Rensselaer Republican, Volume 14, Number 28, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 30 March 1882 — CONGRESSIONAL. [ARTICLE]

CONGRESSIONAL.

SENATE. Washington, March 17.—/The chaii submitted a joint resolution of the lowa legislature asking congress to amend the act donating public lands to states and territories which may provide colleges of agriculture and mechanics arts so the state may loan Qie fund derived from the sales of real estate security, etc. Referred. A resolution was introduced by Mr. Brown declaring against the contraction of the currency by the withdrawal of silver certificates, &c. Referred to the finance committee without debate. Upon the conclusion of the morning hour, the regular business, she tariff commi°sion. bill, was temporarily laid aside to proceed with the postofllce appropriation bill, which was taken up and the remaining committee amendments adopted. The bill then passed. . The fortification appropriation bill, reported by the appropriation committee without amendment, was read, and Mr. Morgan protested against the conversion or manufacture of smoothbore guns on the Crispin plan. After an executive session the adjourned till Monday. HOUSE. The speaker laid before the house a communication from the secretary of war, transmitting estimates of the number of persons destitute by the overflow of the Mississippi river and its tributaries. The communication estimates the number of persons destitute at 85,000, as follows: Missouri, 2,200; Illinois, 22,000; Kentucky, 8,000; Tennessee, 6,000; Mississippi, 30,000; Arkansas, 30,000; Louisiana, 25,000. Rations distributed, 713,000. The appropriation already made is sufficient to purchase 800.000 • rations of a substantial kina. The supply will be exhausted in Arkansas, Mississippi, and Louisiana, about the 21st. No estimate can be made of the time during which the necessity for which congressional aid will continue. No further demands are expected from Illinois and Kentucky, but from Missouri, Tennessee, Arkansas, and Mississippi, the department has information that the necessity for subsistence will continue for a period variously estimated at from thirty to sixty days. Tbe department has no information, but it is thought it may be placed in the same category as Mississippi.

HOUSE. Washington, March 18.—There was a slim attendance in the house to listen to the debate on the Chinese bill. Mr. Speer was the first speaker. He paid a high tribute to the colored rac-s. * Mr. Gunther said he would vote for the bill. Let congress stamp this threatening danger out of existence before it could grow large enough to require the most serious measures for its suppression. He would like to limit the time of suspension to ten years, but he would vote for the bill as it stood for fear that no other restrictive measure will be advocated. Mr. Moore, of Tennessee, created a sensation by making a strong speech against the bill. Mr. Flower made a speech against the further importation of what he termed “eating, drinking and opiummaking lepers.” Mr. Williams, of Wisconsin, spoke against the bill and said: “My sentL ments in regard to this bill is to express the hope that as president vetoed the other, so may another president veto this bill.” fApplause on the Republican side.] Mr. Brumni supported the bill. He made the point that every Chinaman who was in this country had kept out one honest German or Irishman. After other speeches the house adjourned. SENATE. Washington, March 20.— The bill was reported for a public building at Erie, Pa. The bill for the admission of Dakota was reported with amendments. A resolution was passed allowing Senators Butler and Kellogg $3,600 and $9,500 respectively for expenses incurred in vindicating the titles to their seats. Mr. Pendlelon presented a memorial from the National Tobacco as-o-ciatipnj>rotesting against the passage of any “free leaf tobacco bills” 7 a’so, a petition from thef some association for the abolitiom-'of export stamps, and for sundry changes of the law in regard to the exportation of tobacco by rail, and the fees paid inspectors of exported tobacco. After a short executive session the senate adjourned. HOUSE. The speaker laid before the house a message from the president in response to a resolution requesting him to furnish the house the statement of facts berore him at the time he authorized the sending of troops to Nebraska. Mr. Reed, of Maine, under instruction from tbe committee on judiciary, moved to suspend tbe rules and adopt a resolution making the Geneva award bill the special order for the fourth Tuesday In March. A number of Democrats were opposed to this motion and manifested their opposition by motions to adjourn, which, however, were voted down. The question having recurred on the motion to suspend the rules the Democrats opposed to having the bill made the special order, refrained from voting and the house was left without a quorum A call of the house was ordered and the doors closed and the sergeant-at-arms and his deputies were dispatched for absentees. At 7.30 the first captives were brought in and from time to time others followed. The excuses caused a good deal of merriment, except that of Clements, of Georgia, who stated that he had just been sum-

moned to the bed-side of his colleague, Mr. Beck.who was dying. All were excused. The house at 12:15 a. m. is still in session, but without a quorum., At 12:10 to-night another* call of the house took place, but np quorum appearing, Rfeed, of Maine, suggested that the house do now adjourn with an understanding that tomorrow morning after reading the journal, the houstf shall proceed to vote upon the compromise proposition submicted by Mr. Hewitt This was agreed to and accordingly at 12:45 the house adjourned. SENATE. Washington, March 21.—Mr. Hale presented a protest against the admission of Dakota as a state untj.l her record is purged of repudiation, with which it is charged in the matter of the Yankton county bonds issued in aid of a railroad in that county, upon which iptefest payments have ceased. Bills passed—House bill to establish a railroad bridge over the Mississippi river between Minnesota and Wisconsin. Senate bill to remedy defects in the law of last year for the sale of the remainder of the Oteoand Missouri reservations In Missouri and Nebraska. Passed with amendment protecting the rights of those tribes who may not have rfemoved. Mr. Pendleton introduced ajoint resolution proposing an amendment to the constitution, providing for the election by the people of postmasters, marshals, district attorneys, United States clerks of courts inferior to the supreme court, and all such other civil officers of the United States, exercising executive or ministerial power. HOUSE. The Chinese bill was taken up, Mr. Page stating that he would call for the previous question to-morrow at 3 o’clock. Mr. McClure spoke in advocacy of the bill. , , ■* Mr. Hooker, of Mississippi, declared his intention to oppose the bill, because he considered it a violation of the treaty, and he believed the executive will insist that we shall keep our treaty. Mr. Page stated that be would not call for the previous question until both sides of the house were fully satisfied that the debate had continued a sufficient length of time. The bill then went over. Adjpurned. ) SENATE. Washington, March 22.— A number of bills were introduced and referred, and the remainder of the time up to two o’clock was occupied in the consideration of amendments to the bill to promote the efficiency of the life-saving service, establishing additional stations. Owing to the sudden illness of Garland the tariff commission bill was laid aside and the diplomatic appropriation bill taken up. The senate committee amendments were agreed to. These included J90,ftOO for the contingent expenses or the department of state. Mr. Beck moved an amendment requiring hereafter that all commercial agencies, whether paid by fees,or otherwise, be specially enumerated, with compensation in each case, in the annual estimates of the secretary of state. Agreed to and the bill passed.

HOUSE. The Chinese bill was taken up, and Washburne spoke in its lavor, claiming that continuance of immigration would bring about the greatest of all dangers—degradation of labor. He contended that there was no analogy between immigration from Europe and that from China. It was the part of wisdom not to degrade labor, but to bring labor and capital in accord. Mr. Page gave notice that he would, at 2 o’clock, demand the previous question on the bill. Adjourned. SENATE. Washington, March 23,—8i11s were introduced for the formation and admission into the Union as a state of Washington territory. Mahone, from the committee on agriculture, reported favorably a bill to establish a bureau of industry and to prevent the exportation of diseased cattle and the spread of contagious diseases among domestic animals. Mr. Dawes, from the appropriations committee, reported the Indian appiopriation bill with sundry amendments. After an executive session the senate adjourned. HOUSE. The morning hour being dispensed with consideration was resumed of the Chinese bill. A large number of amendments were then voted upon, but were all lost, without a division being called. Tbe bill then passed—yeas 187, nays 65. Adjourned. SENATE. Washington, March 24.—Mr. Sawyer presented a memorial from the Milwaukee chamber of commerce against the renewal of patents for steam grain shovels. The senate spent a large portion of the morning hour upon the life-sav-ing service bill. The bill was then passed—yeas, 46; nays, 8. The joint resolution for printing Blaine’s Garfield memorial address was passed. The tariff commission discussion was resumed and Mr. Miller,ofNew York, gave some reasons for his belief in protection. General debate on the bill will close Tuesday, after which amendments may be ottered under the fifteen minutes rule. After an executive session the senate adjourned. HOUSE. The bill was reported appropriating

s6,Bß3>Goafor the improvement of the Mississippi river. Referred to committee of the whole. The hoase' then Went into committee of ttye whole (Mr. Valentine in the chaff-} on the private calendar. Two hours were consumed in discqssipfi of the first bril on the calendar; teferriifg td the court of claims, the cjaim of the captors of the ram Albemarle, when at last the bill was laid aside favorably. Another debate arose upon the next bill, for the relief of the heirs and the next bf kin of James B. Armstrong, the opposition to the measure being based*on the fact that the heirs were disloyal.; Pending action the committee rose and reported the AlbeEhktle blll and it was passed. A recess followed until 7:30, the evening session bbing for the constderatioh of pension bills on the private calendar. . - Thirty-seven bills were passed at the evening session, and the house adjourned till Mon lav-