Democratic Sentinel, Volume 12, Number 5, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 24 February 1888 — NATIONAL LAW-MAKERS. [ARTICLE]

NATIONAL LAW-MAKERS.

Wk»t Is Being Dose Mr tke National Legislature. The resolution regarding the alleged fnefficiency of the portal department waa considered by the Senate on the 13th inst Mr. Beagan defended the department. Mr Yoorhees introduced a bill to increase the pensions of those who have lost a limb or two limbs or both eyes, and Mr. Turpie introduced one to grant service pensions in the army and navy The address of the Dakota Constitutional Convention, favoring the division of ths territory and the admission of ths south half as a State, was presented to the Senate A petition was presented for the forfeiture of the Marquette, Superior and Ontonagon Railroad land grant in Michiwas P“ aßd to prohibit any person in Washington or Georgetown from making books or pools on result of any races or of any game of base-ball. Bills were introduced in the House for the erection of public buildings at Galesburg, Ill.; Richmond, Ind,; Lafayette, Ind.; Davenport, lowa, and Eau Claire, Wis : and in the Senate for public buildings at Starling, HI., *100,000; at Helena, M. T.VfIOO.QOO; at Fort Worth, Texas, *130,060. The resolution for an inquiry into tho causes of the alleged inefficiency of the mail service was further discussed in the Senate on the 11th -inst. The Senate passed the bill for the relief of David L. Brainard and eighteen of the United States army who w*re on the Greely expedition in the arctic regions—as commutation for fuel and quarters. Senator Cuilom introduced a bill for the compensation of female nurses during the war. The Senate confirmed the nominations of B F. Wade, Marshal of Northern Ohio, and Alexander McCue, Assistant Treasurer at New York. The House Committee on Public Buildings reported the bill authorizing the condemnation of land for sites for public buildings, and it was placed on the calendar. Bills were reported to the House and referred to the committee of the whole for the erection of at public building at Omaha, Neb., and for the enlargement of the building at Charleston, W. Va.; also for the purchase of additional land at Council Bluffs, lowa An adverse report was made by the House Labor Committee on the bill to license railroad conductors. Secretary Endicott sent to the House a message in answer to Representative Grosvenor's resolution calling for information regarding the publication of the official records of the rebellion, and whether any person has been forbidden access to the records. The Secretary Bays the work is being carried out strictly according to the plan adopted in 1860 and required by the provisions of the act of July 31,

xhe Blair Edueational Bill passed the Senate on the 15th inst., by a vote of 39 yeas to 29 nays. The announcement of the vote was greeted with applause by its friends. Mr. Beck introduced a bill to reimburse States lor interest paid on moneys expended in raising troops for the war of the rebellion. The House bill for the appointment of eleven division superintendents of railway mail service was amended by making the number “two, in addition to those heretofore authorized,” and a bill was passed by the House providing that Nebraska shall constitute an entire judicial district to be known as the District of Nebraska. The House Committee on Publio Buildings favorably reported the bills for public buildings at Milwaukee, Wis., and Bay City, Mich. The Milwaukee building is to cost *259,003. The House Military Committee made a favorable report on the bill for the payment of *IOO to soldiers who enlisted under tne act of July 22, 1861, and who were discharged by reason of surgeon’s, certificate of disability or by promotion before the expiration of two years, and who have not received SflQO bounty. The report was referred to the committee of the whole. The resolution offered by Mr. Manderson re quiring the Secretary of War to furnish to Sen. ators on their request lists of persons to whom copies of, the Records of the Rebellion are to oe issued, was taken up in the Senate on the 16th Inst., and after a protracted discussion, participated in by Senators Vest, Manderson, Tellor Hawley and Gorman, was adopted. One hundred and eight private pension bills were passed. Bills were reported from committees und placed on the calendar: For the relief of volunteers of the Fourth lowa Infantry ; authorizing the construction of a high wagon bridge across the Missouri River at or near Sioux City. Among the bills introduced and referred were the following: By Mr. Forwell, to brevet army officers on the active and retired list; by Mr. Sabin, to authorize tho President to confer brevet rank on army’ officers for brilliant services in Indian campaigns; by Mr. Manderson, to authorize the wearing of the badges of the iGrand Army of the Republic. The resolution offered by Mr. Plumb some weeks ago directing an inquiry as to the causes of inefficient mail service was taken up and agreed to. Mr. Voorhees introduced a bill to appropriate SIOO,OOO for the erection of a publio building at Richmond, Ind. Senator ManderBon introduced a joint resolution for the abolition of the office of Surveyor General of Nebraska and lowa. The House of Representatives devoted the day to the consideration of tho urgency deficiency bill. An amendment was adopted directing the Public Printer to enforce rigidly the provisions of the eight-hour law. The ancleut bill for the relief of Nathaniel McKay and the executors of Donald McKay, the ship-builder, came up in the House on the 17th inst. Mr. Springer made a stubborn fit ht against the bill, but it was p issei by 156 yeas to 72 nays. McKay ’s conuaetj for gunboats called for $1,056,u00. He was paid that and *409,000 for extras, and what he has been trying 10 get ever since is $323,000 more for alditional extras. There is a considerable lot of these claims Of pretty much the same character, amounting in the aggregate to many millions of dollars, und the) will all be pushed before Congiess.