Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1878-12-20
THE LAW-GIVERS.
YESTERDAYS CONGRESSIONAL PRO-
CEEDlNGS.
WASHINGTON, ID. o., December ~.
SENATE.
Naturalization Laws.


Jurors Test Oath.
Mr.. Christiancy reported q substitute
for the bill OF Mr.. Beck IN repeal sec
tions Of the Revised Statutes. Tho
substitute provides for the repeal oI
Section $40, providing u tost oath for
jurors. Ordered printed and placed on
calendar.
Mr. Beck gave notice no would call
the bill up for consideration tomorrow
Transportation OF Mails.
Mr.. Dorsey, from the Committee on
Appropriations, reported fav0rably on
the House bill to provide for tho de-
fciency in tho transportation Of mails
by railroad.
R0imbursing tho Statos.
Mr.. Mcdonald introduced bill to re-
imburso the several States for interest
paid on the war loan and for other pur-
poses. Referred.
House bill appropriating $3.50, 600 for
transportation OF mails by railroads was
passed.
Intorost on Bonds.
Mr.. Dorsey then called up House bill
To amend tho act Of January 20, 1878,
to fix tho rate oi interest on tho bonds
authorized by said act, 10 bo issued by
the Commissioners of the District OF
Columbia, andi Tor other purposes. The
bill was passed. Ayes 20, nays IL.
Patont Laws.
The Scuatc then resumed tho cOnsld-
Grafton OF the bill To- amend the statutes
in regard to patents, and MIR. Window
gave notice that ho would hereafter sub
nit an additional section.
Mr.. Davis, Of Illinois, said that tho
bill now before tho Senate was calcu-
lated in many respects To effect an im-
proycmcnt in the patent laws. He
spoke Of the present imporiections IN
the patent laws, and the difficulties
which inventors as well W consumers
were subjected to. lle submitted an
amendment to tho first section ol the
bill, that IL any suit bo instituted in
any one of tho Circuit Courts OF the
United States, tho validity oi the patent
shall bc determined on final hearing;
any 0tlter Circuit Court may recognize
said decision, and in its discretion, grant
injunCtions based thereon, to continue
pending an appeal to the Supreme
Court Of the first suit, and ii the valid.
ity Of any such patent has been dccreed
against i'll suit instituted in any one
OF the Circuit Courts, any other Circuit
Court may, in its discretion, grant a stay
Of proceedings in any United States
suit brought under said patent, pend
ing an appeal To the Supreme Court of
the United States in said first suit
Elections Investigation Committee.
Pending discussion the Vice President
announced ~ a select committee To IN
quirc whether the Constitutional rights
oi citizens were violated ut the recent
elections, ia accordance with the resolu-
tion of Mr.. Blaine, adopted Tuesday:
Mcssrs Teller, Of Wisconsin, kirkwood,
Mitchell, Plumb, Bayard, Wallace, Bailey
and Garfield.
MIR. Mitchell asked to ho excused and
said that in justice To himself and his
constituents, hc could not serve on the
committee, besides hc could not serve
on account OF sickness in his family that
hc was in full sympathy with the invcs-
tigatiun, however.
Mr. Plumb said that il was impossible
for him to serve and asked to bo OK
cuscd, Both Senators were excused
but no appointments were made to fill
tho vacancies.
The Senate resumed the patent bill
and Mr. Christiancy spoke at length 0f
the impcricctions in our patent laws,
but was unable to conclude his remarks
to-day.
Several amendments wcro offered and
the bill laid aside.
Reorganization oftho Army.
Mr.. Burnside took tho floor to explain
thcprovision Of tho hill recently reported
from tho Joint committee for rcorgan
izing the army, no said the officers of
the army were law-abiding men, and,
while they might disagree as to the
regulations and customs, always obcycd
the law. Nearly all the trouble between
the staff and the line had arisen from
an uncertainty as To the regulations oi
the service, and il was Tor the purpose
Of turning them into law that the com
mittco had cngrailcd numerous army
regulations in the bill. The committee
tried 10 keep in view both the efficiency
and economy of the service. He quoted
at lcng,h from the bill, aud said It was
most likely that in few years hence
some OF the cavalry regiments might
be changed to infantry regiments, and
thus the expense of the service
be- decreased Referring Ia the
provision oi iorbidding further
manufacture Of arms by the ordinance
department. He said he thought it was
calculated 10 stimulate the invention ot
arms throughout tho country. Ii had
been said by opponents OF the bill that
il curiailed the powers OF the Secretary
Of War. He denied that such was ths
case, and in no way did II abridge the
powers of that officer. The Gencral-in-
Chief had io power To appoint stall 9th
Gers. The pill provided that they should
be appointed by the President on the
recommendation OF the commanding
General, and he Burnsidel knew OF no
one better fitted 10 recommend appoint
mcnts than the commanding General.
In the earliest days OF the government
the Secretary OF War was not cousid-
cred a part Of the army. He had always
been considered civil officer. In con-
clusion Mr. Burnside said he was salts
fled that some system OF reform Was
necessary and should be made at this
time.
The hill recognizing the army was
then laid aside.
On motion OF Mr.. Wadleigh, further
consideration OF the patent bill was post
poned until Tuesday, January eth.
The Vice President appointed Mr..
Hoar member Of the select committee
under the Blaine resolution in place Of
Mr.. Mitchell declined, and Mr.. McGil-
Ian in plaer Of Mr.. Plumb declined.
Mr.. Teller, chairman Of the select
committee, submitted a resolution au
thorixing the committee to employ such
clerks and stenographers as may be
necessary.
Indian Statistics.
Mr.. voorhees, submitted o resolution
instructing tho Census Committee 10
inquire into the advisability oi includ-
ing in the next census the total number
OF pensioners OF Indian blood in Indian
Territory, the number Of mixed hloods,