Democratic Sentinel, Volume 8, Number 11, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 11 April 1884 — NEWS CONDENSED. [ARTICLE]

NEWS CONDENSED.

Concise Record of the Week. DOINGS OF CONGRESS. A bill for the relief of the Jeannette survivors passed the Senate on the 2d lost. A memorial was presented from William Webster, an American citizen, asked to be secured in the owner, ship of A half million acres of land in New Zealand bought irom native chiefs before the British took possession, A bill was reported for ascertaining the expense incurred by Idaho' Territory in suppressing the Bannock and Nez Perce outbreaks. Bills were introduced to regulate the letting of mail contracts in Alaska, and to make gold and silver certificates legal tender. Mr. Coke argued against the education biU. Generals Grant and Beale were tendered the courtesy of the floor. In the House of Representatives, bills were favorably reported for the naturalization of the descendants of aliens who served honorably in the army; authorizing the service of processes of Federal courts within the limits of Indian reservations; to provide for the inspection of live stock, hog products, and dressed meats; to forfeit the Marquette and Ontonagon land grant; to prohibit contracts for the labor of Federal prisoners, and to pay Government employes wages withheld in violation of the eight-tiour law. The bill to redeem the trade dollars was passed, by 180 to 46, after the erasure of the fourth section, which provided that they should be counted in the compulsory coinage. The special committee appointed to investigate the charges made by ex-Speaker Keifer against H. V. Boynton teported that they were not sustained by the evidence. The Senate held its usual debate on the educational bill on the 2d inst. No legislative work worthy of record was accomplished. In the House a memorial from bondholders of the Northern Pacific road was presented, praying to be heard before the Public Lands Committee in regard to the proposed forfeiture. A recess of fifteen minutes was taken to receive Gen. Grant, who leaned on a crutch at the clerk's desk and was introduced to members by Speaker Carlisle. A message from the President was received, recommending an appropriation of SIOO,OOO for the protection of levees on the lower Mississippi. A joint resolution of the Legislature ol lowa, asking immediate steps to recover unearned portions of railroad land grants, wat presented In the Senate on the 3d Inst, by Mr, Wilson. A petition was received from 8,000 citizens of the Western States, asking for a pension of at least $8 in money for each honorably discharged soldier and sailor of the late war. Favorable reports were made on bills to erect a Sublic building at Sacramento and to authore the bridging of the Cumberland at Nashville and the Missouri at White Cloud. The Library Committee was instructed to inquire into the expediency of purchasing from the Lewis family the sword worn by Washington when he resigned his commission. When the education bill came up, Mr. Pendleton opposed it. Mr. Beck made a political speech, Mr. Williams advocated the measure, and Messrs. Hoar and Harrison outlined amendments which they propose to introduce. The House of Representatives adopted a joint resolution authorizing the loan of flags and bunting for the fair at Richmond in aid of disabled Confederate veterans. The Secretary of the Interior was authorized to inquire into the massacre of Dr. Marcus Whitmore and others in Oregon in 1847. Forty-six pages of the Indian appropriation bill were disposed of. A bill to authorize the appointment of a commission by the President to run and mark the boundary lines between a portion of Indian Territory and Texas was reported to the Senate on the 4th inst. Mr. Logan presented a petition from the Chicago Board of Trade against the further coinage of silver dollars. Mr. Lapham intoduced a bill to authorize the reappointment and retirement of disabled officers honorably discharged from the regular army. Mr. Jonas submitted a joint resolution making an appropriation of SIOO,OOO for the protection of levees on the lower Mississippi. Speeches on the education bill were made by Messrs. Bavard, Gibson, and Morgan. Mr- Butler gave notice of an amendment that the money required shall be raised by a direct annual tax on the States. In the House a bill was reported to provide for the adjustment of Congressional land grants within the borders of Kansas. The Indian appropriation bill was passed. An evening session was held for the consideration of pension bills. Bills were reported to the Senate, on the Sth inM., for the erection of public buildings at Dayton and Springfield, Ohio. Bills were passed making it a felony to pretend to be an officer or employe of the Government, and to 'authorize the construction of a railroad bridge across the St. Croix River. After some debate on the education bill, an amendment by Mr. Logan, appropriating $15,000,000 the first year and $20,000,000 the third year, was defeated. Another amendment to set aside $2,000,000 to aid in building school-houses in sparsely populated parts was lost. 'An amendment was agreed to that the fund should be distributed regardless of race or color. Mr. Hoar then proposed an amendment to commence with $7,000,000 per annum Ind give $15,000,000 the third year. The House of Representatives passed the agricultural appropriation bill, with an amendment increasing by $25,000 the appropriation for the distribution of seeds and plants. Amendments by the Senate to the House bill making it a felony to personate a government officer or employe were concurred in. The question of forfeiting the Oregon Central land grant was debated for some time, without action.