Rensselaer Republican, Volume 17, Number 15, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 18 December 1884 — NATIONAL LAW-MAKERS. [ARTICLE]

NATIONAL LAW-MAKERS.

Brief Summitry of the Proceed* ings of Congress. Th* Chair laid before the Senate on the 10th Inst, kit invitation to that body from-the Commissioners of the New Orleans Exposition to participate in the opening of the Exposition on Deo. 16. The communication was laid -on the table, that being the usual formal disposition of such documents in the Senate when no special or immediate disposition is demanded by any Senator. Mr. Vest, on behalf of the Committee on Commence, requested that the committee be dlscbarged from the consideration of the interoceanic ship railway bill. Mr. Vest statqd that he had received a letter from Capt. Eades saying certain changes had been made in the concession from Mexico, which made it necessary to withdraw the bill. The committee was accordingly discharged from the consideration of the bill, which was ordered to be withdrawn from the" files of the Senate. Mr. Vest presented several memorials from Dakota in opposition to its admission as a State, and claimed that the movement was engineered by ambitions Territorial politicians. A bill was Introduced to increase to $500,000 the appropriation for a public building at Minneapolis. The interoceanic shiprailway measure was withdrawn from the files. The House of Representatives' passed the West Point appropriation bill. A joint resolution was introduced setting aside SIOO,OOO for American representation in the Exposition at Antwerp next year. The interstate commerce bill was discussed.

The Oregon Central land forfeiture bill was again taken up in the Senate on the llth inst., and the amendment of Mr. DoJph was agreed to protecting the right of settlers on the forfeited lands. Further discussion of the measure was postponed, and consideration of the bill for the admisson of Southern Dakota was resumed. Mr. Harrison replied to Mr. Vest’s attack upon the bill, and inquired of Mr. Vest what number of inhabitants should in his opinion entitle a Territory to admission to the Union. Mr. Vest replied that the spirit of the Constitution required at least a population sufficient to entitle it to representation in the Honse; but even if Dakota had a population sufficiently large to fulfill this condition other circumstances must of necessity enter into a decision of the question of its admission as a State. Mr. Cockrell expressed himself as opposed to the admission of new Territories with large area and small population. He would not be satisfied to admit Dakota if it had four times the population necessary to entitle it to representation in Congress. Mi-. Van Wyck offered a resolution that as the commercial treaty negotiated with Spain had been given to the public, a rule be adopted for its consideration in open session. A joint resolution was adopted appointing the 21st of February for the ceremonies connected with the completion of the Washington monument. Adjourned to Monday, the 15th. In the House, Congressman Hancock, of the Committee on Appropriations, reported the invalid pension appropriation MIL It was referred to the committee of the whole. Consideration of the Interstate commerce bill being resumed, Mr. Glascock attacked the railroad-pool system, and advocated its strict prohibition. A general understanding was arrived at that the debate shall close the next day the subject is taken np as between the substitute of Mr. liegan and the committee bill. Mr. Regan has modified his motion, and now offers his proposition only as a substitute for the remedial features of the committee” bill. Mr. Hiscock offered a resolution for the appointment of a joint committee to investigate the capacity of the canals of the State of New York and ascertain if they are sufficient for the requirements of interstate commerce. A resolution was adopted calling upon the Secretary of the Interior for information concerning the fees of claim-agents in pension cases. In the House of Representatives, on the 12th inst., a concurrent resolution was passed regretting the inabjjitv of Congress to.be present at the opening of the New Orleans Exposition, and requesting the President of the Senate, together with a committee of thirteen Senators and the Speaker of the House, with one Representative or Delegate from each State or Territory, to be present at the Executive Mansion on Dec. 16, when the President would open the exposition by telegraph and start the machinery thereof by electricity from the White House in the presence of the Cabinet and representatives of foreign powers. Mr. Warner, of Ohio, offered a preamble and resolution reciting that Mr. J. D. Taylor, of Ohio, having obtained the permission of the House to extend in the Record certain remarks of his made July 6, had printed instead a written speech containing improper reflections on members of the House and other matters not a legitimate part of the proceedings of the House. Mr. Taylor urged in his own defense the plea that he had only done what was customary. Mr. Rogers joined in the attack upon Mr. Taylor and a row ensued. The Ohio election drifted into the discussion, and somo sharp language was employed on both sides of tho House. Mr. Warner’s resolution was passed. Adjourned to Monday, 15th.