Democratic Sentinel, Volume 13, Number 9, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 22 March 1889 — CONGRESS. [ARTICLE]

CONGRESS.

The Senate, in executivo session on the 12th in«t., confirmed the following nominations: Thomas W.' Palmer, of Michigan, to be Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary to Spain ; John AV. Swift, of California, to be Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary to Japan; John D. Washbume, of Massachusetts, to be Minister Resident and Consul General to Switzerland; George C. Tichenor, of Illinois, to be Assistant Secretary of the Treasury, vice Isaac H. Maynard, resigned. The Senate approved the reorganization of committees as follows : Higgins—Agriculture, Claims, District of Columbia. Washbume—Civil Service, Commerce, Education, Mississippi River Improvement. McMillan—Agriculture, District of Columbia, Manufactures, Postoffices. Wolcott—Claims, Indian Affairs, Private Land Claims, Railroads, Woman Suffrage. Barbour —Education, Executive Departments, Interstate Commerce, Pensions. Marston—Epidemic IMacHses, Mississippi River Improvement, Naval Affairs. Pensions, Railroads. A long list of special committees was also adopted, after a long debate on a motion by Mr. Payne to strike from the list the select committee on “relations with Canada. ’’ which he regarded as usurpatory of the functions of the executive and an interference with the duties of the Foreign Relations Committee. After arguments to show the necessity of tho committee in view of the annexation movement in Canada, by Messrs. Hoar, Cullom, Sherman and others. Mr. Payne withdrew his motion and the list was adopted. The committee consists of Messrs. Hoar, Allison, Hale, Dolph, Pugh. Butler and Yoorhees. The Senate confirmed the following nominations on the 13th inst.; A. C. Mellette, to be Governor of Dakota; L. B. Richardson, to be Secretary of Dakota; Cornelius H. Hanford, of Washington Territory, to be Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the Territory of Washington: George VV. Irvin, of Montana, to be Marshal of the United States for tho Territory of Montana: Smiley N. Chambers, of Indiana, to be United States Attorney for the District of Indiana; George S. Baelieller, of New York, to be Assistant Secretary of the Treasury, vice Hugh H. Tliomjison, resigned; Albert G. Porter,, of Indiana, to be Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary of the United States to Italy; John A. Enander of Illinois, to lie Minister Resident and Consul General of vho United States to Denmark; Walker Blaio". of Maine, to be Examiner of Claims in tho State Department; Richard Root, to lie Postmaster at Keokuk, lowa. A resolution authorizing the Committee on Coast Defenses to sit during the recess and to employ a clerk was introduced aud referred to tho Committee on Contingent Expenses. A like resolution as to the Committee on Privileges and Elections was agreed to. Resolutions offered by' Mr. Stewart for the jmrehnse of $4,000,099 worth of silver bullion per month for coinago aud by Senators Gibson and Call for special committees on the commercial relations of the United States with Mexico, Cuba, and the West India islands were laid on tho taolo lor tho present. The Senate sat with closed doors nearly all day on the 14th inst., and debated Mr. Gibson’s resolution for the appointment of a select committee on the relations of the United States with Mexico and Central America. Mr. Gibson contended that the grounds for the appointment of such a committee were as strong with regard to Mexico as in the case of Canada. Ho quoted figures to show the trade development of Mexico, and that while Canada had only 4,000,000 population Mexico; had 10,000,000. The friendship of Mexico was needed in order to lip? hold and maintain (across the Isthmus of Paha4 ma and in respect to Central < America) the Moni 1 roe doctrine, aud it was quite as important to the autonomy ami freedom of Mexico that that doctrine should be maintained by the United States in the face of the hostile aggression of Germany, France, or Great Britain. The nomination of J. S. Clarkson of lowa,' to be First Assistant Postmaster General, vice A.- E. Stevenson, resigned, was confirmed.