Democratic Sentinel, Volume 6, Number 22, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 30 June 1882 — FORTT-SEVENTH CONGRESS. [ARTICLE]

FORTT-SEVENTH CONGRESS.

There was no session of the Senate on th* 17th inst The House considered the Hirer and Hs-rbor bill in committee ot the whole. A motion by Mr. Springer to strike out ‘the item of >300,000 for a reservoir st the head waters of the Mississippi was defeated. An amendment by Mr. Page was adopted, that the Secretary of War carry on by contract the works contemplated in the biff. The committee rose, and the bill was passed by 119 to 47. Mr. Robeson reported the naval appropriation, which was recommitted. The House bill to protect immigrants on shipboard and a Joint resolution reappropriating >375,000 to pay Southern mail contractors were passed by the Senate on June 19. Mr. Hoar reported, as a substitute, a bill to provide for the pdtformance of the duties of President in case of a vacancy in the Presidency and Vice Presidency, putting the succession upon the members of the Cabinet The River and Harbor bill was received from the House, and Sir. Kellogg gave notice of several amendments. The House bill to extend the charters of national banks was taken up, and caused a prolonged discussion. A new section, reported by the Finance Committee, was adopted, authorizing the refunding of 3)£-per-eent bonds into 3-per-cent. bonds. The President transmitted a draft of a bill to enlarge the Pawnee reservation in Indian Territory. In the House Mr. Kelley introduced a bill to abolish the internal-revenue tax on tobacco aud cigars. Mr. Washburn presented an act authorizing the removal of obstructions from navigable waters. Bills were also introduced to establish an international peace commission of nine members, who are to serve for ten years, and to prevent discrimination in transportation over P B - 0 ’" 0 railroads. Under suspension of the rules, buls were passed to facilitate the trial of contestedelection cases and to authorize the Secretary of the Treasury to give out standard silver dollars for trade dollars. A long debate took place on the bill providing that Collectors of Internal Revenue shall be appointed for a terra of four years, the measure being defeated by 81 to 100. The rules were suspended, and the pension appropriation of >100,000,000 weut through without division. Fruitless efforts were made to secure an appropriation of >400,000 for the extension of the Mint at Philadelphia, and for pensions for officers of the revenue marine service. A bill was passed levying an emigrant tax of 50 cents per head on vessels bringing foreigners to our shores, the amount to be paid to the Collector of Customs.

"The joint resolution authorizing the erection of a memorial column at Washington's headquarters at Newburgh and making an appropriation to defray the expenses of the Centennial Celebration was passed by the Senate June 20. Bills were passed to appropriate >15,000 for approaches to the Mound City Military Cemetery, and to set aside >12,000 for a road from New Albany to the National Cemetery near that city, as also an appropriation of >300,000 for an extension of the Executive Mansion. In presenting the credentials of Mr. Anthony, of Rhode Island, Chairman Davis remarked that the re-election of the gentleman for a fifth consecutive term was the second instance in the history of the Government. The bill to extend the charters of national banks was taken up, the pending question being the issue of gold 'certificates. After an argument on a double standard, the Senate went into executive session and confirmed the nomination to the Tariff Commission by 32 to 22. The House passed the Senate bill authorizing a report on the amounts due the States and Territories for suppressing Indian hostilities. Mr. Young introduced a bill providing that the tax on distilled spirits be reduced to 59 cents per gallon, and the tax on beer and ale be fixed at 80 cents per barrel, with a deduction of per cent on stamps sold to brewers. A bill was passed appropriating >IOO,OOO for a public building at Erie, I’a. Mr, Updegraff reported a substitute for the Senate bill to fix a day for the meeting of Electors of President and Vice President and to regulate the counting of votes, on which a spirited interchange of sentiment took place. The substitute was rejected and the Senate bill was recommitted. Sixty Republican members of the- House held a caucus on the Internal Revenue bill. It was resolved that the provisions in regard to the tax on bank capital and to special taxes on liquor-dealeis be eliminated, and that the bill be called up for consideration.

A bill authorizing public buildings at Lynchburg, Abingdon and Harrisonburg, Va., was passed by the Senate on Jifne 20. Mr. Morgan's resolution v- ~s_MtisraJe the cause of the labor strikes was referred to the — Education and Labor, to report within a week. The bill to extend the charters of national banks was taken up. The pending amendment for the issue of silver certificates was adopted. A proposition was carried that the issue of gold certificates be suspended whenever the available treasury stock of that metal fails below >100,000,000. It was agreed that no national bank shall belong to a clearinghouse in which silver certificates are not received in settlement of balances. Mr. Bick offered a provision requiring national banks to receive aud pay out silver dollars and certificates on the came terms as gold, but it yas voted down. A clause was adopted punishing the unlawful certification of checks by a fine of >5,000 or imprisonment for five years. Mr. Allison gave notice that he would offer the Hennipen Canal bill as an amendment to the River and Harbor bill. In the House, the bill for the erection of a Congressional Library building was taken up. Mr. Townshend charged that the measure embodied a job of Eastern parties, against which remark Messrs. Reed and Humphrey entered a hot protest, and the bill was postponed to Dec. 12. An act was passed to authorize the Rock Island aud Southwestern railway to bridge the Mississippi at New Boston, HL The bill to reduce intt rnalrevenue taxation was considered in committee of the whole. Mr. Kelley estimated the revenues of the Government for this year at >400,000,000, and said jhe bill proposed a reduction of oniy >23,000,000. Mr. Thompson spoke for an hour m opposition to the measure, when a large number of amendments were submitted. The committee rose without having taken action.

Mr. Van Wyck offered a resolution in the Senate, Juno 22, which was adopted, calling for correspondence with the Spanish Government in relation to the claim of Pedro de Buzz, a naturalized citizen. A bill was passed granting the right of way through Indian Territory to the Mississippi, Albuquerque and Inter-ocean railway. Chairman Davis presented a copy of the proposed constitution for the State of Utah. A joint resolution was passed appropriating $33,000 to continue Arctic explorations. The petition and bill of Mrs. Jessie Benton Fremont, in relation to property’ in San Francisco, was placed on the calendar. A resolution granting permission for the erection of a statue to Garibaldi in the National Cemetery at Vicksburg was referred to the Military Committee. The bill to extend the charter of national banks was then taken up. Mr. Vest offered a substitute forbidding the creation of new national banks and authorizing an issue of treasury notes in place of bank notes. Mr. Morgan proposed to force banks and their depositors to receive silver certificates. Mr. Allison said he had never heard of an instance outside of New York where banks refused silver certificates. Mr. Voorhees remarked that bank officers were hostile to what they termed 85-cent money. Mr. Sherman deprecated any attempt by Congress to regulate tlie value of the two coins ; the Government itself had depreciated silver, which should stand as eighteen to one in proportion to gold. Mr. Allison thought the ratio should be 15X to 1, as in France and Germany. The propositions by Messrs. Vest and Morgan were rejected. The bill was then passed by 34 to 13. The House went into committee on the bill to reduce internal revenue taxation. Mr. White gave notice of an amendment to repeal the internal revenue system so far as it affected tobacco. Jir. Morrison charged that the Chairman of the Committee of Ways and Means was striving to empty the treasurv without relieving the burdens of the people. Messrs. Page, Aiken, and Reagan announced that they would vote against the bill, aud the committee rose. A communication from navy officers was read, asking that the age for retirement be not changed. The Democrats of the House held a caucus after adjournment, at which there were fifty-two members present The substance of their action was that, so far as they were concerned, they would support the tobacco provisions of the luternal-Re.enue bill, and, if those failed, move to recommit

The House bill to ratify the agreement with the Shoshones and Bannocks for a right of way for the Utah and Northern road was passed by the Senate June 23, as also the Senate bill creating the Oregon Short-Line Railroad Company. Mr. Frye called up the rule allowing the President pro tem., when temporarily absent, to designate in writing aSenator to perform the duties of the chair, which was debated and referred. Condemned cannon were granted to organizations at Vincennes, Ind ; Marshalltown, Iowa: Ironton, Ohio; Danville, 111., and Council Bluffs. A bill was passed to pay for the use of the orphan-asylum property at Natchez during the war. The House resol iitioi commemorative of the late Thomas Allen, of Missouri, called out several tributes of respect The House went into committee of the whole on the bill to reduce internal taxation. Mr. Kasson expressed the hope that the Government would not become permanently dependent upon whisky shops for its revenue. Mr. Wilson gave notice of’an amendment to "forbid national banks from receiving interest exceedng 6 per cent per annum for loans. Mr. Dunnell thought it too early to begin to repeal internal-revenue laws. Mr. Hewitt alluded to the strikes iu progress, and remarked that Congress should speedily abolish levies on the products of industry,

- T whereas the Republican party offered the workingman the abolition of the tax on matches. Mr. Sparks attacked the .entire internal-rev-enue system, as did also Mr. Springer. The committee then rose, when eulogies were delivered upon the life of the late Thomas Allen.