Democratic Sentinel, Volume 10, Number 18, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 4 June 1886 — CONGRESSIONAL. [ARTICLE]

CONGRESSIONAL.

The Work at the Senate and Honea at Representatives. The resolutions of the Ohio Legislature asking an investigation into the alleged Payne bribery case were presented to the Senate May 25. After the passage of a bill to increase the pensions of soldiers or sailors who lost an arm or leg in the service, Mr. Ingalls took occasion to pronounce Commissioner Black an impostor, who had secured from Congress the highest pension rate as an intellectnal and physical wreck. Mr. Voorhees replied that at the present time the services of a physician were required to dress Gen. Black's wounds. Mr. Harrison reported favorably a bill to authorize the appointment of an additional Adjutant-General l of the army, with the rank of Major of the cavalry. The Senate passed the Atlantic and Pacific Railroad land forfeiture bill, as reported from the Committee on Public Lands. The bill forfeits all lends except the right of way adjacent and coterminous with the uncompleted portion of the road. The President sent the following nominations to the Senate : Collector of Customs for the district of Sandusky, Ohio, John Finch. Receivers of Public Moneys—AmosJ. Harris, at Kirwin, Kan.; Alexander H. Baker, at Grand Island, Neb.; Ezra W. Miller, at Huron, D. T. Miles J. Finlin, uponwhom a bitter fight has been made, was confirmed as Postmaster at Streator, 111. A lively debate took place in the House of Representatives on the oleomargarine bill, in which Frank Lawler appeared as the defender of Chicago against the sarcasm of an lowa member. An Arkansas representative warned the House not to choke the Democratic party to death with butter. The Ways and Means Committee adversely reported the bill to carry into effect the Mexican treaty. Mr. Springer, from the Committee on Territories,. firesented to the House the adverse report of ba" committee on the Senate bill to provide for the admission of the State of Dakota intothe Union, and for the organization of the Territory of Lincoln. Two minority reports were also presented. Mr. Van Wyck, chairman of the Commit’ee on the Improvement of the Mississippi, made a favorable report upon the bill to make Lake Borgne the outlet, to improve the low-water navigation of the river from New Orleans, La.,, to Cairo, 111., and to protect and reclaim the valley lands of the Mississippi and tributaries from overflow. Mr. Edmunds reported favorably from the Committee on Foreign Relations the bill directing the Attorney General to brin? suit in the Supreme Court of the District of Columbia against Benjamin Weil, or his legal representatives or assigns, to determine whether the award made by tho United States and Mexican mixed commission in respect to his claim was obtained by fraud and to recover any part of the money already paid to claimants. The House of Representatives spent the day debating the oleomargarine bill. Mr. Wilson, of lowa, offered a resolution im the Senate May 27 providing for an investigation of the matter of the appointment of Indian • tradors by the Commissioner of Indian Affairs. Eulogies were delivered on the life and character of the late Senator Miller, alter which the Senate adjourned. The House discussed the oleomargarine bill, and devoted the balance of the day to the reading of committee reports. A caucus of Republican Senators was held, atwhich it was agreed to push through the measure forfeiting most of the lands of the NorthernPacific Railroad Company in Oregon.

Four Republican Senators—Cullom, Mandersou, Teller, and Van Wyck—voted with the Democrats in the Senate on the 28th ult., and killed the Northern Pacific forfeiture bill of Mr. Doiph, of Oregon. Mr. Conger presented the report of the Commerce Committee on the Eads ship-railway bill. In the report the committee says that the project is a practicable one, and that the net amount of annual revenue of the road will bo in excess of the amount guaranteed by Mexico and the United States. The opinion is expressed' that the aggregate amount ($7,500,000.1 will not have to be advanced by the Government. The committee reports back the accompanying bill as a substitute for Senate bill 584, with the recommendation that it do pass. The President vetoed bills for the relief of Rebecca Eldridge and Eleanor C. Baugham, widows of soldiers, aud bills granting pensions t»' Mrs. Anne C. Owen, Simmons W. Harden, aud J. D. Haworth. Approval is withheld ia these cases on the ground that the disability for which relief or a pension is asked had its origin in causes existing prior to the enlistment of the persons for whose services the claims are made. In the case of Mrs. Eldridge, the President says : “It is not a pleasant thing to interfere, but we are dealing with pensions, and not gratuities.” The President sent the following nominations to the Senate: C. R. Greathouse, of California, Consul General at Kanagawa;. Wm. H. Cleveland, to bo Appraiser of Customs for the district of Detroit, Mich. Adolph Lippraan, to be Commissioner for Alaska, at Junction City. During the debate in the House of Representatives on the oleomargarine bill, a Jerseyman proposed a tax of 75 cents on each dish of hash, every boarding-house,keeper to berequired to file a.statement of ingredients. All amendments to the bill presented were rejocted.

The House of Representatives only was in> session on tlie 29th ult. The day was devoted, in committee of tlie whole, to discussion of the oleomargarine bill. Every attempt to amend it was voted down, and its friends showed thatthey were determined to stand by it just as it came from the House Committee on Agriculture.