Rensselaer Republican, Volume 17, Number 20, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 22 January 1885 — NATIONAL LAW-MAKERS. [ARTICLE]

NATIONAL LAW-MAKERS.

Brief Summary of* the Proceeding* of Congress. ' ■ U . I Mr. Edmunds’ MU to plaoa Qea. Grant en the retired list with the fall rank cad pay of General passed the Senate after a short debate on toe l*th Inst. The vote stood yeas 49, nays 9. Mr. Edmunds spoke strongly and feelingly in favor of the MIL Among the Democrats .Maxey.Voorhees, George, Gibson, and Jonas spoke in favor. The Senators who voted nay were: Beck, Cockrell, Coke, Harris. Pendleton, Saulsbury, Slater, Vance, and Walker On motion of Mr, Hale the Senate took up Go* naval appropriation bill and passed it, with the committee's amendments. A long debate followed concerning the inter-state commerce bill Resolutions were adopted regretting the death of Schuyler Colfax The House passed a bill appropriating $1,600 to send special messengers to lowa and Oregon to secure duplicate certificates of the electoral vote of those States, which are required by law. The Chinese indemnity fund bill, which also passed, authorizes the President to return to the Chinese Government $68:1,400 in coin. A bill was Introduced by Mr. WeUer ia refund the bonded debt of the United States at 2H> per cent, to reduce taxation on the circulating bank-note currency, and to apply the national revenues economically to the payment of the pnblte debt ~~ Mr. Miller introduced a bill In the Senate, on the 15th, to increase the pension of the widow of General George H. Thomas to SI,OOO per annum. Mr. Hale made a favorable report on a b 11 for the relief of sufferers by the wreck of the Tallapoosa. In executive session Mr. Morgan spoke in support of the treaty with Nicaragua. President Arthur nominated to the Senate Judge William A. Richardson of the Court of Claims 10 be Chief Justice of the Fame court. Assistant Secretary of State Davis was nominated for the vacancy made by Judge Richardson's promotion. Sneaker Carlisle laid before the House of Representatives a request by the Commissioners of the District of Columbia for «iO,Doe to maintain order at the dedication of the Washington monument and during the inaugural ceremonies. The House refused to concur in the Senate amendments to the six-months’ naval appropriation bill. The McPherson lauding bill, to enable national banks to secure 10 per cent, additional circulation, was killed for the session by adjourning for a caucus. The Slater amendment to the interstate commerce bill, prohibiting a greater charges for a stort haul than for a long one, was taken np and discussed in the Senate on the li th. Senators Ingalls and Allison objected to the amendment on the ground that it wonld legalize the charging of as much for a short haul as for a long one. In reply to this it was argned that the railroads now make a practice of charging more for short distances than for long ones. Mr. Vau Wyck made a strong speech against monopolies. Mr. Cameron presented a memorial for improvements in the Monongahela River. Mr. Beck Introduced a bill to adjust the claims of any State for expenses incurred in the defense of the United States. A resolution was adopted directing the erection of a- marble tablet in the room in which occurred the death of Vice President Henry Wilson. A conference committee was appointed on the temporary naval appropriation bilL A memorial was presented from 3,000 cigar- makers of Philadelphia, setting forth that the ratification of the Spanish treaty wonld throw out of tmployment more citizens of the United States ehan there are inhabitants in Cuba and Porto Rico. The House of Representatives passed a bill to authorize the bridging of the Mississippi at Memphis. Mr. Cobb reported the disagreem At of the conference upon the Atlantic and Pacific land-grant forfeiture bill. Mr. Cobb stated that the disagreement between the tup Houses concerned the Morgan amendment plaoed upon the bill by the Senate. Mr. Hlscock moved that the House recede irom its disagreement with the Senate’s amendment The motion was lost and another Conference Committee was appointed. The Senate’s amendments to the Oregon Central land-grant forfeiture bill were non-oon-onrred In. A bill was reported granting a pension of SSO per month to the widow' of Commander S. Dana Green. A petition in favor of the Mexican pension bill, signed by 1.800 persons, was presented by Mr. Wood. The Indian appropriation bill, setting aside $5,064,136, was reported. The bill provides for fine and imprisonment whenever any person shall furnish any Indian with guns or ammunition, except civilized Indians of the Indian Territory. The President is empowered to disarm such Indians as iu his judgment may seem best to preserve the peace and prevent depredations. The bill further provides for punishment by fine and Imprisonment of persons introducing ardent spirits into the Indian country. Mr- Frye, of Maine, Introduced a bill In the Senate, Jan. 17, for the encouragement of the merchant marine, and to promote postal and commercial relations with foreign countries. The Chair laid tßif inter-Stato commerce bill before the' Senate, and after a kmg debate the Slater amendment, prohibiting higher rates for short than for long hauls, was defeated. An amendment proposed by Mr. Allison was agreed to, increasing the number of Commissioners from five to nine, and providing that not more than five of them shall belong to one polltioal party. The amendment provides that the Commissioners shall be selected one from each of the nine Judicial districts of the United States. In the House of Representatives Mr. Gibson rose to a personal explanation and denied that he had un~ favorablv criticised ex-Sponger Randall at the recent Wheeling conference. A resolution was adopted asking the Attorney General concerning the application of the Eight-Hoar law to letter-carriers.