Rensselaer Republican, Volume 20, Number 22, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 2 February 1888 — THE FIFTIETH CONGRESS. [ARTICLE]

THE FIFTIETH CONGRESS.

Ou the 18th the Senate passed a bill reducing price of pastporta from $5 to 11. The bill for refunding the direct tax of 1861 was taken up. Vance offered an amendment extending the provision of t< >e bill to tbe cotton tax collected under the law jot 1862 and subsequent Jaws. Thia amendment brought on a general debate. The amendntenVkaa rejected, ayes 18, nays 46--the ayea being Bate, Berry, Butler, *lll, Coke Daniel, George. Harris, Jones tArk.), Pugh, Quay. Ranson, Reagan, Vance, Walthall and Wilson (Ind.) The MH was Anally parsed by ayes 48, nays 10. Tbe bill directs the Secretary of the Treasury to credit tn each State and Territory, and to the District of Columbia, a sum equal to colleetions n ade there from, or from the dtiaensor inhabitants thereof, or other per-, sons, under the direct tax act of Aug. 1, 1861. It remits all moneys due to the Vulted States under such act, and it appropriates the amount necessai y for the Nimbnnement of the sums collected directly from individuals to be hold In trust by the State tor the benefit of the person from whom they were collected or their legal representative. I ■ In the House Mr. Stone reported a resolution sailing on the Secretary of the Interior for Information as to what legislation is necessary Jo? the disposal of the public timber lands so as to speure, at the same time, the perscrvatlon oi the natural forest lands at the headwaters of navigable rivers, and put within the reach of settlers a legal means of providing the nselves with timber lor building and domestic purposes. Adobted. The agricultural experimental station bill was taken up aud passed. The bill appropriates SSB ,OCO to carry iuto effect the provisions of the not of March, 1887, to ettablish agricultural experiment stations tn connection with the eolleg- - oa established in tbe several States, under the provisions of au net approved July 2, 1862. An attempt to eons der the bank bill was frustrated by the filibustering tactics of Weaver, of lowa. Tbe Senate devoted the 19th almost entirely to executive business and adjourned until the 33d. The House accepted an Invitation to the United States to participate in a Melbourne E< position. The invalid pension appropriation bill was reported to the Mouse. Tbe Wilkins banking bill called up tbe usual filibustering ' tactics. Portraits of Theodore Sedge wick, Jo- I seoh B. Varuum and Nathaniel B. Banks, die- . tiuguished citta ns of Massachusetts who .had occupied tbe Speaker’s chair, were presented to tne House by tbe Stats of Massachusetts, in due form. Randall made the speech on the part of the Hoose.

The House was enlivened on tbe 20th by a war of words between Springer and Kelly,of no particular intereat hi re, however. The Thoebe-Car-Hale e’ecilen eon teat was disarmed, but not finally disposed of iir want of a quorum. In the Senate on the 23d, Mr. Rrye called up the motion to refer to the committee on finance the Preaident’s menage and proceeded to diveute tbe mdtuage, saying that the President had dearly thrown down the gauntlet of free trade. He aigued in opposition to the views of Mr. Cleveknd, and claimed the eurplua is the result of Democratic incapacity. He was in favor of taking the duty off of sugar, but would give a bounty equal to the present duty. Tbe House confirmed the title of Carlisle to his seat; ayes 161, nays 7—but few Republicans voting. A large number of bills were introduced. '7. ' . J -' " ' In the Senate on the 24th, alter the presentation of a message from the President, transmitting the first report cf the board of control as tp management of. Utah industrial homes, Mr. Voorhees introduced bills-for the formation and admission of the State of Montana; Referred. Mr. Hoar called up the motion made by Mr. Gorman some time ago, to reconsider a vote by which tae Senate had ordered a special committee for Pacific railroad matter?. It had been made the abject of special message, he said, and its impcrtancc just fled a special committee Mr. Gorman acquiesed in this view, and modi--fied hianmlion so a« to increase the cnmmittoq to seven. This was concurred! in by a vote of 54 to 15; -The bill -authorizing construction of bridge across Mississippi river at Burlington, lowa. was passed, Mr, Palmer addressed the Senate on the subject of the bill introduced by him on the l.’th ins ant to regulate immigra tion. He disclaimed any intention to prevent any capable, honest, industries, law-abiding person from seeking a home on American soil. The bill was referred to the committee on foreign relations, and the Senate then proaeeded to consideration of the deficency bill. Without disposing of it the Senate adjourned. In the House the follojwng billa were reported: Mr. Oates, of Alabama, a bill making Mils of lading conclusive evidence In certain eases. Placed on calander. Mr. Whitt! orhe, a bill appropriating 81-75,000 for therepair of tho United States steamship Hartford. Referred. A bill for Ihe erection of a building in Washington for the use of the Signal Office. Referred. A bl! to reward Esquimo natives for acts of humanity to shipwrecked seamen. Referred. A resolution was presented calling on the Public Printer for

information ae to whether he haa recently <M»charged or furloughed any of his force, and if £o”fer what reason. Also, whether, in making sush discharges, regard has been had to the statute giving preference in employment to honorably discharged Soldier?. Adopted. The consideration of the re*oluticffi eoncerning the Kort Brown military reservation in Texes, took dp the morning hour. It recites that $160,000 had teen appropriated with which to buy the reservation, that no part of this had been used owing to d nput»s between claimant l , that $59.100 would be a large price to pay, including rent and occupation. Tbe resolution requests Secretary ol War to withold payment. Adopted. A bHI was passed authorizing the con- 1 struction ot a bridge across the Missis sippi river at Memphis Tenn. Mr. Brickin ridge, of Askansas, introduced a bill to rkitborize tho consolidation of custrms coblection districts in certain districts. Referred. It authorizes the President to discontinue any customs district where the revenues are not equal te the expenses, and to appoint deputy collectors at sub-ports when necessary. It also authorizes all fees hereal er received paid into the* Treasury. A bill w*B passed authorizing the ertfstfd'ttlon of a bridge across tho Mississippi river at Lexington, M<k The bill confcnng civil jurisdiction in t e Indian Territory on United States Courts having criminal jurisdiction was passed. Tbe bill granting to the Dulutb, Rainy Lake River A Railroad Company right of way thrsugh certain Ind Un lanis in Minnesota was passed. Mr. Wheeler, of Alabama, offered a resolution for the printing of 5,000 extra copies of the report of »he b ard of visitors to the Military Academy. In off ring the resolution, which was referred. Mr. Wheeler paid a tribute te Mr. Georse W. '"hilds, of ' hiladtlphfa, preei4»it of the board, whose philanthropic gtmeroilty was not bounded by municipal,ties, by Suttee, by sections or by peoples and whose fame extended to races foreign to wa in language and ideas. The House then adjourned,

There are fony manufacturers of rubber clo'binii in the United Stabs capital, t2o,(i(io 000; product for the past year, 15 000,000. Several of the bes< equipped mil's have been obliged to go into liq lidadon. Two associations have been formed, one to make giwamer goods, cheoth r vulcanized goods. “A. 5 p«r cent a ivance Tn prices has been j made for the ensuing year.