Democratic Sentinel, Volume 12, Number 12, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 13 April 1888 — CONGRESSIONAL. [ARTICLE]

CONGRESSIONAL.

Work of the Senate and the House of Representatives. • The tariff bill, with some amendments, was presented to the House on the 3d inst. by Mr. Mills, Chairman ot the Committee on Ways and Means, and referred to the committee of the whole, the intention being to call it up for consideration in two weeks. The amendments slightly increase the duty on sugar, so as to make the net reduction *2O per cent, below existing duties, and authorize the classification of worsted cloths as woolens. The report of the mino.-ity of the Ways and Means Committee was prepared by Mr. McKinley and is signed by all the Republican members of the committee. It denounces the refusal of the majority to receive and consider the views of manufacturers and others affected by the reductions, and charges the Democratic majority with favoritism toward the South in that it lowers the tariff on but two articles of Southern production—sugar and rice—while heavy reductions are made on everything produced in tbe North and Northwest. TheCrain amendment changing the beginning of the Congressional term from March 4 to Jan. l r and changing inauguration day from March 4 to April 30 was defeated in the House. The Bond bill was further discussed by the Senate without reaching a vote. The Memphis Bridge bill was passed, with au amendment requiring the bridge to be so constructed as to allow of tbe passage of wagons and pedestrians as well as railway trains. The bond-purchase bill occupied a large share of the time of the Senate on the 3d inst. The measure was discussed an 1 amended, but final action was deferred. Mr. Riddleberger called up his motion to consider the fisheries treaty in open session, and it was referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations. There was a struggle for precedence in the House between the Senate direct-tax bill and the pen-sious-appropriation bill, but the former finally won, and the House went into committee of the whole for its consideration. Among the billspassed by the House was the one for the retirement of Alfred Pleasonton with the rank of Colonel.

By a vote of 37 yeas to 13 nays the Senate, on. the 4th inst., adopted Mr. Beck's amendment to the bond-purchase bill providing for the coinage of silver in excess of the present monthly limitation to take the place of national bank, notes withdrawn from circulation. Mr. Lawler’s bill to establish 100 schools to test the Bcienco of s-pelling was introduced in the Senate by Mr. Palmer The House filibustered ail day and all night over the direct tax bill. The climax of obstruction was reached when, after a motion for a recess had been made and was pending, Mr. Breckinridge, of Arkansas, moved that Mr. McMillin, of Tennessee, be excused from voting. In ruling upon’ the point of order raised by Mr. Reed, ot Maine, the Speaker ruled that the motion to excuse from voting was in order under the rules of the' House. This being the case the question was raised as to what limitation could be placed upon this ferm of filibustering.. Mr. Grosvenor, of Ohio, drew attention to the curious fact that after one hundred years of experience in legislation and parliamentary practice the House had for the first time made the discovery that it was possible to delay legislation for an indefinite period. There are 325members of the House, and with a separate' motion to excuse each one, and a separate motion to reconsider the vote just taken, the obstructionists may obtain 650 roll calls on any cne question.

When the Senate took up the bond-purchase' bill, on the sth inst, Mr. McPherson withdrew the amendment offered by him the day previous. Then the substitute as amended by Mr. Beck, providing for additional coinage, to takethe place of surrendered national bank circulation, was agreed to without discussion and the bill was read the third time and passed. Mr. Wilson, of lowa, addressed the Senate on. tbe subject of the President’s Message. Tbs' House spent the day in filibustering over the bill to refund the direct taxes, the time being consumed in roll-calls. During the interval in the voting Mr. Hatch introduced a ■which was referred to the Committee on Commerce, instructing the Int?r-State Commerce Commission to consider what can be done t> prevent the loss of life and limb in coupling and uncoupling cars, and report to the Houso the result of their inquiries.

The bill creating a bureau of animal industry to facilitate the exportation of live stock and its products and to extirpate contagious pleuro-pneumonia. was discussed by the Senate on the 6th inst., but no action was reached. The Senate passed bills for a public building at Texarkana, Ark., and to prevent obstructive deposits in New YorK harbor. A resolution was introduced by Mr. Riddleberger calling on the President for copies, of letters, etc., bearing on the recent acquisition of territory in Venezuela by Great Britain. Among the one hundred and twentyseven private pension bills passed by the Senate inside of ninety minutes was one granting $25 a month to Dr. Mary E. Walker, at one timeAssistant Surgeon in the army. The widows of General Judson Kilpatrick, the famous cavalry leader, and General Robert Anderson, the hero of Fort Sumter, receive SIOO each per month. The House spent another day filibustering on the direct-tax bill.