Democratic Sentinel, Volume 6, Number 10, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 7 April 1882 — DOINGS OF CONGRESS. [ARTICLE]

DOINGS OF CONGRESS.

Neither house of Congress was in session on March 25. The House Commerce committee listened to the arguments of ex-Gov. Brown, of Tennessee, representing the southern railroads, and of Chauncey M. Depew, of Vanderbilt’s staff, in opposition to the Reagan bill. The latter claimed that the real foes to the productive and consuming classes were the speculators in food ; that the interstate commerce act would place the carrying business of the West in the power of a Canadian railway system, and that any evils might bo remedied by the creation of a national advisory commission. A resolution was adopted by the Senate, at its session on the 27th ult., instructing the Committee on the Revision of the Laws to report what legislation is needed to define the phrase “ Indian country." A bill-was passed to grant pensions to the widows of Presidents Garfield, Tyler and Polk. The Agricultural Appropriation bill was reported back, with amendments. The President nominated Sterling P. Rounds, of Chicago, to be Public Printer; Irwin A. Treland to be Marshal of the Eastern District of Utah, and Miss Virginia C. Thompson to be Postmistress of Louisville. In the House Mr. Haskell presented a bill authorizing the Department of Justice to audit claims of the medical experts in the Guiteau trial at not over $25 for each day of actual attendance. Mr. Williams offered a resolution, which was adopted, requesting the President to inform the House whether a protocol for peace in South America had been signed by Envoy Prescott. The Postoffice Appropriation bill was referred to the committee of the whole. Mr. King offered a resolution for a committee of five Senators and ten Representativeo to proceed to the overflowed section of the Mississippi and report what measures are necessary to prevent a recurrence of the floods. Mr. Caswell introduced a bill for the issue of $25,000,000 in fractional currency in exchange for legal tenders. A bill to incorporate the Garfield memorial hospital gave rise to considerable debate over the liability assumed by the Government, and was recommitted. Mr. Byrne introduced a resolution requesting the President to secure an additional treaty with Great Britain for the ex-, tradition of such fugitive criminals as are not subject to the present treaty. Mr. Phelps introduced a bill for a Department of Industry. Mr. Thomas asked an appropriation of $6,863,000 for the improvement of the Mississippi. Mr. Harris put forward a measure for an Assistant Secretary of the Navy. Mr. Cox introduced a bill to repeal the iron-clad oath. The Secretary of the Interior sent in estimates of $65,380,480 for Mexi-can-war pensions, and of $28,201,632 for survivors of Indian campaigns prior to 1846.

The bill to facilitate the payment of dividends to creditors of the Freedman’s Savings Bank wks passed by the Senate on the 28th ult. The Committee on Pensions 'reported a bill fixing the rate for total disability at $72 per month. An adverse report was made on the resolution to retire Cob Crittenden as a Brigadier General. Several hours were spent in debate on the Tariff-Commission bilk Five amendments were Voted down, when the bill passed, 38 to 15. The bill provides for a commission of nine members to b.e appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate, who are to receive as compensation for their services $lO per day when actually employed, and traveling and other necessary expenses. They are to investigate all the various questions relating to the agricultural, commercial, mercantile, manufacturing, mining and industrial interests of the United States, so far as the same may be necessary to the establishment of a judicious tariff or the revision of the existing tariff and the existing system of internal-revenue laws upon the scale of justice to all interests, and is to report to Congress from time to time, and to make a final report not later than lhe first Monday in January, 1883. The President nominated Isaac D. McCutcheon, of Michigan,to be Secretary of the Territory of Montana. ’ The House, after a contest in regard to precedence, went into committee of the whole on the Tariff Commission bill, on which lengthy speeches were made by Messrs. Carlisle and Kasson. The correspondence between Secretary Frelinghuysen and Envoy Ti escott was submitted. In response to a call for information the Secretary of War reported the necessity of issuing 80,000 more rations for sufferers by the flood. Mr. Cockrell offered a resolution in the Senate, on the 29th ult., directing the Secretary of State to make inquiries respecting the imprisonment of American citizens in Ireland. Mr. Pendleton’s Civil Service bill was favorably reported. A bill was passed to establish the Ea tra judicial district of Kentucky. The Indian Appropriation bill, amended by the Senate committee to set aside $5,160,003, was taken

up in committee of the whole. Mr. Hou offered an amendment appropriating $2,000,000 for the support and education of Indian children from outside the five civilized tribes, but no action was taken thereon. The President nominated William Williams, of Indiana, to tee Charge d’ Affaires to Paraguay and Uruguay. The House accepted the Senate -amendment to the bill for a pennon to Mrs. Garfield, so as Co include Mrs. Polk and Mrs. ‘Tyler, giving each $5,000 per year. Mr. Stephens submitted a resolution instructing the judiciary committee to inquire into the legality of the removal of Mr. Hayes, an official stenographer, by Speaker Keifer. Mr. Lord reported back a bill for a ship-canal across the State of Michigan. Bills were reported for the erection of public buildings at Clarksburg, W. Va., and New Albany and Terre Haute, Ind. While in committee of the whole on the Tariff Commission bill speeches were made by Messrs. Carlisle and ErretL The Army Appropriation bill was reported back. Mr. Fisher reported an act to perihit any owner of gold bullion or coin to have the same coined for his benefit. The United States Senate passed a bill on ths 30th ult authorizing the Secretary of the Treasury to report the amount expended by the State of Kansas in suppressing Indian hostilities. A resolution favoring reciprocal trade relations with Mexico was reported favorably. Mr Mo l Millan reported, with an amendment, the House bill for bridging the Mississippi at Keithsburg, HL The Indian Appropriation bill was taken up, and an amendment adopted giving $5,000 for schools, lands and seeds for the Seminoles in Florida. Mr. Hoar urged the appropriation of $2,000,000 for the education of Indian children, but gave notice that he would compromise on $500,000. Mr. Williams introduced a bill prohibiting the importation of neat cattle from Canada. The House adopted resolutions for the printing of 90,000 copies of the first volume of the census. Mr. Updegraff reported a bill to carry into effect constitutional provisions in regard to the election of President and Vice President In committee of the whole on the Tariff Commission bill speeches were made by Messrs. Dunnell and Hewitt, the latter giving notice that at the close of the debate he should move to recommit the measure with certain instructions. The Senate, at its session on the 31st ult, passed the bill to reimburse Mr. Ingalls for expenses incurred in defending the title to his seat Bills were passed for the erection of public buildings at Erie, Columbus and Hot Springs. A joint resolution was adopted appropriating SIOO,OOO additional for the relief of sufferers by the recent overflow. Mr. McMillan reported a bill to incorporate the proposed Garfield Memorial Hospital. Mr. Hill, of Georgia, was > ranted indefinite leave of absence. The Indian Appropriation bill was taken up, and $250,000 was set aside for the education of young savages. The item for the expenses of the Indian Commission was reduced to $4,700, when the committee rose and the bill was passed. The House passed an additional appropriation of SIOO,OOO for the distribution of rations in the Southwest. In committee of the whole on the Army Appropriation bill, Mr. Butterworth stated that the clause for compulsory retirement at the age of 62 would take 119 officers from the army within six years.