Rensselaer Republican, Volume 15, Number 19, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 18 January 1883 — XLVITTH CONGRESS. [ARTICLE]

XLVITTH CONGRESS.

A resolution was adopted by the Senate, qn the 9th inst, requesting the suspension of daily mail service between Fort Niobrara and Deadwood and between Chamberlain and Rapid City. A joint resolution was adopted authorizing Ensign Reynolds to accept a decoration frpm the Emperor of Austria. Memorials were presented from the Georgia Legislature in favor of the Educational bill, and from the Kentucky University for an appropriation for the support of schools in the States A favorable report was made on the bill to grant to a railroad and telegraph line the right of way through the Fort Smith military reservation. The bill to provide for the Presidential succession passed the Senate by a vote of 40 yeas to 15 nays The bill was amended in several particulars before being put upon its passage, and, as it no w stands, the Cabinet officer who may succeed to the Presidency wiU hold office but a very brief period. It is made his duty, if Congress is not at the time in session, to convene that body within twenty days to provide for permanently filling the vacant position by an election under the present law. The House devoted the entire day to the consideration of the Shipping bill The burden of several of the speeches was opposition to any provision looking to the repeal of State laws imposing taxes upon merchant vessels. Mr. fipjjnger enlightened the House on the legal questions involved. As Mr. Springer rose to speak on the bill, a colored man stood up in the gallery and commenced an oration, which was interrupted by the doorkeeper. Mr. Lapham presented a petition in the Senate on the 10th inst from members of the New York Board of Trade for the passage of the Lowell Bankruptcy bill Mr. FYye introduced a joint resolution for the termination of the fisheries treaty between the United States and Great Britain. The Tariff bill was considered in committee of the whole. In the House, Mr. Crapo offered a resolution directing the Judiciary Committee to report what legislation is necessary to estublisn low and equitable telegraphic rates between the States of the Union and foreign countries. Mr. Aidrich introduced a bill providing for the exportation of distiUed spirits on giving one bond. Mr. Mills offered a resolution inquiring of the Attorney General the amount paid to special counsel in the star-route cases. A special committee was appointed to investigate the charges against the Chief Clerk of the fftouse, John Bailey. Mr. Cameron presented a memorial in the Senate, on the 11 th inst., from the Pittsburgh Chamber of Commerce,against a reduction of the tariff on bituminous coal. The biR for the relief of Fitz John Porter was passed, with an amendment providing that no pay or allowance prior to reinstatement shall be granted. The vote stood: Yeas, 83; nays, 26. Messrs. Cameron of Pennsylvania, Sewell of New Jersey, and Hoar of Massachusetts voted with the Democrats in the affirmative. With these exceptions.the Republicans voted solidly against the bill, the Democrats all supporting it. Mahone and Riddleberger dodged the vote. The House of Representatives resumed discussion of the Shipping bill. Candler’s free-ship amendment was agreed to by 125 to 104. Holman’s amendment, providing that 50 per cent, of the drawback shall be paid to the laborers employed in the construction of any vessel, was rejected. Mr. Ingalls introduced a biU in the Senate, on the 11th inst, to provide for determining the existence of inability in the President. Bills were passed to extend the jurisdiction of Justices of the Peace in Idaho, Washington and Montana, and to grant to the St Louis and San Francisco road the right of way through the Fort Smith military reservation. Nearly four hours were spent in executive session on the Mexican claims treaty, recently signed by Secretary Frelinghuysen. In the House, Mr. Butterworth reported a bill authorizing the Southern Pacific, Chesapeake and Ohio, and connecting roads, to form a transcontinental route. A resolution was adopted calling for information as to the land-grant roads had complied with the laws in regard to the maintenance of telegraph lines for the use of the Government and the public. The Shipping bill was taken up, ana a committee substitute was adopted limiting the amount of drawback tonnage tax collected in any one year. The section exempting from State taxation vessels engaged in the foreign carrying trade was stricken out, as were also the drawback, free-ship and free-material provisions, and the bill was passed. Mr. Ingalls introduced a bill in the Senate on the 13th inst for the appointment oi seven Commissioners from civil life to investigate and report on the subject of railroad transportation, at a compensation of $lO per day and traveling expenses. The House passed the Pension Appropriation bilk which sets aside $86,575,900, beside an unexpended balance of $15,800,000, and the Fortification Appropriation bill, which covers $325,000. The Sneaker laid before the House a letter from tne Clerk. calUng attention to the necessity of making some provision for the in. creased representation in the next Congress. Remonstrances were presented in the Senate on the 15th against a reduction of the duty on tin plate, against an increase of the duty on china and against the interference with the duty on cotton-seed oil Mr. Voorhees offered a petition from Indiana favoring legislation to end the monopoly of the regular school in medical service under the Government Some work was done on

the Tariff MIL In the House, a petition was presented from shareholders in the Centennial Exposition, asking for an appropriation topay the deficit A Mil was introduced to convene the next Congress on the first Monday of March. Mr. Belmont offered a resolution asking the Ways and Means Committee to report forthwith whether any class of industry requires support from the Federal Government, in the form of bounty, subsidy or charity. Mr. Geddes Introduced a bill allowing newspapers to be sent free to actual subscribers. The Speaker presented the report of a naval advisory board in favor of completing tow ironclads,