Democratic Sentinel, Volume 12, Number 34, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 14 September 1888 — DOINGS OF CONGRESS. [ARTICLE]

DOINGS OF CONGRESS.

IMPORTANT MEASURES CONSIDERED AND ACTED UPON. At the Nation’s Capitol What Is Being Done by the Senate and House Old Matters Disposed of and New Ones Considered. The Senate proceeded to taa consideration of the bill for the admission of the State of Washington on the 3d inst., and was engaged in it when a message was received from the House with the bill for the absolute exclusion of Chine so immigration. Mr. Stewart moved that the bill for the admission of Washington be laid aside, and that the Chinese bill be taken up for immedi ite action. Agr el to. Mr. George moved that the bill be referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations. After some discussion the bill went over. In the House the Chinese bill passed withcut an objection or division. The measure forbids the return to this country of any Chinese laborer alter he has once left the United States, and declares that all certificates of identity under that act to Chinamen who desire to return are null and void. The Oklohama bill is practically a dead issue. The House pass' d, under suspension of the rules and over the opposition of Mr. Blount, of Georgia, the bill to increase the detail of army and rtavy officers to State colleges and universities for instructors in military tactics. The bill is the one which has resulted from agitation on the subject started first by the Governor of Minnesota and the Regents of the State University in their efforts to secure a military instructor detailed from the army to remain constantly at the university instead of alternating every four years with the Universit • of Nebraska.

The Senate devoted the larger part of its session, the 4th inst., to listening to a speech by Mr. Teller on the House bill to prohibit Chinese immigration. Mr. Teller began by defending Gen. Harrison’s record on the Chinese question, and characterizing the attackon him in that connection as on a par with the Morey letter of 1880. Comparing the course of the two parties in California, Mr. Teller said the Rt publicans there had always been opposed to «Cniness immigration, while the Democratic party had not been. The bid went over The Senate has confirmed the nomination of W. G. Allan, of South Carolina, as Consul at Kingston, Jamaica. A memorial was presented in the Senate from the Deepwater or Harbor Committee of Galveston, Tex., favoring a deep water harbor on the northwest coast of the G..lf of Mexico. The retaliation bill was the special order in the House, and the President’s message was discussed by various members. A bill was passe 1 by the House directing the sale of two lots in Detroit and the restoring of the purchase money to the appropriation for the public building in that city. The House passed a bill punishing by a fine of not more than $1,003, or imprisonment for not more than three years, dealers and pretended dealers in counteileit money or other fraudulent devices for using the United States mail. The Chinese restriction bill came to a vote in: the Senate on the sth inst., and every Senator present voted for it, but owing to the lack of a quorum the ballot was ineffectual. The Senatehas ordered another conference on the army appropriations bill, Messrs. Allison, Plumband Gorman being appointed conferrees. Mr. Oates (Ala.) created applause in the House by the introduction of a concurrent resolution providing for the final adjournment of Congress on the 2 Jth inst. It was referred to the Committee on Ways and Means. Bills were passed by the House to limit the jurisdiction of United States District and. Circuit Courts and providing for the exchange of worn or mutilated subsidiary coin, at coinage value, for new and unworn coin. A favorable report was made by the House Appropriations Ccm iiittee on the bill appropriating $290,000 tosuppress infection in the interstate commerce. Another attempt was made in the Senate topass the Chinese exclusion bill, on the Gth inst. The vote was unanimous—yeas 37, two less than a quorum. Upon a call of the Senate thirty-nine Senators—exactly a quoram—responded. Messr s. Sherman and Hoar explained that they had refrained from voting liecause they thought the Senate should delay final action until it ascertained whether the facta on which the bill rested really existed. It was finally agreed, by unanimous consent, that the vote should be on the 7th. The bill appropriating $750, OjO lor a postoffice building at St. Paul, Minn., has been favorably reported to the Senate. The Senate Milfta-y Committee has reported a bill to retireGen. George Stoneman with the rank of colonel. Favorable reports have been made to the Senate on the bills granting rights of way through the Indian Territory to the Leave nworth and Rio Grande and the St. Louis and San FranciscoRailrotuls. The House resumed consideration of the retaliation bill, and adjourned withoutaction. By a vote of 37 yeas and 3 nays tho Chinese exclusion bill fiassed the Senate tho 7th inst., Senators Brown, Hoar, and Wilson (Iowa), voting nay; Mr. Sherman did not vote at all. A motion to reconsider is pending. The debate on the retaliation bill filled up the whole time of the House, and when the House adjourned it was agreed that a vote cn the bill should be taken at 4 o’clock the Bth inst. The principal point was made by Mr. Hooker (Miss.), who contended that the reason the President had not exercised the power conferred upon him by the act of 183/ was because the United States was at that very time negotiatin’ with Great Britain to settle the question of what are the rights of American citizens. He was followed by other members, who occupied the time untiL adjournment.