Hand County Press

CONGRESSIONAL

In the House of Representatives, on Feb. 25, Mr. Henderson asked unanimous consent to refer to the Committee on Military Affairs the Senate bill retiring Gen. Grant, but Mr. Springer objected. A resolution was passed to form a select committee of nine to consider all questions relating to woman's rights. Mr. Stephens reported a bill authorizing the coinage of silver dollars and fractions thereof on the metric system. Mr. Grout reported a bill to establish the Territory of North Dakota. When in committee of the whole on the Postoffice Appropriation bill, Mr. Springer caused the passage of an amendment that all correspondence on official business shall be transmitted in penalty envelopes. The committee rose and reported the bill to the House. The amendment authorizing the Postmaster General, in case of the sub-letting of a mail contract, to arrange with the sub-contractor, was agreed to. The bill then passed.

There was no session of the Senate.

Mr. Windom reported resolution to the Senate, on the 28th ult., instructing the Committee on Foreign Relations to report on the alleged abstraction of important papers from the office of the Secretary of State, as also upon the charges that our representatives in France and Peru had been concerned in contracts with those Governments or whether other officials had been so involved.

Mr. Vest introduced a bill for a public building at Hannibal, and Mr. Ingalls presented an act authorizing the President to appoint Alfred Pleasonton a brevet Major General and place his name on the retired list. The Postoffice Appropriation bill was passed. The Chinese Immigration bill was taken up. While Mr. Miller was airing his views four members of the Chinese Legation appeared in the gallery, but retired as soon as they learned what subject was under discussion. The nominations of Messrs. Conkling and Sargent were reported favorably to the Senate, in executive session, and went over to the next executive session, under the rule. Mr. Gibson introduced a joint resolution for a committee of sixteen to attend the anniversary of the discovery of the mouth of the Mississippi river. Bills were passed authorizing the bridging of the Mississippi at Keithsburg, Ill., and appropriating $100,000 to continue work on the harbor of Galveston. Three reports were submitted in regard to the Utah contested election, the majority favoring the rejection of both Campbell and Cannon. The House then went into committee of the whole on the Military Academy Appropriation bill, which was passed. Mr. Robinson introduced a bill to organize the National Labor League Railway Company of America, to run from New York to Council Bluffs, with a capital of $40,000,000.

Mr. Vest offered a bill in the Senate, on the 1st inst., to prohibit the issue of notes by the national banks organized or reorganized after July 1. The resolutions for an investigation into the Chili-Peruvian imbroglio, after being amended to include any promise of intervention by officials of the United States, were passed. Mr. Voorhees made a long speech upon the necessity of better accommodations for the Congressional library. The Chinese bill was taken up, and Mr. Hoar spoke against the measure. Mr. Kellogg introduced a resolution for an appropriation sufficient, when combined with local revenues, to give all children in the States and Territories a good common-school education. Mr. McDonald presented resolutions of the Iowa Legislature asking the amendment of the patent laws to prevent unjust exactions. In the House, a bill to make Denver port of delivery was passed. Bills were reported favorably to stop the coinage of trade dollars and exchange those now out for standard silver pieces; to adopt a meter to measure the quantity and test the gravity and temperature of distilled and malt liquors; to provide for organizing, arming and disciplining the militia; for the distribution of pure vaccine virus, and for the erection of public building at Detroit. The contested Louisiana election case of Lanier vs. King was dismissed. A resolution was adopted that the Secretary of the Interior examine and report upon the bill to create a sinking fund for the Sioux City and Pacific road. The Indian Appropriation bill, covering $4,920,203, was perfected and passed.

Mr. Platt made a favorable report to the Senate, on the 2d inst., on the bill to regulate practice in patent cases. Mr. Gorman offered a resolution directing the Postmaster General to transmit a statement of the cost of fast mails and a list of railroad companies which performed the services. Mr. Vance offered a resolution, which was laid over, reciting that in the Sixth District of North Carolina the cost of collecting internal revenue was 60 per cent. greater than in any other district in the United States, and asking for a committee of three to investigate charges against the officials. Mr. Conger made a favorable report on the House bill to better the life-saving service, with amendments providing for pensions for widows and children of keepers losing their lives. Messrs. Farley and Hoar debated the Chinese Immigration bill, when the Senate went into executive session. Roscoe Conkling was confirmed as Associate Justice by 39 yeas to 12 nays, among the latter being Hoar, Dawes, Morrill and Hawley. The other eight voting against confirmation were Democrats. The nomination of Aaron A. Sargent to be Minister to Germany was approved without division. In the House, the Oregon contested-election case of McDowell vs. George was dismissed. Debate on the Consular and Diplomatic Appropriation bill, which sets aside $1,198,530, took a wide range, and resulted only in outlining party action in the future. The Senate amendments to the Post-Route bill were concurred in.

Mr. Butler presented a memorial in the Senate, on the 3d, from citizens of South Carolina for national aid in the education of the youth of that State. Mr. Hoar reported adversely on the petitions in regard to the celebration of the discovery of the mouth of the Mississippi. Bills were passed to compile and print the naval history of the war; to reduce the charge for licenses to engineers and pilots, and to make Denver a port of delivery. The Chinese bill gave rise to a prolonged and spirited debate. In the House of Representatives, Mr. Gibson introduced a bill to appropriate $6,113,000 for improvements along the Mississippi river. A bill was passed to reduce fees for licenses to officers of steam vessels. The Committee on Foreign Affairs was granted leave to sit during sessions of the House, to investigate the Chili-Peruvian correspondence.