Democratic Sentinel, Volume 12, Number 51, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 11 January 1889 — THE SENATE AND HOUSE. [ARTICLE]

THE SENATE AND HOUSE.

NATIONAL LAW-MAKERS AND WHAT THEY ABE DOING. Proceedings of the Senate and House ot Representatives Discussed and Acted On Gist of the Business. Mobe than a quorum was present when the Senate reconvened on the 2d inst. After the introduction of sundry petitions the consideration of the tariff bill was resumed, it being taken up where it was left before the holidays, Tha following memorial was presented and went to the Committee on Commerce: -The National Board of Trade hereby respectfully memoralizes your honorable bodies to continueto make from time to time ample appropriations for the judicious improvement of all principal rivers, harbors, and waterways, and especially to see that important works of improvement already begun may not be stopped for want of necessary funds for their continuance and completion, thereby incurring waste, damage; and ultimate increased cost of thework and unnecessary delay in making suen improvements available. The National Board of Trade hereby respectfully memorali.es your honorable bodies to provide immediately such defenses as will be necessary in theevent of war to thoroughly protect our at a, gulf and lake coasts and harbors." Stnator Hoar introduced a resolution (which was aiop.ed) asking the President to transmit to Congress any correspondence that the United States may have had with Great Britain concerning the seal fisheries in or near Behring Strait, and especially as to the seizure of any vessel of tho United States or other country, and what regulationsgoverning the fisheries have been adopted by this Government. Mr. Hoar saysthat there have been and are still widespread complaints of unjust discriminations•ogainst American vessels. Only about seventyfivo members were present at the opening of theHouse. No committees were ready to report, and after the transaction of minor business the House went into committe of the whole on the river and harbor bill. A lively debate over the ■ appropriations for Texas improvements followed, during which Mr. Crain (Tex.) twitted Mr. Bowden (Pa.) with his failure to be reelected, and the latter explained that he retired from Congress from choice.. Mr. Cutcheon (Mich.) made an effort to secure an increase of appropriation for the harbor of refuge at Portage Laae, and would have been successful had not Mr. Cheadle (Ind.) raised the point of “no quorum.” The House passed a bill limiting to - 83 the fee to agents for securing an increase of pension on account of an increase of the disability or for securing a special act of Congress • in cases where the pension may be obtained under the general pension laws. The Senate disposed of three and one-half pages of the tariff bill on the 3d inst. The prin- - cipal discussion was in regard to the duty oni cotton thread. Mr. Vest’s amendment, which has been pending over the recess, was ■ defeated, and he moved to make the rate on spool cotton 4J per cent, ad valorem instead of 7 cents per dozen spools, as provided in the bill. He quoted from the testimony of leading spool-cotton manufacturers in 18 4 to show that they askel a . less rate of protection in 1834 than in 1882. Mr. Aldrich said that prior to 1867, when the first • adequate duty was placed on it, all the spool cot, on in the United States was made abroad, and it sold at 70 cents a doz-n Bpools at wholesale and lo cents a spool retail. Now 9J percent was made in the United States, and it sold at 45 cents a dozen wholesale and 5 cents a spool retail The rate proposed by Mr. Vest would make a difference • of but 2 cents a dozen spools, which would not go to the benefit of tiie working-women but would benefit the New York importer. After further discussion the amendment was rejected, and the Senate adjourned. The House accomplished absolutely nothing at its session. Mr. Keed, from the Committee on ttules, roportod a resolution suspending the priv.leges of suspension days, the object beiug to preventthe opponents of the Union Pacific lundmg measuro and the Oklahoma b,U from fllibustering against on attempt to pass those measures under suspension of tbe rules, introducing voluminous rules under tho call of States, and . consum,ng the diy by the demand for theirreading in full. Mr. Keed rofusod 10 allow any debate on tho rjsolution and demanded' the previous question, but Mr. Anderson iKas.) led the filibusters against t e motion. No quorum . voted, though a call of the House showed the presence of 171 members, eight more than a . quorum. An effort was made to postpone action, and allow the river and harbor bill to betaken up, but Mr. Keed refused to withdraw without a promise that there would be no filibustering against the resolution. The opposi- - tion declined to commit themselves, and. after waiting till 3: 5 for the Ser.oaut-at-Arms todrum up absentees, the House adjourned. Ma. Sherman, from the Committee on Foreign Relations, reported a resolution to the Senate on the 4th inst., which was agreed to, calling . On the President for correspondence and information touching recent occurrences in the island of Hayti, both as relate s to th j state of the Government there and to the seizure and delivery of the American vessel, the Havtian Republic ; he also reported back favorably Mr. Edmunds’ joint resolution as to the Panama . canal. The resolution was placed on the calendar. Mr. Stewart offered a resolution, which was agreed to, instructing the Committee on Private Land Claims to inquire and ascertain what prosecution or suits have been instituted or authorized as to patents for Mexican private land grants in California, at whose instance, and for whose benefit such suits have been instituted or authorized; . what private counsel have been employed to assist in the prosecution; the terms and conditions of their employment, and what interest the United States Government has in such suits, with power to send for persons and papers. The • House, by a vote of yeas 157, nays 34, passed the Senate bill to incorporate the Nicaragua . Canal Company. All the amendments adopted in committee of the whole were a icepted, except that offered byMr.Baker (Ill.) leservingthe right to the United States to purchase the property at any time by paying the actual cost with 5 per cent, interest. As amended the bill absolves the United States from all liability on account . of the company, and i #iuir6s that this proviso • shall be printed on all bonds and other obliga-. tions ; provides that no stock shall be issued until 10 per cent, has been paid in in cash ; that no bonds in excess of the amount of capital shall be issued until such paid capital shall amount to 85,000,u00, and reserves to Congress . the right to alter or repeal the act, and to regulate the tariff rates.