Democratic Sentinel, Volume 12, Number 9, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 23 March 1888 — NATIONAL LAW-MAKERS. [ARTICLE]

NATIONAL LAW-MAKERS.

What Is Being Done by the National Legislature. A bill was introduced in the House of Representatives on the 12th inst., providing for a commission to investigate trusts and for the repeal of the protective tariff on all industries belonging to trusts. Mr. Bayne offered a preamble and resolution in the House reciting that the majority of the Committee on Ways and Means has not only refused oral hearings to producers, manufacturers, and workingmen, but has denied to them the right to have their petitions read, and directing the Committee on Rules to make a thorough inquiry into the matter. Mr. Breckinridge (Ky.) raised the point of order that the resolution was not a privileged question and it was ruled out. Among the bills introduced in the House was the Randall tariff measure The motion to refer the President’s tariff message was debated by the Senate, but no action was reached. Mr. Bxck of Kentucky addressed the Senate on the 14th inst., in advocacy of his bill to provide for the retirement of the United States legal tender and national bank notes of small denominations and the issue of coin certificates in lieu of gold certificates. The Senate adopted Mr. Hale’s resolution calling for a special committee to investigate the condition off the civil service in all branches of the Government. A bill was reported to the Senate increasing the pension of Mrs. Gen. Ward Burnett. The House passed the bill alloting land*, in severalty to the united Peoria and Miami Indiana. An adverse report was made on the* bill providing that the first session of the Fiftyfirst Congress shall begin on March 4, 1889. Bills were reported and referred to the committee of the whole for public buildings at Galesburg, 111., and Davenoort, lowa. Mr Springer, from the Committee on Territories, reported the omnibus bill for the admission of Dakota, Montana, Washington, and New Mexico.

Thb undervaluation bill occupied the chief attention of the Senate on the 14th inst. Several amendments were adopted and others rejected. Senator Brown, of Georgia, made a. speech in advooacy of his resolution declaring it the imperative duty of Congress to repeal the internal rovenue laws at the earliest day practicable. Messrs. Hale, Manderson, Ch&ce, Spooner, Blackburn, Daniel, and Blodgettwere appointed as the special Senate Committee on the Civil Service. Mr. Cullom succeeded in having the bill reported from the Postoffice Committee to regulate commerce carried on by telegraph to the Committee on Interstate Commerce. The House passed a bill fixing theprice of passports at sl. The Committee on Elections presented a report on the Illinoia contested election case of Worthington vs. Post, confirming the latter's title to the seat. It was ordered placed on the calendar. The Secretary of the Treasury transmitted to the House e/simates for collecting the customs revenues for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1889, aggregating 86,896,203. Of this amount $5,219,618 is for salaries.

Senator Teller, of Colorado, addressed the Senate on the President’s message on the 15th inst., making a vigorous attack on tho Executive’s tariff recommendations. Senator Plumbof Kansas made a speech denunciatory of the imposition of pension sharks upon old soldiers. The resolutions of the House on the subject of the death of Representative Moffatt of Michigan were presented to the Senate and on motion of Mr. Palmer similar resolutions were adopted by the Senate. Eulogies on the life and character of Mr. Moffatt were delivered by Senators Palmer, Paddock and Stockbridge. The House devoted the day, in committee of the whole, to the consideration of Senate amendments to the urgent deficiency bilL The Blair bill, providing for the settlement of disputes among interstate railways and their employes by arbitration, was reintroduced in the Senate on the 16th inst. The measure passed the last Congress, but failed to receive the President’s signature. A new clause provides that it will be unlawful to strike until the company has tailed for five days to comply with a request for arbitration. The bill to provide against and punish undervaluation of imports passed the Senate with very little opposition. Its object is to enforce honesty in invoices and to protect honest importers and traders against agents employed by foreign manufacturers with the express purpose of getting their goods through the custom houses at cheaper rates by means of undervaluation. Senator Butler introduced a bill lor the admission of Utah' The President sent the new Chinese treaty to the Senate. The treaty runs twenty years. A Chinese laborer who haß Si,ooj worth of prop, erty here, or that amount due him, or who has a lawful husband or wife, or a parent or child here, may, if absent, return within one year, or if detained by illness the time may be extended to two years. No other Chinese laborers may come in on any terms. Chinese meroh-.nts, scholars, and students may come only when provided with certificates vised by an American consul. The treaty binds this country to pay to the Chinese Minister 8276,000 within the year, which sum •shall be accepted as a full settlement of all claims against the United States or her citizens for loss ox injury suffered by Chinamen here. In the House the Postoffice Committee reported a bill reducing the rate of postage on seeds, bulbs, plants, and scions to 1 cent for each two ounces At its evening session the House passed thirty-five pension bills;