Democratic Sentinel, Volume 6, Number 23, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 7 July 1882 — FORTY-SEVENTH CONGRESS. [ARTICLE]

FORTY-SEVENTH CONGRESS.

A resolution for steal adjournment of Congress on the 10th of July was adopted by the House on the 24th. A hill was passed authorizing the construction of a pontoon railway bridge across the Mississippi river at the month of the Upper lowa river. The trill to reduce in-, tern&l-revenne taxation was taken op in committee of the whole. Mr. Bobeson moved an amendment striking out tbs tax on bank capital. as agreed to by the Republican party. After considerable debate it was rejected. Mr. Randall's proposition to relieve tobacco and cigars from Internal-revenue taxation was lost A score of other amendments were voted down. Tho Senate was not in session. Hie resolution for an inquiry into political assessments came np in the Senate, June 28. Mr. Pendleton commented vigorously upon the demand made in Jay A. Hnbbjril’s circular to Government cmploves. Mr. Beck asked if officials who fail to contribute will be allowed to retain their positions. Mr. Allison stated that but little more than 10 per cent, of the Government employes in 1380 made contributions, yet not one officeholder was removed for his refusal. A conference report on the Army Appropriation bill was agreed to. Mr. Allison reported back the legislative, Executive and Judicial Appropriation bill, with amendments increasing the amount $326,000. The House, after passing some District of Columbia bills, went into committee of the whole on the bill to reduce internal-revenue taxes. A dozen amendments were proposed and voted down, and speeches denouncing political assessments were made by Messrs. Cox and Springer. Tho previous question was ordered on the bill and amendments, when the House adjourned. A resolution waa passed by {he Senate, on the 27th inst, to print additional copies of Mr. Blaine’s eulogy on President Garfield, for the use of the bereaved family and the orator. The Pension Committee reported in favor of the claims of the widows of Maj. Gens. Custer and French. A bill was passed to amend the act donating public lands to States establishing agricultural colleges. Sixty-eight pages of the Legislative Appropriation bill were disposed of, Mr. Plumb arguing against any increase in the salaries of officials. A brief executive session was held. Id the House, in the Alabama contested-eleotion case of Strobach vs. Herbert, the former was granted leave to withdraw his papers ; and in the base of Smith vs. Shelley, from the same State, the committee reported a resolution declaring the seat vacant Mr. Page, as a question of privilege, explained how it happened that the bill passed to regulate immigration was not the one agreed to by the Committee on Commerce. Mr. Van Voorhis declared that, in handing the bill to Mr. Page, he had no intention to deceive anybody. _ After a hot debate the error was corrected tgr the passage of the committee bill. The act to reduoe internal-revenue taxation was then taken up. Mr. Springer moved to recommit the bill, with instructions to report a measure abolishing all internal-revenue taxes except those on bank circulation and distilled spirits. The motion was rejected by a vote of 66 to 125. Mr. Hewitt said the bill gave no relief to the great industrial interests of the •country. Mr. Dunnell warned the Republican side that the measure would not meet the approval of the people. Mr. Kelley expressed regret that the bill'did not make a more sweeping reduction. The Bank Charter bill was taken up and most of the Senate amendments were concurred in, the exception being the one relative to gold certificates. A conference report on the Consular Appropriation bill was agreed to. Bills were passed by the Senate, on the 28th ult., giving one year’s salary of Ministers Hurlbut and Kilpatrick to their widows. Mr. Blair reported a substitute for the resolution directing an investigation into labor strikes. The bill for the extension of bank charters and tho legislative Appropriation bill were considered. In the House Mr. Orth reported a resolution, which was adopted, requesting the President to state if any officer of the United States had made propositions to American citizens in British prisons to accept their release upon condition'*. Mr. Robinson insisted that for 103 days the President had been on his knees before Lord Granville, and gave notice that ho would move to impeach Minister Lowell. The Naval Appropriation bill was taken up in committee of the whole, and Mr. Robeson reviewed its chief features. Mr. Whitthorne, after criticising tho provisions of the bill, made the charge that Secretary Robeson squandered $54,000,000 of navy funds during his administration. The committee rose, when a Senate bill was passed appropriating $20,000 for a memorial column on the battle-field of Monmouth. In considering the legislative appropriation, a long debate took place in the Senate on the 28th ult., on the amendment relative to pubishing Supreme Court reports, it being decided that the work should not be done at the Government Printing Office. Mr Voprheos moved to fix the salaries of the Utah Commissioners at $5,000, and to make the necessary appropriation. Mr. Hoar oflferod an amendment fixing the salaries of fifteen District Judges at $5,000, which was ruled out of order. The Senate concurred in the joint resolution making temporary- provision for the expenses of the Government The House passed a resolution to continue to July 15 all appropriations for necessary Government service. A bill was passed authorizing the construction of a bridge across the Cumberland river near Nashville. The naval appropriation was considered in committee of the whole, Mr. Robeson explaining its provisions, but no action was taken. Mr. Dunnell reported a bill to tax the manufacture and sale of oleomargarine. No business was transacted in either house of Congress on the 30th ult. In the Senate, the death of Representative Hawk, of Illinois, was announced, and Messrs. Logan and MoDiU were appointed members of the escort committee. In the House a similar announcement was made, and a committee of seven appointed to escort the remains to Mount Carroll, 11L