bill. Some time was spent on two bills for the relief of Paymasters for losses suffered by the defalcation of clerks, but both measures were killed. A bill was passed authorizing the Consul at Fayal to accept a gold medal from the French Government. The Speaker submitted an estimate by the Secretary of War that 85,009 persons were rendered destitute by the overflow of the Mississippi. A bill was passed for bridging the Missouri river near St. Charles. Mr. Dunnell reported a substitute for the bill to amend the internal-revenue laws.