Democratic Sentinel, Volume 12, Number 3, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 10 February 1888 — NATIONAL LAW-MAKERS. [ARTICLE]

NATIONAL LAW-MAKERS.

WMat Is Being Dons by the National Legislature. Mb. Plumb offered a reaolution in the Senate oa the 30th ult instiueting the poatoffice committee to inquire into the causes of the inefficient mail service, especially in the West and South, and presented newspaper extract* and letters to show the "Democratized” condition of the service in Kansas, the result of a. stupid attempt to make a record of economy.. The Senate postoffice committee reported adversely on a proposition to reduce letter-pos-tage to one cent. Mr. Morgan made his third speech in the Senate in opposition to the Blair education bill. The Senate passed the Rousa bill making an appropriation to carry into effect the law establishing experiment stationa at agricultural colleges. Mr. Cullom introduced, the bill introduced in the House by Mr. Henderson for the construction of the Hennepin Canal, and appropriating $500,000. In the House of Representatives. Mr. Cutcheon of Michigan introduced a resolution declaring it to be the sense of the House that in any proposed revision of the tariff the principle of protection to American industry and the maintenance of the wages of American workmen at the American standard ought to be distinctly recognized and firmly adhered to; that duties ought not to be - imposed for revenue only, but the production of those articles which the United States has abundant raw material aud labor to produce ought to be protected, sufficiently to enable American producers to maintain free competition in the American market, and that articles on the free list should be selected from among such necessaries of life as are not produced in adequate quantities in this country. The Speaker pro tern, laid before the House a letter from the Publio Printer, justifying discharges made by him, and denying the charge that the Congressional work of the office is largely in arrears. After considerable debate the House adopted a resolution ordering an investigation of the administration of the printing office during the incumbency of the present Publio Printer and that of his predecessor. The following bills and resolutions were introduced in the House aud referred : By Mr. Townshend, to place salt on the free list; by Mr. Lawler, abolishing the tax on oleomargarine ; by Mr. Tarsney, for the erection in Washington of a statue to Gen. Custer; byMr. Bland, for the farther coinage of silver and for the redemption of nationalbank notes ; by Mr. Chipman, prohibiting aliens from becoming officers oi corporations or accepting employment on steam or street railroads, on any Government or State contract work, or on any vessel wholly engaged in navigating United States waters; by Mr. Owen, authorizing a survey for the purpose of making and maintaining a continuous waterway from Lake Michigan to the Mississippi.

MR. Plumb’s resolution directing the Postoffice Committee to inquire into the cause of inefficient mail service, especially in the South and West, was discussed in the Senate On ths 31st ult. Messrs. Manderson, Morgan and Stewart favored the investigation,while Messrs. Beck, Saulsbury and Reagan opposed it. Mr. Evarts addressed the Senate in support of the Blair bill. The Senate passed Mr. Hoar’s joint resolution for a constitutional amendment changing the time for the meeting of Congress and for the inauguration of the President The Senate passed the bill for a public building at Omaha, Neb., to cost, including site, $1,2Ju,600. Mr. Stewart introduced a bill providing that, after ninety days from its passage, Chinese laborers shall not have the right to enter the United States on the ground of previous residence. The House Commerce Committee made two reports on the resolution i>roviding for a Congressional investigation into the Beading Railroad troubles. The majority report, which was adopted by the committee by a vote of 7 to 6, recommended the reference of the whole matter to the Interstate Commerce Commission. The minority report, signed by Messrs. Ravner (Md.), Anderson (Kan.), Tarsney (Mich.), Anderson (Iowa), and Logan (La.), recommended the appointment of a special commissioner. The House Committee on Banking and Currency reported favorably Mr. Dingley’s bill, authorizing the Secretary of the Treasury to invest, the money deposited by national banks for theretirement of their circulation in the purchaseof United States bonds at current market rates. The House passed a bill authorizing the construction of a bridge over the Missouri Biver at Jefferson, Mo. Bills were also passed by the House providing for the erection of pnblio buildings at Springfield, Mo., to cost SIOO,OOO, and at Portsmouth, Ohio, to cost $60,000.

After a sharp debate the House of Bepresentatives, on the Ist Inst., adopted a resolution; to the effect that “A special committee of fivemembers be appointed to investigate forthwith the extent, causes and effect upon interstate commerce of the continued failure by the Beading Bailroad Company to tran/jiort such, commerce, and to report to the House, by bill or otherwise, for consideration at any time, Buch legislation as is necessary to secure to the public the regular and complete execution by a railroad company ot' its obligations to serve as a common carrier of inteistute commerce.” Mr. Evarts, from the Committee on Foreign Relations, reported favorably to the Senate the bill providing for • the inspection of meats for exportation. Mr. Cameron introduced the bill providing for thepayment of a service pension of 1 cent for each.. day’s service to all Union soldiers and sailors of the rebellion. Mr. Bulmer introduced a bill appropriating $4,000,000 for continuing the improvement of St. Mary’s River, Michigan, and. $209,00') for the Hay Lake Channel, Michigan. The bill to increase the pension of the totally helpless to $72 per month passed the Senate on-, the 2d inst. Mr. Cullom introduced a bill permitting officers who have served in one gradefor twenty-one years to draw the pay of thenext higher grade, or be retired on the pay allowed to retired officers of the next grade. Mr. Kenna addressed the Senate on tho President’s.-, tariff message and in reply to Mr. Sherman’s, speech on the same subject. Mr. Sherman replied to Mr. Kenna, and Mr. Reagan, spoke briefly in defense of the administration, tariff policy. Mr. Plumb addressed the Senate in favor ofc his resolution regarding inefficient mail service in the South and West. Mr. Ingalls announced the appointment ot the following special committee on the Pacific Railroad funding bills and tho President’s juessage. and commission reports: Messrs. Irye, Dawes, Hiscock, Davis, Morgan, Butler and Hearst. In the House of Representatives, Mr. Crain, of Texas, from the Committee on Presidential Elections, etc., reported a joint resolution proposing a constitutional amendment providing that Congressshall hold its annual meetings the first Monday in January. Mr. Ford, of Michigan, introduced a bill for the organization of the Territory of Alaska. After considerable debatethe bill to prevent the ttausinission through themails as second-class matter of cheap literature, and requiring it to be transmitted as third-class matter, was passed. Yeas, 145; . nays, 116. Mr. Dockery reported a bill to the House at Representatives, on the 3d inst., authorizing the appointment of eleven division superintendents of the railway mail service. A bill was. reported for the relief of the sufferers from the • wreck of the Tallapoosa. Mr. Nutting of New York, offered a resolution calling on the Secretary of the Treasurv for information iu regard to the refusal of tne Canadian authorities to allow American wrecking vessels and machinery to assist American vessels while in distress in Canadian waters, and as to whether Canadian wrecking vessels and machinery are permitted to operate in American waters. Theamendments were conucrred in to the House bill to punish crime in the Indian Territory. The Senate was not in session.

Surveyors going over the line between Washington and Green counties, Pa., found one house so situated that . the husband eats his meals in Washington while the wife eats hers in Green, and they sleep with their heads in one county and their feet in the other. A Buffalo canary has a minature well in its cage, with a bucket, the chain of which reaches to its perch. When it wants a drink it draws up the bucket, much to the delight of the - children in the neighborhood.