Democratic Sentinel, Volume 7, Number 48, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 28 December 1883 — NEWS CONDENSED. [ARTICLE]

NEWS CONDENSED.

Concise Record of the Week. DOINGS OF CONGRESS. A resolution was' passed by the Dec. 18. calling upon the Secretary of the Interior for copies of mortgages given by the Texas and Pacific railway on lands granted to it. Anson G. McCook was elected Secretary of the Senate; Charles W. Johnson, Chief Clerk, James R. Young. Executive Clerk; Rev.E.D. Huntley, Chaplain, and W. P. Canaday, Ser-geant-at-Arms. Along debate took place on the proposed rule relating to the election or President pro tern, and his right to name a substitute, but no vottrtf as taken. The House of Representatives was not in session. Mr. Cullom, of a bill In the Senate, De<?. 19, providing for the acceptance of the Illinois and Michigan canal by the Government. Mr. Fair presented a measure for the sinking of artesian wells In wild lands in Nevada owned by the United States. Mr. Van Wyck offered a resolution of inquiry as to how much land has been certified to railroad companies since the Supreme Court decision of 1875 on the indemnity clau-cs. The Honse concurrent resolution for a holiday recess was amended to read from Dec.. 24 to Jan. 7, and passed. There was considerable debate on the new rules, several of which were agreed to. In the House, the oath was administered to Mr. Skinner, from the First district of North Carolina, after some objection by Mr. Keifer. A joint resolution for a holiday recess from Dec. 24 to Jan. 3 was adopted. Mr. Blackburn offered a resolution for the creation of five special committees, and Mr. Reed caused to be added one on the alcoholic liquor traffic, all of which were agreed to. The speaker appointed a special committee on the centennial anniversary of Washington's surrender of his commission. The Senate amendment to the holiday recess resolution was concurred in. • The resolution of Mr. Van Wyck, calling for information in regard to lands granted to railroads, was, after some debate, adopted by the Senate, at its session on J)ec. 20. Mr. Cullom Introduced a bill for the appointment by the President of live Railroad Commissioners, to exercise supervision over Inter-State commerce. Mr. Miller, of New York, presented a bill for ai monument to the late Gen. Warren. A communication was receivedfrom the Secretary of the Interior stating that no action has been taken by the department in relation to the attempted transfer of the Texas and Pacific land grant. The Senate adjourned to Dec. 24. The House indulged in debate over a resolution by Mr. Geddes to grant a month’s extra pay to discharged employes, whicji was finally sent to the committee on accounts. Mr. Keifer caHed up his resolution for the appointment of a committee on woman suffrage, which was rejected, by 124 to 88. A resolution was passed requesting the President to order a national salute from the various forts of the country on the anniversary of the surrender of Gen. Washington’s commission. Objection was made to the introduction of a bill to amend the Chinese restriction act, and an adjournment to Dec. 34 followed.