Democratic Sentinel, Volume 6, Number 27, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 4 August 1882 — FORTY-SEVENTH CONGRESS. [ARTICLE]

FO RTY-SEVENTH CONGRESS.

A bill to provide additional training schools for Indian youth by using unoccupied military barracks, and the bill to pay Mrs. Garfield #50,000, less any advances made on the salary of the late President, and were passed by the Senate July 22. Mr. Cockrell secured the adoption of resolutions asking information as to the expenditure in each State during the last three years for public buildings, harbors, forts and arsenals. A resolution was passed that the Secretary of the Interior report his reason for ordering a double pension for Gen. Ward B. Burnett The Revenue bill was taken up. Amendments to retain the stamp taxes on perfumery and playing-cards were voted down. The first section was passed. An amendment to the second section was adopted fixing the annual tax on dealers in leaf tobacco at sl2, exempting farmers or lumbermen who furnish supplies to their employes. Mr. Mahone moved to make the tax on snuff and manufactured tobacco 8 cents per pound. The House passed Mr. Deuster’s bill to regulate the carrying of passengers by steamships, the measure having been revamped to suit the views of the President Mr. Kasson precipitated a tariff debate by calling up the bill to allow a drawback on foreign materials used in the construction of vessels for foreign account, and the bill went over to Monday. Postal bills were passed to make the rate on second-class publications delivered by carriers two cents per pound ; to fine or imprison any one personating a postoffice inspector ; to punish Postmasters for making falßO certificates of the arrival or departure of mails, and to provide that no bidder for mail service shall be required to furnish a check or draft. Mr. Flower sought to introduce a constitutional amendment by which the President can approve or object to any item of an appropriation bill. Indian bills were passed to open to settlement the lands in Color ado lately oocupied by the Uncompabgre and White Rivei* Utes; authorizing the Cherokees to lease three salt mines in then- domain, and increasing the salary of the Commissioner of Indian Affairs to #5,000.

The Senate passed a bill, at its session on July 24, to refund to tbe heirs of John W. Fornuy #27,684 paid by him to cover the defalcation of a clerk in his office when he was Secretary of the Senate. Mr. Allison presented the conference report on the Legislative Appropriation bill, announcing disagreements on the proposition to transfor tho Surgeon General’s records _ and on the distribution of rooms in the new building for the State, War and Navy Departments, and a new conference was ordered. The Revenue bill was taken up, the pending amendment providing for a reduction of the tobacco tax to 8 cents per pound. Mr. Sherman said this scheme would cut off #21,000,000 of revenue. The amendment was rejected by 18 to 38. An amendment by Mr. Mahone was adopted, for a rebate on all unbroken factory packages of cigars and cigarettes. In the Flouse, the views of the minority of tho Judiciary Committee on the subject of the Northern Pacific land grant were presented by Messrs. Payson and Knott, and they were ordered printed and laid on the table. Mr. Cannon submitted a conference report on the Legislative, Judicial and Executive Appropriation bill,agreeing to all the items except that for the transfer of records from the Surgeon General's office to the Adjutant General’s archives, and a further conference was ordered. Bills were referred: To collect from the Kansas Facitio Railroad Company the oost of surveying and convoying certain lands; to declare forfeit lands granted the Northern Pacific Company and still remaining nnpatented, and fixing the duty on imported hay at 20 per cent, ad valorem. Mr. Fowler proposed a constitutional amendment granting the President the right to veto any distinct item of a bilL Mr. Atkins introduced a bill to allow no olaim or account against the United States unless it be filed within six years from the passage of this act. The Democratic members of the Senate held a caucus and resolved to insist upon a full and free discussion of all amendments to the Tax bill, and to oppose any attempt tp reach a final vote upon the bill unless such- ample opportunity was afforded. Tho conference report on the River and Harbor bill was adopted by the Senate, July 25. The Revenue bill came up, the question being on Mr. Hale’s amendment to the sugar duty, striking off the latest addition of 25 per cent, which was adopted. Mr. Harris moved to reduce duties on all imports 10 per cent after January, and an equal amount at the commencement of the next year. Mark L. Joslvn, of Woodstock, 111., was nominated by tho President for Assistant- Secretary of the Interior. In the House, tho regular order of- business was the bill to allow drawback on imported material used in the construction of vessels for foreign account, which was recommitted. Mr. Washburn offered a resolution for a naval court of inquiry to investigate the loss of the Jeannette. A resolution was adopted to print 300,000 copies of the agricultural report. Mr. Page explained the conference report on the River and Harbor bill, to which the House refused to agree by a vote of 82 t0"97.

Mr. Conger made a favorable report to the Senate, July 26, on the Douster bill to regulate the carrying of passengers by sea. Mr. Hale seemed the postponement of the Revenue bill, and the Senate went into committee of the whole on the naval appropriation. Mr. Hale showed that with thirty-nine steam vessels in active service the American navy has over 1,400 commissioned officers, while the British navy, which has over 300 men-of-war, has but 2,700 officers. Mr. Cameron moved to recommit the bill to the Appropriation Committee, with instructions to eliminate provisions in regard to the organization of the navy. Mr. Hale stated that out of a force of twenty-five Commodores only one was doing actual duty at sea. The bill then went over without further action. The. President sent to the Senate the name of Harrison Allen, of Pennsylvania, to be United States Marshal for the Territory of Dakota. In the House, Mr. Pound secured the passago of a bill providing that in all suits for trespass on public lands the actual expense of survey or estimate shall be included in the bill of costs. A joint resolution was passed to authorize the loan of tents to Russian refugees in Foote county, Kan. An act to incorporate the Oregon Hhor - Line railway in Utah, Idaho and Wyoming was passed. A joint resolution was adopted to pay the widows of Ministers Hurl but, Kilpatrick knd Garnet an amount equal to one year’s sal*

ary. The House conferees refused to consent to the clause in the general deficiency appropriation for the payment of mileage to Senators for the extra session. On reconsideration of the conference report on the River and Harbor bill the House yielded, by 111 to 82. The Senate had a long debate on the Naval Appropriation bill, at its session on July 27. A motion by Mr. Cameron to recommit the UTeasure with instructions to eliminate all general legislation was defeated by twenty-nine to thirty-four. This proved an exhausting day’s work, and the measure was flung aside without action. A new conference oh the Japanese Indemnity bill was ordered. Williams offered an amendment to the Sunday Civil bill to allow Charles H. Reed not exceeding #5,000 for his services in defending Guiteau, the Attorney General to fix the amount The Naval Appropriation bill was taken up. The House passed a bill to place Chicago among tho classified ports, making the salary of the Customs Collector #7,000 per annum, and allowing a naval officer and surveyor. Mr. Hasson reported back tho bill to make tho duty on imported hay 20 per cent ad valorem. A joint resolution was passed appropriating $1,600 for memorial cards to accompany the address on the life of President Garfield. A Senate bill was passed granting to the St Louis and San Francisco road the right of way through Choctaw and Chickasaw lands, an amendment to secure the consent of the Indians being lost. Mr. Williams reported a disagreement in the Conference Committee on the Japanese Indemnity bill, and a further attempt to arrange the issue was ordered. Ia accordance with the request of the Committee on Foreign Affairs the resolution calling for the instructions to Admiral Nicholson at Alexandria was tabled.