Democratic Sentinel, Volume 12, Number 31, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 24 August 1888 — NATIONAL LAWMAKERS. [ARTICLE]

NATIONAL LAWMAKERS.

What Is Being Done by the Natfchal Legislature. Extended speeches in relation to the£sheriee treaty were made in the Senate the 13th, end the discussion was oontinued. The Senate adopted Mr. Edmunds'resolution colling on the Attorney General lor copies of correspondence between, the Department ol Justice and the Supervisor ol Elections in the city of New York on the subject ol registration and election. The House commenced the consideration ol the fortifications appropriation bill by sections, but mode little progress. The Senate bill increasing to *3O a. month the rate of pension lor total deafness was passed. Congressman Lawler introduced a hill to amend the interstate commerce law by making it unlawful lor common carriers to transport any commodity in can or vehicles owned, leased, or controlled by the shipper thereof, orto make contracts with the shippers to convey property in such cars. It also gives to tbs person complaining all fines Imposed and collected for violation of the act. The District of Colombia Zoological Fork bill was recommitted tothe District Committee after along debate. Mu. Reagan introduced in the Senate, the 14th, a bill to define trusts and to provide for the punishment of persons connected with, them or carrying them on. After some discussion on the rights of Congress on the subject* the same was referred to tne Finance Committee. Mr. Sherman introduced a bill to declare traits and combinations in restraint of trade *nH production unlawful, and it was referred to the 'Committee on Finance. Mr. Morgan occupied the floor of the Senate when, the consideration of the fisheries treaty was resumed. He devoted himself principally to a. defense of Secretary Bayard and to criticising the Republican Senators for the manner in. which they had opposed the ratification of the . treaty. Representative T. J. Campbell' (N. Vj, introduced in the House a bill giving General Sheridan's widow a pension of *5,000 a year. Mr. Townsheud made on ineffectual fight to secure consideration of the deficiency appropriation bill in committee of the whole house, and the whole afternoon was wasted in fruitless roll-calls. The House has agreed to the Senateamendments to the bill f_r a marine hospital at. Evansville, Ind.

Thb fisheries debate in the Senate gravitated, the 15th, into a discussion of Gen. Harrison’s, record on the Chinese question and his fitness for the Presidency. When the Senate went intoopen executive session Mr. Morgan rose to resume his argument in favor of postponing action on the treaty till December, but the discussion merged into one of a political nature in regard to the Chinese question, and the Senate passed Mr. Shannon's reiolution calling on the Secretary of tho Treasury for a statement of the amounts deposited in national, bonks on August 1, 1888, and of the amount and description of United States bonds and oth°r securities pledged for the repayment, of such deposits. The lack of a quorum was developed upon the assembling of the House, not. more than a hundred members voting on a motion to reconsider the vote on the amendmentextending the provisions of the Columbus centennial bill to various other cities. The matter was then dropped and the House went into committee on the fortification bill. A lengthy discussion followed, and the bill went over. Soon after assembling the Senate went into open executive session on the fisheries treaty, the 16th, and voted on Mr. Morgan’s resolution to pcßtpone it till December next. The resolution was disagreed to yeas 24, nays 27. As soon as the vote was taken legislative business was resumed. The conference report on the army appropriation bill was then taken up. After some discussion the bill was concurred in—yeas, 80; nays, 11- The House fortification bill was presented and referred to the Committee on Appropriations, The Senate then went into open executive session on the fisheries treaty, and thepresiding officer directed that the treaty be read by sections. Pending the debate the Senate adjourned. Tne House managed to pass the fortifications appropriation bill without division, but all efforts to transact any other business were defeated because of the lack of a quorum. Attempts were made to set aside Aug. 29 and 30 for the consideration of general pension legislation, to take up the Oklahoma bill, and to go into committee on the deficiency bill, but they all failed to secure the necessary number of votes. When the fisheries treaty was taken up by theSenate on the 17th, the Chair ordered, no objection being made, that the debate on the treatyshould close at 6 o’clock on the 20th, the friends of the treaty having the last two hours, and that on the 21st, at 18 o’clock, the final votes should be taken on all amendments, motion*, and the resolution of ratification. The Senate spent the early part of the afternoon in debating a resolution requiring tho removal of all electric light arid motor wires which are strung above ground. The resolution was finally referred to the Committee on thoDistrict of Columbia, with instructions to report favorably. The Dill amendatory to the act of June 18,1886, relating to postal crimes, was then, taken up, and after being amended so as to reduce the penalties, was passed. Fruitless roll-calls again filled up a greater part of the Session of the House. Another attempt was madeto dispose of the motion to assign certain days for general pension legislation, but the vote disclosed the lack of a quorum. At the expiration of the morning hour Mr. Bumes (Mo.) moved logo into committee on the general deficiency bin. A roll call showed the presence of 158 members, five less than a quorum, and after a number of roll calls had been made- without showing any increase thefHouse adjourned.