The Jasper Weekly Courier

FIFTY-FIRST CONGRESS.

In the Senate, on the 8th, Mr. Vance reported a bill appropriating $50,000 for the purchase of an oil portrait of Abraham Lincoln which appeared in the calendar. Mr. Manderson presented a letter from the Secretary of the Interior in connection with the Hartwell case. The resolution offered by Mr. Blair for the sale of the seals in the North seas by the Government was referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations. In the House, the Senate amendment to the Dependent and Disability Pension bill was referred to conference. The Senate bill was then taken up, discussed, amended and passed. The Senate was not in session on the 9th. The House insisted upon its amendment to the Territorial bill and a committee of conference was appointed. The Naval Appropriation bill was taken up and its provisions extensively explained by Mr. Herbert of Alabama. The bill was discussed at some length and reported from committee and placed on the calendar. The Post-office Appropriation bill and the Senate bill for the relief of the town of Flagstaff, Ariz., was passed. In the Senate, on the 10th, the credentials of Mr. Manderson were presented and placed on file. The Texas Election case, the Fisheries treaty and the Anti-Trust bill were each taken up and discussed. The Private Land Claim bill was then brought forward and its consideration constituted the chief business of the day's session. A conference was ordered on the Consular and Diplomatic bill and the Senate adjourned. In the House, the calling of the roll for the introduction of bills was interrupted by dilatory tactics to prevent consideration of the Union Pacific Funding bill. The Senate amendments to the Consular and Diplomatic Appropriation bill were concurred in and a conference asked. An evening session was held in which no important business was transacted.

The House joint resolution for the payment of the claim of the representatives of the late James B. Eads was passed. The Legislative, Executive and Judicial Appropriation bill was taken up and amended, and the conference report on the Inter-State Commerce law was read, but neither measure was finally disposed of. In the House the Nicaragua Canal bill was considered. Objection was raised to the House proceeding from the amendment requiring, on the ratification of the treaty, a proviso declaring that the Government should not be liable on account of the loaning and discussion of the question occupied the remainder of the session. In the Senate, on the 11th, various bills granting right of way through Indian reservations were passed. The Legislative, Executive and Judicial Appropriation bill was taken up-the pending question being the amendment to it to increase the clerical force of the Civil-Service Commission-and a lengthy discussion ensued which turned principally upon the derelictions of the Post-office Department. In the House, the conference report on the Nicaragua Canal bill was taken up and discussed at length and passed. A resolution was adopted calling on the Secretary of the Treasury for information concerning changes in the commander of the United States revenue cutter Bear in regard to the protecting of the seal fisheries in Behring sea for 1889 and later.