Ottumwa weekly courier., 1878-05-15
CONGRESSIONAL.
HOUSE.

from the Committee on Education
Tor the enforcement Of the eight hour
law in all government departments.
and gave rise to q lively discussion
in the course of which Banks de-
nounced the disregard of law by gov
ernment as scandalous and infamous.
and Butler, Of Massachusetts, advo-
Gated q penalty for its disregard and
said there was more powder and ball
wanted in the administration of the
laws. The joint resolution passed.
Reagan endeavored to have his bill
to regulate interstate transportation
by railroad, made the special order
for Saturday, 80 as to take it out of
the morning hour and to give a
chance to other committees to be call
ed.
Objection was made and Reagan said
the bill would occupy the morning
hour until the House got sick oft.
The Speaker suggested that the bill
might be got rid of by . motion to
lay on the table, which motion was
made by Beebe, but was rejected.
Thompson then supported the bill.
He said last season 100000 barrels
Of oil, produced in Pennsylvania, had
been shipped to the sea board. The
established rate of Transportation
was one dollar and fifty cents per
barrel, which should have given to
railroad companies SIS, 8,5OO,0 600. In
stead of that the railroad companies
actually received only 5000, 600, the
otherl3k millions having been divert
ed from the stockholders and from
shippers into the pockets of an unscru-
pulous ring. The bill proposed to
abolish that system. He said the coal
oil interest was second only to cotton,
and brought back more gold than ali
the wheat, -four, bacon, beef, lard,
lumber, tobacco, or any other COM
modify exported. Every interest of
the country was being crushed
by the unjust discrimination of rail-
road companies, which this bill was
intended to prohibit. The bill was
only directed against the oil ring and
combination Of thieves. AT the close
of Thompson's speech Reagan renew
ed his proposition to have the bill
made the special order for Saturday,
and there was no objection.
Senate bill authorizing the citizens
of Colorado, Nevada, and Territories
to fell and remove timber on the pub.
lie lands for milling and domestic
purposes was passed with an amend
ment offered by Fort, that such lands
shall not be open to railroad corpor-
ations for cutting timber.
Sapp reported bill to restore GER
tain lands in Iowa to settlers under
the homestead law. Passed.
SENATE.
WAsHINGToN, May 10.
The House joint resolution author.
izing the expenditure of $4,000 Of
the 100000 appropriated to give
greater stability to the foundation of
Washington monument passed.
Consideration of the bill to repeal
the bankrupt law was resumed and
Maxey favored the bill.
HOUSE.
Wood introduced bill providing
that the Indebtedness of the United
States to importers for excess of de-
posits for unascertained duties, or
duties or other moneys paid under
protest, when ascertained under pro.
visions of law shall be paid regard
less of the time of the original paw
ments thereof with interest and costs
legally due under the revised statutes
from the permanent annual appro-
priation for that purpose in section
36S9. Referred.
The Committee on Naval Expendi-
lures presented testimony taken by
that committee accompanied with q
report recommending the appropria-
tion of $a2l7, 736 for the payment of
certain claims against the Navy De-
partment and directing the Secretary
to cancel contracts amounting to
thirty-six hundred Thousand dollars.
Made special order for May 25th.
Dunnell introduced q bill provid-
ing that notice of contest under the
homestead and timber culture laws
must be printed In newspapers in the
county where such contest lies.
Passed.
The Committee on Rules introduce
ed a resolution providing that by q
majority vote the revenue and pub
lie debit bills may be made special
order and that all appropriation bills
and Senate amsndments to House
bills shall first be considered in COM
mittee of the whole. Ordered print
ed.
The Dismal Swamp canal bill was
referred to committee of the whole.
The House went into committee of
the whole on private calendar, the
pending business, the William and
Mary College bill, being passed over
without action, Goode stating that he
would not press the bill this session.
Discussion ensued on the bill ap-
propriating $4,000 for Richard Heat
er, oflvirginia, for supplies taken by
the U. s. army
Keifer claimed that he was loyal.
Bragg said he never heard Of
Virginian during the war who was
loyal to the Uuion.