Rensselaer Republican, Volume 20, Number 40, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 7 June 1888 — WASHINGTON ITEMS. [ARTICLE]

WASHINGTON ITEMS.

The river and harbor bill as reported from the Senate committee, Monday, appropriates $21,388,783, an increase of sl,783,000 over the House hill. The public debt statement shows a decrease of the debt during May of $1,618,605,96, The total cash in the treasury is $606,971,049,03; net cash surplus, $94,706,617.08. Mr. Taulbee, of Kentucky, a Demo crat, Friday announced that he did not propose to be bound by the party caucus. Atthepropertinae he woukl move an amendment to the tariff bill, putting lumber on the dutiable list at to per cent, ad valorem. There is not much probability of anything being done with Colonel Steele’s bill to equalize the bounties of soldiers and sailors at the present setsion. The military committee have taken no action thereon, although it has been under consideration. It proposes to allow each enlisted man eight and one-third dollars a month for all the time served in the war.

The Senate committee op the judiciary failed again Friday to reach a conclusion in regard to the nomination of Melville W. Fuller to be Chief Justice. It is understood that further information from Chicago is awaited. The most serious of the clrarges brought against Mr. Fuller are those from Mr. Dunlevy, of Chicago. They allege that the clerk of the court and Mr. Fuller were jury commissioners in 18§1, and that Mr. Fuller drew a jury before which a cage in which he was himself heavily interested was tried. The result, according to Dunlevy, was a verdict for Fuller and the consequent recovery of a large and valuable tract of swamp land. The committee has telegraphed for a transcript of the records and will await its receipt, A small 1 Democratic caucus was held Wednesday night on the the Mills bill. Mr. Springer introduced a new resolution binding all Democrats to vote in the House for the bill as it comes from the caucus, and only for such amendments as are preeented in the House by the Democratic members of the Ways and Means Committee. The North Carolina men said they wanted an entire repeal of the tobacco tax, "and they also served notice upon the caucu&that the California memto vote for a proposition .to remove the tax on fniit brandy —let it come from the caucus refused to include tlmt-provision in the bill. The resolution was wiliF drawn. It was then determined to call up the bill after the legislative bill had been disposed of. Before adjourning the Springer resolution was passed.