Rensselaer Republican, Volume 17, Number 16, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 25 December 1884 — CONGRESSIONAL. [ARTICLE]

CONGRESSIONAL.

The Work of the Senate and House of Representatives. Mr, Van Wyck, of Nebraska, introduced i two bills in the Senate, on Dec. 17, which are of' great importance to trans-Missouri interests and which are intended to correct evils that have long existed there. The first bill provides that no telegraph company shall charge more from. the Missouri Rive/ to the Pacific coast than the average rate from the Missouri River to the seaboard. The second bill provides that all railroad companies that have received any assistance from the Government or any privileges from Congress shall not be allowed to receive for passengers pr freight more than the average rate throughout the country lor the trans-Mis-souri region. Mr. Slater, of Oregon, introduced a bill to provide that no statute of limitation heretofore enacted shall be deemed to prohibit the adjudication of a claim for compensation tor property lost in the military service of the United States when such loss is a matter of record in any official record of the War or Treasury Department It is provided. however, that this shall not be construed to extend to any classes of-property other than those for the loss of which compensation has been authorized by existing laws. The Chair submitted a communication from the Secretary of the Navy stating that he had ordered two civil engineers apd an ensign to visit Nicaragua and survey a route for the proposed canal. Mr. Hawes presented a petition for canceling the lease of grazing lands made by the Crow Indians to cattle-raisers. The Senate passed the naval appropriation hilt In the executive session Mr. Kiddle berger again spent an hour in opposing the confirmation of Secretary McCulloch. In the House of .Representatives there was a long debate on the interstate commerce bill, which referred chiefly to the color-line in the South; Mr. Mills offered an amendment, which was adopted, limiting railroad charges for transporting passengers from one .State to another to 3 cents per mile. Mr. Goff moved the interpolation of the words "provided that no discrimination be made on account of race or color.” This was also agreed to. A communication from the 1 Attorney General in response to the resolhtion asking his opinion in regard to the Application of the eighthour law to letter carriers was read. The Attorney General said that he must decline to furnish the advice requested, on tho ground that it. was not consistent with law or precedent for him to give advioe to Congress but' only to the President and the heads of the executive departments.

Among the bills introduced in the Ponate on the 18th were two by Mr. Van Wyok—one to increase the pensions of widows and dependent relatives of deceased soldiers and sailors; the other to grant pensions to invalid and dependent soldiers who served three months during the war of the rebellion. The interstate commerce bill, "reported by Mr. Cullom, was discussed, and Mr. Cnllom spoke at length in its support. Mr. Blater offered an amendment embodying the provisions of the Reagan bill. A resolution directing an investigation into the methods by which copies of the treaties with San Domingo and Nicaragua were secured by the press was tabled after an acrimonious debate. Mr. Vest submitted a joint resolution directing the Secretary of the Navy not to enforce his illegal order for a surveying expedition to Nicaragua. A bill was passed appropriating $50,000 for a statue of Lafayette. A resolution was adopted requiring the Secretary of War to deliver to the Eighth New York Artillery voterans the regimental colors captured by the Confederates. The nomination of Secretary McCulloch was confirmed by a vote of 50 to 1. The President sent tho following nominations to the Senate; Charles C. Waters, to be United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas; James Monroe, United States Marshal tor the Western District of Michigan. Postmasters—Leo T. Goshorn. Piedmont,W. Va.; James Johnson, Sr., Springfield, Ohio; August Beadles, Cresco, iowa; Wallace G. Agnew, Osceola, Iowa; Nimrod lleadington, Portland, Ind.; William H. Hart, Frankfort, Ind.; Thomas J. Lucas, Lawrenceburg, Ind.; Abbie M. Lawton, Griggsville, 111.; John Gordon, Jacksonville, HL In the House of Representatives, the interstate commerce bill was amended to provide that the furnishing to passengers of separate accommodations with equal facilities and comforts shall not lie deemed a discrimination. Mr. Curtin introduced a joint resolution to forward to the proposed American exhibition in Tsmdon t.heGovernment exhibits now on display at New Orleans, for which purpose $300,060 is to be appropriated.

A memorial from the New York Produce Exchange was laid before the Senate on the 19th urging immediate and definite aotlon upon the Spanish treaty. The bill ratifying the treaty of 1880 with the Indians on Fort BUII and Lembi Reservations in Idaho, for the sale of a portion of their lands, was passed, as was also the biU granting the Lost Lake <fc Mount Hood Improvement Company light of way through Oregon. Mr. George addressed the Senate on the interstate commerce bill, severely criticising the dishonest methods of railroads, particularly the pooling system. Mr. Hale reported that the conference committee on the naval appropriation bill had been unable to agree, and moved that the Senate insist upon its amendment. The motion was unanimously carried. Bills were introduced, for the erection of a public building at Stillwater, Minnesota, at a cost of 1100,000, and to donate the barracks at New Orleans to the Louisiana Agricultural College. The President sent to tha Senate the name of Frank W. palmer for reappointment as Postmaster at Chicago, his term having expired. In the House, the bill authorizing the construction of a bridge across the Mississippi River at Rock Island was passed. Consideration of the interstata commerce bill was resumed, and a long discussion ensued, which resulted iu the passage of the section of the bill prohibiting pooling arrangements by railroad companies. A communication from the Secretary of the Interior was laid before the House asking au appropriation of SIO,O 0 for the imSroveinent ot the Yellowstone National Park. [r. Blanchard introduced a joint resolution proposing a constitutional amendment providing that the power vested in the Executive to make treaties by and with the consent of the Senate-V— 11 not be construed to embrace reciprocity treaties involving revenues. Thespeakdsubmitted a memorial from John G. Thompson, formerly sergeant-at-arms, asking an appropriation to pay the judgment secured against him by Hallet Kil bourne. The Senate, at its session on Dec. 20, refused- concurrence in the House resolution for ‘ an adjournment to Jan. 5. The announcement that the House had passed a bill making temporary provision for the navy 1 d to strong language, but no action was taken theieon. A secret session was, held to oonsider the resolution opposing the expedition to Nicaragua. Frank W. Palmer was confirmed as Postmaster at Chicago. The House of Representatives passed a bill making provisions for the support of the navy during the month of January. After the debate on the interstate commerce bill, a motion to strike outthe seotion prohibiting railroads from charging a greater compensation for short than for long freight > hauls was defeated. An adjournment to Wednesday, Dec. 44, was ordered, with an understanding that conseoutive adjournments for three days at a time would be taken until Jan. S.