Democratic Sentinel, Volume 7, Number 52, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 25 January 1884 — NEWS CONDENSED. [ARTICLE]

NEWS CONDENSED.

Concise Record of the Week. DOINGS OF CONGRESS. Mr. Van Wyck introduced a bill in the Senate, Dec. 15, to reduoe by one-half the freight rates on the Union and Central Pacific roads. Petitions were presented for a constitutional amendment granting suffrage to women, and to permit colonies of families to lay out villages on public lands. There was considerable discussion on Mr. Anthony's resolution concerning the proscription of American meats in Europe. Mr. Logan favored open retaliation; Messrs. Vest and Ingalls thought a thorough system of inspection by the Government would have a salutary effect, while Mr. McPherson explained the system of slaughtering.' American cattle at British ports. The report of the committee appointed in February, 1883, to examine the work of improvement along the M ssissippi river was presented to the Senate. The system in use between St. Paul and the mouth of the Illinois is commended as adequate, and should, according to the views of the committee, be pushed to completion. The committee recommend that suitable appropriations be made; that the right of the Government to mate ial found on blrs and islands be distinctly declared; that control be retained over reclaimed lands; and that persons interfering with the channel or any Government work be properly punished! In the House of Representatives, bills were reported for the retirement of Alfred Pleasanton as Major General, appropriating $1,000,000 to olose the gaps of the levees of the Mississippi, and to make all public roods and highways jwst routes. Mr. Townshend introduced a bill to authorize the President, during the recess of Coneress, to prohibit imports injurious to the public health, by way of retaliation. There was a spirited debate on the bill appropriating $1,000,000 to continue Mississippi river improvements. A bill restoring to the public domain the lands granted to the Iron Mountain railroad, because the route diverged from the contemplated line, was passed by the Senate Jan. 16. Mr. Miller introduced a bill to provide means to extirpate pleuro-pneumonia. During the consideration of the joint rules Mr. Frye charged that any person can walk into the Congressional restaurant and purchase whisky by the cup. An order was therefore passed excluding intoxicating liquors from the Capitol restaurant. At the executive session Col. Robert Murray was confirmed as Surgeon General. Mr. Iloar called up his bill providing lor the counting of the electoral vote, being the same as that passed bv the Senate of the Forty-seventh Congress. It was again passed without debate. In the House bills were introduced appropriating $1,000,(100 to improve the Erie canal and maintain it free to commerce, and to authorize the construction of a ship canal around Niagara Falla Resolutions were passed authorizing a bill to appropriate the sum necessary to pay claims for rebate on tobacco; calling lorareport of the earnings of each United States Marshal, Attorney, and Clerk for the past ten years, and permitting students from Guatemala and Nicaragua to receive instruction at West Point without expense to the Government. After a long discussion, the House and Senate bills appropriating $i, 000,000 for improvements on the Mississippi river were reported irom the committee of the whole. A memorial from William Pitt Kellogg, asking an investigation of the charges brought against him in connection with the Texas and Pacific land grant, was presented in the Senate Jan. 17. Petitions were presented for an appropriation of $500,000 to improve the entrance to Columbia river, and for the Appointment of a commi sion on the liquor traffic, bills were introduced to establish a board of interstate commerce and to secure reasonable rates of transportation over railroads aided by the Government. The executive session was devoted to the Mexican treaty. The House, by a vote of 215 to 64, passed the Senate bill appropriating $1,000,000 for continuing the improvement of the Mississippi. A communication was received tendering the Marine hospital at Erie to the Government for a home for soldiers and sailors. A bill was reported to grant a pension to the surviving grandchild of Thomas Jefferson. Secretary Folger reported to the Houso that within the past eighteen months the issue of gold certificates .was $107,000 000, and during three years the value of silver certificates put out was $119,740,000. The Senate received a message from the President, Jan. 18, recommending that a relief expedition be dispatched for the Greely party, and asking that immediate action be tajken in the matter. A bill waft favorably reported to carry out the supplemental treaty with China, by prohibiting the traffic in opium between the two countries. In executive session the Mexican treaty failed for lack of one vote. The Senate in executive session rejected the Mexican treaty. A motion was made to reoonsider, pending which the Senate adjourned until Monday, 21st. In the House, Mr. Bayne introduced a bill for a public building at Allegheny City. The remainder of the day was consumed in debate on the Fitz John Porter bill in committee of the whole. Msssrs. Slocum and Lyman spoke In favor of and Mr. Steele in opposition to the bill. The House of Representatives devoted its session on Jan. 19 to debate on the bill for the relief of Fitz John Porter. Messrs. Slocum and McAdoo made speeches in favor of the measure, while Messrs. Cutcheon, Brown and lay lor opposed it. The feature of the debate was a remark made bv Gen. Slocum. He charged President Garfield with having introduced the claim, and ironically referred to the military wisdom of the members, which provoked hisses and great confusion. Mr. Cutcheon said Porter's action could be explained only by his hatred of Gen. Pope, and made the point that not even cowardice could be alleged . as an excuse for inaction. The Senate was not in session. ■