Rensselaer Republican, Volume 17, Number 22, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 5 February 1885 — CONGRESSIONAL, [ARTICLE]

CONGRESSIONAL,

The Work of the Senate and House of Representatives. ■ Messages were laid before the Senate on the 28th nit. regarding the landing of foreign cabjes in the United States and as to the status of the Oklahoma lands. These lands, the President maintains, cannot under existing treaties be opened for settlement. Mr. Hoar reported a new bill to provide for the settlement of the claims of the Government against the original Pacific railroads, the plan being to extend the subtridv debt fortysix years beyond the present date of maturity, the roads to pay S graduated proportion of the new bonds every six months. In the House, bills were introduced and referred as follows: By Mr. Curtin, appropriating $25,000 for experiments with American-made steel armor for naval vessels; by Mr. Patton, to promote the efficiency of the army by the voluntary retirement of officers who entered the service during the late war. Mr. Slocum, from the Committee on 'JfOifUT Affairs, reported back a resolut on requesting the President to transmit to the House a copy of the recent appeal of Fitz John Porter, together with accompanying papers. Mr. Steele moved to lay the resolution on the table. Lost—s 9 to 116. The resolution passed—yeas. 179; nays. 77. Speaker Carlisle laid before the House a recommendation' by the President that special rewards in the way of medals, watches, and money be sent to Russian officials and citizens who aided the survivors of the Jeannette. A resolution was adopted directing the Committee on Elections to report the status of J. S. Robinson, formerly representing the Ninth Ohio District, now Secretary of that State. The House refused to act on the Mexican treatv or the Michigan land-erant forfeiture bills, and filibustering continned until the hour of adjournment. The following memorials from State Legislatures were presented to the Senate on the 29th nit.: By McMillan, of Minnesota, urging the purchase of the Portage Lakq and Lake Superior Ship Canal by the Goveminent for the purpose of making it a free water-way; by Harrison, of Indiana, urging the passage of a bill to pension prisoners confined in Confederate prisons during the late war; by Cameron, of Pennsylvania, urging the passage of a biU to prohibit the Importation of contract labor and urging the passage of a bill to make the trade dollar legal tender. An adverse report was made on Mr. Cullom’s-bill for the voluntary retirement'of army officers who served during the rebellion. The motion to postpone further consideration of the Nicaraguan treaty was defeated by a close vote. Mr. Sherman's amendment to the treaty looking to the abrogation or modification of the ClaytonBulwer treaty was discussed at length, and wa3 finally adopted. A vote was then taken upon the treaty itself. Thirty-two Senators votedfor it and twenty-three against it. The affirmative vote being less thanlthe requisite two-thirds, the treaty was not ratnied. The following is understood to be the vote in detail: Yeas—Aldrich, Allison, Bowen, Cameron (Wis.), Chace, Conger, Cnliom, Edmunds, Frye, Hale. Harrison. Hawley, Hoar, Jonas, Jones (Fla.). Jones (Nev.), Lapham, McMillan, Mahone, Manderson, Maxey, Miller (Cal.), Morgan, Palmer, Pendleton, Pike, Piatt, Pugh, Sawyer, Sherman, Van Wyck, Wilson—32. Nays—Bayard, Beck, Butler. Call, Camden, Cockrell, Coke, Colquitt, Garland, George, Gibson, Gorman, Groome, Hampton, Harris, Jackson, Henna, Lamar, Ransom, Riddleberger, Saulsbury, A’ance Vest—23. In the House of Representatives the Committee on Ways and Means reported a' joint resolution providing for the admission free of duty of articles from foreign countries to be placed on exhibition at the World’s Exposition of Arts to be held by the colored race la. Chicago. By a vote of 154 to 144 the House declined to instruct the committee to consider the bill to carry into effect the Mexican treaty. Discussion of the river and harbor bill followed. A memorial from a number of naval officers protesting against the proposed resolution giving the thanks of Congress to Commander Schley and Lieut. Emory, was presented in the Senate on the 30th ult. It is urged that the passage of the resolution would advance these officers one grade, and that their services in connection with the Greely expedition do not entitle them to such marked distinction. Resolutions providing that the two houses of Congress shall assemble in the hall of the House Wednesday, Feb. 11, to connt the electoral vote were passed. Mr. Hoar called up the bill for a settlement of the subsidy debt of the Pacific roads, and explained at considerable length that the measure was designed by the Judiciary Committee as a .fair adjustment with the present stockholders, only one-sixth of whom can be classed as speculators. The Pacific Railway and interstate commerce bills were discussed at some length. President Arthur sent to the House of Representatives a message asking authority to return the steamer Alert to the British Government, with a suitable acknowledgment for the courtesy which Srompted her tender for the Greely expedition, o thing else of Interest transpired in the Honee. The river and harbor bill solely occupied the attention of the Honse of Representatives, at its sitting on the3lst ult. Messrs Mills and. Blanchard urged the appropriation of $760,000 for Capt. Eads to commence improvements at Galveston. Arguments against the scheme were made by Messrs Bayne and Thomas. The Senate was not in session.