Democratic Sentinel, Volume 16, Number 5, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 19 February 1892 — THE SENATE AND HOUSE. [ARTICLE]

THE SENATE AND HOUSE.

WORK OF OUR NATIONAL LAW- • MAKERS. Proceeding* of the Senate and Hou*e of Representative* Discussed and Acted Upon—Gist or the Business. The National Solons. In the Senate, on the 10th, Mr. Squire, from the Committee on Public Buildings, reported a bill appropriating $500,000 for a public building at Heal tie. Wash. Calendar. The joint resolution as to the payment to the State of West Virginia of her proportion of the direct tax again taken up in tho morning hour, aqff after debate went oyer without action. The bill providing for the public printing and binding and the distribution of public documents went over without action. Mr. Gorman presented the credentials of his colleague. Mr. Gibson. Oath of office was administered to him by the Vice President After a brief executive session t>he Senate adjourned. The event in the House was the report of the Bland free-coinage bill by the Committe on Coinage, Weights, and Measures. The action was not one that involved debate, as the bill merely went on the calendar to be taken up in the order of Its consideration. The House also ordered an investigation of the Pension Bureau, as managed by Commissioner Baum. A bill concerning control of national banks occupied the balance of the session.

In the Senate, on the 11th, the bill to amend the law us to the coasting trade on the great lakes was passed, Mr. Vilas giving the following explanation of its object and effect: The change which it makes in the existing law consists simply in requiring the owner, agent, or master of a vessel touching at any intermediate port, in the course of its journey on tho lakes, to make a statement of the quantity and nature of goods delivered or shipped at that port. Its object is simply to preserve among the various lake ports statistical Information of the business done at these ports. The bill appropriating $200,000 fora public building at Cheyenne, Wyo., was passed. The printing bill went over without action. Adjourned till the 15th. In the House, the old parties came in for a scoring by Jerry Simpson. The principal question was the appointment of messengers. Mr. Simpson’s speech was interrupted by frequent cries of “Put him on the roll.” “Amend the resolution,” and “He saved the .Union,” but the speech of the gentleman of Kansas had the effect of overwhelmingly defeating the resolution. The military academy appropriation bill was taken up and consumed the remainder of the day. Both houses of Congress have authorized an inquiry into the causes of agricultural depression. The resolution directing Mr. Hatch’s Committee on Agriculture to make an investigation passed the House on the 15th. The only d'ssenting voice was that of Mr. Funston, a Republican member from Kansas. , But tho resolution passed and the committee will begin its inquiry early next week. The Senate resolution directs the Agricultural Conjnvtlee of that body to ascertain if anything is needed to improve the existing conditions. In the Senate the inquiry will be conducted by the two subcommittees. Mr. Gibson reported a bill appropriating $15,000,000 for the Improvement of the Mississippi Elver and it was placed on the calendar.* Ten millions of the amount is for the river from the head of the passes, near it mouth, to the mouth of the Ohio River (not more than $2,000,000 to be expended in any one year). and $5,000,000 Is for the river from the mouth of the Ohio (o the mouth of the Illinois. The Senate then resumed consideration of the bill providing for the public printing and binding and the distribution of public . documents. The bill was reported to tho Senate and passed. Mr. Haddock’s bill for preventing the adulteration apd misbranding of food and drugs was then taken up as the special order. After a brief executive session the Senate adjourned.