Rensselaer Republican, Volume 18, Number 34, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 29 April 1886 — CONGRESSIONAL. [ARTICLE]

CONGRESSIONAL.

The Work of the Senate and Hon** of Representatives. Mu. Butler Introduced a bill in the Senate on the 20th nmt. authorizing the I’resident to retire certain army officers. The Senate, in executive session, rejected the proposed treaty to reopen the Weil and L'Abra claims against Mexico. Among the heuate confirmations wore a number ot Western men for various offices. Included in, the same was Znch Montgomery to lie AißiHtant Attorney General of the Interior Department. Thu majority of tlie Wave and Means Committee reported to tho Houle of Representatives a Joint resolution to give notice of the termination of the jtnwultan treaty. Tint minority,only expressed its dissent. Mr.) O'Donnell, of (Michigan, from tho Committeo on Education, reported a Senate bill to provide for the study of the nature of alcoholic drinks anil narcotics and thoir effects upon tho human sxstom in the Military and Naval Academies, and iu the Indian and public schools of tho Territories and of the District of Columbia. A bill to give honorably discharged soldiers the preference ill SliliUc appointments was introduced in the busq, A favorable report was made on Mr. Anderson's bill for tlie adjustment of Kansas land grants. ... w Senator Mo no an, of Alabama, introduced in the Senate, on April 21, his bill of last December directing tho Attorney General to bfing suit in equity against Benjamin Weil in tho Snpreme Court of the District of Columbia to determine whether the award made by the United States and Mexican Mixed Commission, or any part of it, was secured by fraud, and to recover the money which may have been paid to Weil; also a similar bill with resjioot to the awards mado to the L'Abra Silver Mining Company. By a vote of 45 to 15 the Senate connrmed the nomination of William C. West, of Kentucky, for Governor of Utah. In the House of Representatives a bill was reported to pension Union soldiers who were prisoners, during the Into war. The Library Counnitteo reported to the House a bill for the erection of a monument Over the grave of Gen. Daniel Morgan. The House adopted a resolution calling on the Commissioner of Agriculture for information as to the amount of wheat and com on hand in this country, where it is located, tho number of acres of winter and spring wheat now in the ground, tho amount likely to be required for exjiortation, and other information oil the subject. A bill appropriating $15,000 in aid of a national monument at Plymouth, Mass., passed the Senate April 22. The bill taxing railroad lands was discussed without action. The Senate confirmed, among other nominations, those of W. S. Rosecrans, Register of the Treasury, and E. Gross, Governor of New Mexico. The nomination of A. B. Keith, Postmaster at Denison, lowa, was rejected. The Senate removed the injunction of secrecy from the report in the case of George Wise, nominated to be Postmaster at Hamburg, lowa. Wise brought charges of partisanship and inefficiency against, Coolbaugh, the incumbent, and the latter was removed. The committee's report submits evidence furnished by ! Coolbaugh, which, it says, completely disproves ; Wise’s charges. The committee advises the reI jection of Wise’s nomination. The House of Representatives, in committee of the whole on i the river and harbor bill, adopted _ a clause appropriating ¥121,200 for the imi provement of the Monongahela River. I The House passed the Adams bill relating to l the oaths of ship-masters, owners, or factors on making entries or reports. President Cleveland sent to both houses a special message urging the creation of a commission of labor, charged with the consideration and settlement of controversies between capital and labor, to be engrafted upon tho Bureau of Labor. The President's message on the labor question came up in the House on the 23d, and was * referred to the Committee on Labor, with instructions to report on or before May 15. Mr. Butterworth moved its reference to the committee of the whole, but the proposition was rejected by a vote of 147 to 77. The struggle over the reference of the bill gave rise to a lively debate. Mr. But. ! terworth attacked the President’s message and ; charged the Democrats with fishing for votes i among laboring men. Mr. Randall defended the President. He declared that thoro was hot i a word in the message that appealed in any i particular to any party, or any sot, or any class of men in the United States. On the contrary, j it appealed to Congress as a body of American | citizens wishing for the public welfare. Messrs. Weaver (Iowa), -Gibson (W. Va.), O'Neill (Mo.), McCreary (Ky.), and Springor (Ill.) supported the motion to refer, to the Committee on Labor, and Mr. Reed (Maine) opposed it. The House, at the instigation of Mr. Voorbees, delegate from Washington Territory, adopted a resolution for the appointment of a sole.ct committee to inquire whether , any ex member of the House having the privilege of the floor is agent or attorney for any corporation interested in any claim or bill now ponding. The Senate was not in session. Bills to permit the Covington and Cincinnati Road to bridge the Ohio River, and to punish robbery and horse-stealing in Indian Territory, passed the House of Representatives April 24. Thiß was the only work performed by thi-Houso on that day that, is worth recording. , TJig Senate did nothing, not being in session.