The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1855-01-06
Congressional.

Nothing Of special interest has transpircd
in congress during the week. The House
have concured in bill to ccde Boston cor.
ncrs from Massachusetts, to New York.
Mr.. Faulkner reported bill extending
the provisions of the act Of August II, 1918,
to the widows of officers and others dying in
the military service Of the United States.
The Administration is anxious for the m
nexation of the Sandwich Islands, but the
sentiment Of Congress is not favorable to i'm.
mediate action. 1t is desirable to know first
what is to be done in reference to Cuba
They seem indisposcd to take up the subject
until the plan Of the Administration as to the
! latter is known.
On the I'd message was received from
the President giving his reasons for vctong
the River and lIarbor bill Of last session. -
lie vetoed it just before congress- adjourned,
not having time then to examine it. lie con
cludcs that the Houses Of Congress are en-
titled to an expression Of the considerations
which induced him to dissent from their con.
illusions. No such expression as internal
improvements is found in the constitution
and has not sufficient meaning to be of any
value. lie proceeds to examine the various
clauses in that instrument, under which
power for system of internal improvemts
is claimed and comes to the conclusion that
there is no such power given, and no proyis-
ion sufficient to cover them; Congress can
only construct such works as may be neces.
sary to carry out specific plans for the i'm.
proycmcnt Of Rivers and llarbors necessary
for military or naval purposes. The matter
is subject for Legislative discretion.
The message is long one and concludes
by urging upon Congress the policy Of con-
iirming appropriations by the General Gov.
eminent, to works Of absolute necessity, and
from its undoubted powers and leaving all
others to individual enterprise or the rcspcc.
tive states, to be provided for out of their
own resources or by recurrence to the pro-
visions in the constitution which authorize
the improvements with the consent Of Con-
grcss.
The message was laid on the table and
referred to committee of the whole.
Congress seems to be tinkering with the
Swamp Land question, but has accomplish.
cd nothing yet
WASHINGTON, Jan. 4.
The Democratic members of both Houses
met in caucus in the hall of Representatives
to consider the recommendation of the Sec
rotary of the treasury to revise the present
tariff. Mr.. Toucy of Conn, took the chair
and Mr.. Burksdale of Miss, was elected sec.
rotary. a resolution to the following pur.
pose was passed:
Reso'rcd. That it is right and proper that
the duties on goods, wares and merchandise
imported into the United States from foreign
countries sh uld be reduced by Congress at
the present session to the revenue standard.
Washington, Jan. 4.
Scnato,-Thc consideration of Mr.. Brod,
heads bounty land bill was resumed ycstcr.
day p, NJ. Mr.. Stewart of Mich. thought
the operation Of the bill would reduce the
price Of Government land. that 100 acres
would not buy soldier hat that it would
take a $50, 10000 loan to comply with the
provisions Of the bill The debate was con.
tinncd by Mcssrs Thompson, Clayton and
Dodge Of Iowa. ',..