Alexandria Gazette

ASSOCIATED PRESS DISPATCHES
Proceedings of Congress.
WASHINGTON, D. C., April 25.
SENATE.

After some unimportant business the Senate resumed consideration of the railroad land forfeiture bill, and Mr. Call went on with his argument in favor of the amendment offered by him as to the forfeiture of railroad lands in Florida.

Pending the discussion, the Senate, on motion of Mr. Gibson, took up and passed the House joint resolution appropriating $150,000 to be used by the Secretary of War for the relief of destitute persons in the district overflowed by the Mississippi river and its tributaries.

The consideration of the land forfeiture bill was then resumed.

HOUSE.

Mr. O'Neill, of Pennsylvania, presented the proceedings of a meeting of business men of Philadelphia and a memorial with 1,000 signatures and the signatures of the Board of Trade of that city asking the aid of Congress in the promotion of the building of American ships to trade with foreign ports and to establish direct mail communication with the western coast of Africa. Referred

Mr. Flower, of New York, presented a petition of 75 dry goods commission houses and woolen manufacturers of New York city asking for the passage of the bill classifying worsted with woolen.

The House went into committee of the whole on the legislative appropriation bill.

On motion of Mr. Sayers, of Texas, an amendment was adopted providing that hereafter every application for examination before the civil service commission shall be accompanied by a certificate of an officer with his official seal attached of the county and State of which the applicant claims to be a citizen.

On motion of Mr. Cummings, of New York, an amendment was adopted providing for the "actual" travelling expenses of the commission, instead of "necessary" travelling expenses as provided in the bill.

Mr. Butterworth gave notice that he would ask for a separate vote in the House on this amendment, saying that "actual" travelling expenses might bankrupt the Government.