Rensselaer Republican, Volume 22, Number 27, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 6 March 1890 — NATIONAL CONGRESS. [ARTICLE]

NATIONAL CONGRESS.

The Senate on the 25th considered fee Saunders Florida resolution and the Blair educational bill without making apparent progress in either case. The Hotfse on the 25th passed a number of unimportant bills. The Senate Oklahoma bill was considered. The bill to discoTrtiwMr' the coinage the—one "and three dollar gold pieces and the three cent nickle piece was passed. A bill was passed to permit the Director of the mint ' to make changes in the designs of- current coins. ’ In the Senate on the 26th Mr. Chandler presented a petition from Union county, Arkansas, representing that, at the State . election there in September, 1888. a system fctic reign of terror prevailed; that armed and reckless mobs paraded the county, day and night, terrorizing whites, and shooting and whipping colored voters; that schools and churches had been demoralized and ballot boxes carried off; and asking for the protection guaranteed by the Constitution. Mr. Berry called it a lot of rot and filth. Twenty-six pension and private bills were passed; also the following: Providing for a steam vessel for the use of the civil government of Alaska, appropriating 150,000 for the vessel and SII,OOO for annual expenses; appropriating SIOO,OOO for enlargement of the public building at Topeka, Kan.; to provide for the judicial determination of the controversy between the TTnitsti States and the State of Texas relating to a certain tract of land by them respectively claimed (Greer county]. The Blair educational bill was considered.

The House considered the AtkinsonPendleton contested election case. All the speeches were confined to analyses [of the evidence, and were dry and uninteresting. The only life infused into the debate was contributed by Mr. Groenhalge, of Massachusetts, who, while addressing himself to the evidence, did so with so and applause from both sides of the House. His quiet reference as to the “extreme leniency with which the Speaker treats the other side of the House” was thoroughly enjoyed; and his humorous dissection -of the minority report “highly entertained the House The Senate on the 27th had the antitrust bill before it. Mr. Sherman, who reported the bill from the committee on finance, said that he had been instructed by the committee to move to striko out the third section (which fixes penalties for the offense of entering into trusts or combinations.) Mr. George argued against the constitutionality of the hill. He also said that it would bo impossible to secure prosecutions under it,and that civil splits under it could not be successful. No action was taken on the measure. A bill appropriating $75,000 for a statute to Columbus at the Capital was passod.

The House on the 27th unseated Pendleton of West Virginia, and gave the Democrats the iong-sdught opportunity to test the constitutionality of Speaker Reed’s plan of “counting a quorum.” Mr. Pendleton spoke on the resolution unseating him. He said that he felt it his duty to speak in his own behalf, although he knew that he was addressing a jury prejudiced against him. He believed that he had carried the First district of West Virginia by means as fair, as honorable, as' upright, as had ever been used in any election in the history of the country. He reviewed the evidence in detail, and, in conclusion, reiterated his declaration that ho had been fairly and honestly elected. On tho motion to declare Pendleton entitled to retain his seat, no quorum voted. The vote then recurred on tiie majority resolution, seating Atkinson, The Democrats refrained from voting, their object being to have the contestant seated by less than a quorum, so that the question of the right of the Speaker to OOUSt a quorum may be taken before tho eourte. The vote resulted—yeas 162, nays aone (the Speaker counting a quorum.) Mr. O’Ferrall raised the point of no (piorum, but the Speaker ignored him; and the newly elected member appeared at the bar of the House and took the oath of office amid applause on the Republican side. Bills were introduced. Other bills were reported from committees. The urgency deficiency bill was considered. In the Senate on the 28th, Mr. Blair again called attention to the fact that the newspapers do not print his spoeches on the educational bill. The dependent pen •lon bill was considered. Adjourned until Monday. The House passed the urgency deficiency appropriation bill. As stated elsewhere it appropriates $23,650,000. At the night session forty-five private pension bills were passed.