Democratic Sentinel, Volume 11, Number 1, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 4 February 1887 — LATER NEWS ITEMS. [ARTICLE]

LATER NEWS ITEMS.

The first serious attempt this session to enact a law to prevent Hen a tors and Representatives from acting as counsel, attorneys, or agents of railroad companies was made last week by Representative Mcßae, of Arkansas. Mcßae asked unanimous consent to put the bill upon its passage, and it looked as though the House was about to do itself the credit of promptly placing its condemnation upon the pernicious practice of influenc.ng legislation in favor of corporations by employing legislators as counsel. Presently Mr. Parker, the New York lawyer who was conspicuous in opposition to the bill to quiet titles of settlers upon Des Moines River lands, arose and objected with the absurd excuse that the subject was one that should have mature consideration. Under the recent act of Congress extending the free -delivery system, applications for carriers have been made by ninety-five towns having the specified qualifications. The President has approved the following acts: Granting pensions to the soldiers and sailors of the Mexican war; ceding public land to the city of San Antonio; Texas; providing for a school of instruct.on for cavalry and light artillery, and for the construction of quarters, barracks, and stables at certain army posts; for completion of a public building at Fort Scott, Kan-as. Ottawa (Ont.) special: The “announcement is made that the imperial government has consented to send men-of-war out next season to assist in the protection of the Canadian fisheries. To the people of the United States, doubtless, this will be anything but palatable information, l«ut as a matter of fact it is simply following the precedent established before the Washington treaty came into operation.” English shareholders in the Pennsylvania Railroad Company demand larger dividends. 0 Joint resolutions of tne Tennessee Legislature were presented in the Senate on the 31st nit. in favor of an appropriation for the World's Fair of Colored Industry at Birmingham, Ala. A resolution calling on the Secretary of the Treasury for a report as to whether any national banks are loaning money or discounting notes, requiring payment in gold coin only, was adopted. Bills from committees were reported to the Senate and placed on the calendar as follows : For the construction of a building for the use of the officers of the House of Representatives; for an additional Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of New Mexico; authorizing the construction of a bridge across the Red River of the North; also across the Tennessee River at Chattanooga. The Senate adopted resolutions of inquiry as to the Apache Indians held in confinement in Honda, and Senator Beck introduced a bill to amend the national banking laws. The President sent the following nominations to the Senate: Postmasters—Big Rapids, Mich., Joseph H. Kiibourne; Jonesville, Mich., Maria S. Hewlett: Gailipolis, Ohio, William G. Brading; Beardstown, HI., August E. Kammerer; Chico, Cal., Robinson M. Jones; Galena, Kan., A. M. McPherson; Atkinson, Neb., Willard A. Wheeler; Milbank, Dakota, George C. Middlebrook. Ordnance Department—Lieut. Col. James H. Whittemore, to be Colonel; Capt. John A. Kress, to be Major. In the House Mr. Lawler presented resolutions reci.ing the possibility of war with England, calling attention to our defenseless sea and lake port 9, and asking the President, as Commander-iu-Chief of the army and navy, to report what steps are necessary, in his judgment, to provide for this emergency. The resolutions were referred. Mr. Bouteilo also offered a resolution directing the Foreign Affairs Committee to report.back forthwith the Senate retaliation bill. Representative Crain of Texas introduced a resolution proposing constitutional amendments changing inauguration day to the last Tuesday in April; providing that the Fiftieth Congress shall terminate on Dec. 31, 1888, and the Fifty-first Congress then begin, and providing that Senators whose term of office would not expire until March 4, 1839, shall continue in office until their successors are appointed or elected. Mr. McRae, of Arkansas, introduced a bill in the House prohibiting Congressmen from acting as attorneys or employes for railroad companies holding charters or having grants of lands or pecuniary aid from the Unite 1 States. Gen. Bragg introduced a bill in the House prohibiting the wearing of badge decorat ons, etc., of any kind, by unauthorized persons, indicating military or naval service during the late war. Representative T. J. Campbell of New York introduced a bill in the House increasing to $15,000 the salaries of the Supreme Court Justices and the Cabinet officers. The Senate concurrent resolution for the.appointment of a joint committee to take into consideration the expediency of holding an international exhibition in 1892 in commemoration of the discovery of America was reported to the House and placed on the calendar.