Democratic Sentinel, Volume 6, Number 16, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 19 May 1882 — DOINGS OF CONGRESS. [ARTICLE]

DOINGS OF CONGRESS.

After having engaged the attention of the House of Representatives more or less for six weeks, the bill authorizing a Tariff Commission passed that body on the 6th inst., by a vote of 151 to 86. The following Democrats voted in favor of the bill: Morse of Boston, Bliss of Brooklyn, Scoville of Buffalo, Harris and Ross of New Jersey, Ermentrout, Curtin, Klotz, Mosgrove, Mutchler, Randall aDd Morgan R. Wise of Pennsylvania, Chapman and Talbott of Maryland, Barbour and George D. Wise of Virginia, Hoge, Eenna and Wilson (the whole delegation) of West Virginia, Speer of Georgia, Goldsmith W. Hewitt and Shelley of Alabama, Upson of Texas, Ellis and Gibson of Louisiana (representing the sugarplanters), Cleardy of the Carondelet distri:; in Missouri, and Atherton of the Tuscarawas district in Ohio—total 27. The Bepablicans y lio voted against the bill, were : Belford of Colorado, Cutts, Farwell, McCoid and Upiegraff of lowa, Dunnell and Washburn c<f Minnesota, and Orth of Indiana—total, 8. No Greenbacker voted against the bill except Jones of Texas. A resolution was adopted giving Mr. Matson leave to withdraw hn papers in the Alabama contested-election case. Air. Hnbbell introduced a bill to create a department and Secretary of Agriculture. There was no session of the Senate. A bill was introduced in the Senate, on the Bth inst,, authorizing the President to appoint Fitz John Porter a Colonel, or place him on the retired list with that rank. A bill was reported appropriating $300,000 to extend tfi’e Executive Mansion. The chair named Messrs. Windom, Hawley, Harrison, Cockrell and Pagh as the committee to investigate the charge of corruption in connection with the bill relative to distilled spirits in bond. Mr. Bayard urged early action on the Tariff Commission bill, and Mr. Edmunds objected to any further proceedings on the measure. Mr. Groome presented a joint resolution tendering the thanks of Congress to Chief Engineer George W. Melville. The Court of Appeals bill came up. Mr. Jonas’ amendment was lost by 21 to 27. Mr. Morgan suffered defeat in an attempt to strike ont the clause making findings of the Appellate Court conclusive as to facts. In the House of Representatives, Air. Calkins introduced a bill appropriating SIOO,OOO for Arctic exploration, with Master Lucien Young as Commander. Air. Bragg introduced an act for the relief of Fitz John Porter. On the bill to enlarge the scope of the Department of Agriculture, speeches were made by Messrs. Carpenter, Geddes, Rich and Muldrow. The Speaker called to the chair for two days Mr. Borrows, of Aiichigan. The House Tariff Commission bill was passed by the Senate, on the 9th inst., by a vote of 35 to 19. The Committee on the District of Columbia was instructed to inquire into the management of the jail, it being alleged that a notorious prisoner holds daily levees. The bill to establish a Court of Appeals was discussed, without action. The Superintendent of the Census petitioned for a farther appropriation of SBO,OOO to defray expenses. A batch of House bills were passed donating condemned cannon for monumental purposes. Air. McDill introduced a bill for a wagon bridge betwoen Council Bluffs and Omaha. The President nominated H. C. Miller, of Minnesota, Consul at Guayaquil; F. W. Oakley, Marshal for the Western district of Wisconsin, and P. B. Corbett Marshal for Nevada. In the House of Representatives, on the bill to enlarge the powers of the Department of AgrCulture, after half a dozen speeches, Mr. Townshend offered an amendment, which was adopted, that the Secretary of Agriculture shall be an experienced agriculturist Mr. Dunnell offered an amendment providing for a division of forestry, which was adopted. A substitute for the original bill, offered by Mr. McKenna, was rejected. The previous question was ordered, and an adjournment was taken. The bill for intermediate Appellate Courts was taken np in the Senate on the 10th inst. Mr. Jones, of Florida, opposed the section limiting the appellate jurisdiction of Circuit

Courts. Mr. Davis urged its retention as necessary. A joint resolution was passed appropriating *60,900 to BUpply the deficiency for fuel and lights in buildings under the control of the Treasury Department. , A bill was passed to establish an assay office at Dead wood, Dakota. The House, by a voe of 172 to 7, passed the MU creating an Executive Department of Agriculture. The conference report on the Indian Appropriation bill was agreed to. By a vote of 184 to 18, tho District of Columbia Appropriation MR was passed. Borne debate on the Geneva Award bill followed. The United States Senate passed a bill on the Uth inst. for the relief of L. M. Day, of New Orleans, who purchased mortgaged laud under the Confiscation act, when the Government officers represented that it was free from incumbrance. When the bill for intermediate Appellate Courts came up, Mr. Morgan said it had been hinted that the President would appoint a number of Democrats to the new Judgeships, and he spurned the overture. Messrs. Dawes and Ingalls expressed the opinion that snch negotiators deserved to be impeachod. Mr. Davis proposed an amendment, which was adopted, that the juridiction of Circuit Courts shall reunchanged. The Indian Appropriation bill, as reduced by the confer ence committee to $455,200, was passed. In the House, Mr. Sherwin reported a bill for tho annual appropriation of $10,000,000 for the next five years, to aid in the support of free schools, the amount to be apportioned on the basis of illiteracy. Mr. Rice made an adverse report on the biU to shorten to two years the period required in homesteading. Mr. Steele reported favorably a biR for a retired list for non-commissioned officers who have served for thirty years. The Speaker presented a communication from the Secretary of War, stating the expenditures of the Signal Servioe Bureau for the past seven years. The Intermediate Appellate Court bill was passed in the Senate, on the 12th inst, by a vote of 32 to 18. It creates nine intei mediate courts, or one in each existing circuit, and eighteen new Circuit Judges, who are to be appointed by the President The first teipn will begin in November of this year. A bill was also passed to authorize the St Louis and San Francisco Railroad Company to bridge the Arkansas river at Van Buren. Reports of conference committees on the agricultural and fortification appropriations were adopted. The House passed a bill to provide for the removal of the remains of Minister Kilpatrick from Chili to the United States. The Geneva Award bill was passed by 132 to 66. Conference reports on the Agricultural and Fortification bills were agreed to. Mr. Crapo endeavored to call up the act to extend the charters of national banks, but the Democrats refused to vote.