The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1878-03-21
Last NIGHTS Dispatches.
CONGRESS SION A L.
SENATE.

SENATE
WASHINGTON, March 2O.-Considera-
tion was resumed of the Pacific railroad
sinking fund bill, and Mr.. Mitchell spoke
10 favor of the bill reported by the com
mittee on railroads. claiming that it was
in the interest of peace. 1t would termi-
nate the contest, as it recognized the fact
proloDgation OF the controversy would re-
suit in loss to the government This
question was now pending in the courts,
and congress had no right to make any
declaration declaring what should consti
tute net earnings in advance of any de-
cisiou.
Mr.. Thurman said he did not propose to
discuss the bill further now, but at the
proper time he would endeavor to show
the senate that the bill of the committee
of railroads was a new subsidy to these
compromises nearly equal to the bond
subsidy already granted. He thought it
would be better for the government to lose
all duo from these companies than to
give up the right to alter, amend or repeal
their charters, as the bill of the railroad
committee proposed to do.
Mr.. Teller took the floor to speak upon
the bill, but before commencing his argu-
ment the bill was laid oyer,
| The senate then resumed consideration
of the house bill authorizing the secretary
of the treasury to employ temporary clerks
and making appropriations for the same.
Also making appropriations for detect
ing trespassers on public lands and for
bringing into market the public lands in
certain states and for other purposes, the
pending question being on the amendment
of MIR. Beck to the amendment of the COM
mittee on appropriations forbidding any
charge for wood or timber cut on the pub
| lie lands in the territories OF the United
States for the use of actual settlers in the
territories and not for export, so as to pro-
vide that timber should not be exported
from the territory where it grew. Mr..
Beck modified his amendment so as to
provide that in the event of timber being
so exported from the territory,it should be
wherever found.
Pending discussion, Mr.. Conover sub
mitted the following:
| Res0iVed, That the president is hereby
requested to communicate to the senate, if
not incompatible with public interests,
such information as the government has
received respecting the terms and con
ditiOns under which the surrender of Cuban
insurgents has been made, together with
such other information as is in his DOS
session respecting the future policy OF
Spain in the government of the island OF
Cuba.
lie asked for the immediate considera-
tion of the resolution, but objection was
made and it was laid over.
Adjourned.
HOUSE
Under the call for reports the bill from
the printing committee, providing that IN
letting the advertising Of mail contracts
the notices shall be published in briet
form in one or more papers in each state
interested, and that all details shall be
furnished by the postmaster general on
application.
MIR, Hale offered an amendment for
bidding the subletting, under penalty OF
termination OF contract,
Mr. Money advocated this, and said 4
contractor testified before the postal com
mittee that he had four contracts. Fol
one he received $45, 900 and sublet it
paying only $4,000. Thus were tht
people robbed,
MIR. HaIe's amendment was adopted ans
the bill passed.
The house went into committee of th'
whole on the deficiency bill, the question
being regarding pay tor some iaboreTs IL
the New York and other navy yards.
Messrs. Cox and Foster INDUCED in con
!, siderable badinage, in which the latte
accused Mr.. Cox of inconsistency 10 claim
: ing to be leader in the economy of tn,
house and yet of complaining when appro
priations were not made, and said he diC
not speak out maufully for his friends, tht
laborers. as Mr.. Chittenden did, in com
: mittee, but made demagogue appeals t
o benches and in the record,
= MIR. Wbitthorne intimated that the con
: tractors, who might be Cox's constituents
1 got the money destined for the laborers
! The money appropriations had been mis-
. applied.
Mr.. Cox defended himself sgainst a
= these charges,
q Mr.. O'Neil complained that the agita
E ton of the money and tariff questions ha
q done more than anything else to stop tn
n industries of the country, restrict invest
ment aud cause capital to lie Idle.
MIR. Wright said it is the part of wisdoi
to let the tariff alone.
!. Mr., Sayler-The new tariff Increase
4 the revenue.
q Mr.. Wright intimated that the nous
4 would probably table the new bill, Nj
}. lO'Neil applaaded the sentiment.
oil Mr.. Foot offered an amendment maxim
it unlawful for the secretary of the trea
s ury to destroy or retire more United STATE
= treasury notes. Ruled out of order.
K The committee rose and the house passe
e the bill
n The District of Columbia governmel
question was considered without action.
Mr. Ellis offered the usual resolutions c
the death of j. E. Leonard, and will cs
them up April 6.
Adjourned.