Rensselaer Republican, Volume 14, Number 35, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 18 May 1882 — CONGRESSIONAL. [ARTICLE]

CONGRESSIONAL.

4 . BERATE. Washington, May 6.—A resolution was offered by Mr. Windom for the appointment of an investigating committee of five to inquire whether any money had been raised by contri bution or otherwise from parties interested, to promote the passage or defeat of the bill relating to distilled spirits in special bonded warehouses, and if so, tor what uses the money had been expended. Adopted without debater Senate bills passed—Restoring part of the Fort Niabrora military reservation, In Kansas, withdrawn for military purposes from the public domains; permitting the lot formerly purchased for a government building in Memphis to be utilized as a site for a public building. Adjourned until Monday. house. e Washington, May s.—The house went into committee on the tariff commission bill. At the evening session forty-five pension bills passed. Adjourned till to-morrow. house. Washington, May 6.—The house we’at into committee of the whole on th > tariff, commission bill. The committee rose and reported he bill to the house. The previous question was then ordered, and Mr. Kasson closed the debate. * At the conclusion of his speech the bill passed—yeas, 151; nays, 83. A resolution was adopted permitting the contestant in the Alabama contested election case of Watson vs. Oates to withdraw his papers. This leaves Oates in possession of his seat. Mr. Hubbell. introduced a bill to enlarge the duties and powers of the deFartment of agriculture. Referred. t provides that the department of agriculture shall hereafter be an executive department, and the commissioner shall be known as the secretary ol agriculture, and bureaus for the collection of information concerning railways, 'manufactures, mining interests and animal,indu stry will be attached to the department.* Adjourned. SENATE. Washington, May B.—A bill was introduced tor the relief of FitzJSbn Porter. The provisions are the same as the house bill, Mr. Groome introduced a joint resolution tendering the thanks of congress to aDd conferring an additional rank on Chief Engineer George W. Melville, United States navy. Referred. HOUSE. Washington, May B.—Bills were introduced and referred; By Mr. Townsend, of Illinois—To place the tax on salt used in curing pork and beef on the same basis as salt used in curing fish. By Mr. Calkins—To aid in makin further Arctic explorations, and detailing Master Lucien Young as commander of the expedition. It authorizes the secretary of the navy to purchase a vessel of the proper size and structure for an expedition at a cost of not exceeding $60,000, and appropriates SIOO,OOO foi the expenses of the expedition. By Mr. Bragg,of Wisconsi—For the relief of Fitz John Porter. It authorizes the president, in order that justice may be done to said Fitz John Porter, to appoint Fitz John Porter, late major-geuefal of United States volunteers and brevit brigadier-gener-al and colonel of the army, to a position of colonel in the army of the United States, the same grade and rank held by him at the time of his dismissal from the army by'sentence of court martial, and in his discretion to place him on the retired list of the army as of that grade.

SENATE. Washington, May 9— All the pending house bills donating condemned cannon for monumental and other purposes were called up. The superintendent of the census asked for an appropriation of SBO,OOO to defray the expenses of his office for the remainder of the fiscal year. HOUSE. Washington. May 9. —The bill enlarging the powers of the agricultural department was taken up. Mr. Hubbell, of Michigan, then submitted the amendment to the (bill agreed to by the committee on civil service reform. Upon this and upon the original bill the previous question was order* ed. Adjourned. SENATE. Washington, May 10. —The senate bill passed establishing an assay office at Deadwood, Dakota. The house joint resolution appropriating $60,000 to supply the deficiency for the current year for fuel, lights, eto., in buildings under control of the treasury department passed. Adjourned. house. Washington, May 10.— The house passed, by a vote of 172 to 7, without amendment, the bill creating an executive department of agriculture, which provides the department shall be under the control of secretary, who is an experienced and practical agriculturalist,and establishes departments of agricultural products, animal industry', lands and statis ics. The conference report on the Indian appropriation bill was agreed to. The house went into committee of the whole on the Indian appropri 1 ation bill. The bill finally passed—yeas, 134; nays, 18. The Geneva award bill was discussed and went over. Adjourned.

SENATE. Washington, May 11.—The L. Madison Dav claim for a certain small lot of land in New Orleans which at the time 1t was purchased by him at a judicial sale, under the confiscation act, was covered by a mortgage, but was bought upon representation by the government that no incumbrance upon it existed, was passed—yeas, 27; nays, 22. Six Democrats voted with the Republicans in the affirmative. The conference report on the Indian appropriation bill was submitted. The total has been reduced by the couference $466,200. The report was concurred in and the bill passed. Adjourned. house. Washington, May 11,—Mr. Sherwin, from the committee on education and labor, reported the bill to aid in the support ot common schools. Ordered printed and recommitted. It provides that tor the next five years there shall be annually appropriated ten million dollars to aid in the support of free common schools, which amount shall be known as the ‘‘common schools fund,” and which shall be apportioned to the several state? and terri ories according to the number of their illiterate population over ten years of age. An amount not exceeding 5 percent, of the sum apportioned may be used for the education of teachers in the public schools. The house resumed consideration of the Geneva award bill. After discussion the previous question was ordered, but without further action it went over. Mr. Steele, of Indiana, from the committee on military affairs, reported the bill authorizing a retired list for non-commissioned officers of the army who have served continuously for a period of thirty years. Committee of the whole.