The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1880-12-25
FR0M WARRINGTON.

l The senate, on the nth, passed Burnside
l bill to set aside the proceeds OF the sales O
public lands as a national education fund, t
! be distributed the first ten years, to the state
IN proportion to the number of inhabitants il
} each over 10years Of age who can neither rea,
or write, afterwards in proportion to popula
ucn Great confidence is felt that the bill vii
also pass the house.
Four of the leading appropriation bills, in
GLIDING the consular bill on Monday, have al
ready passed the house, that body at hear
being determined so to push the necessary
business as to leave no excuse for an extrs
session.
Mr.. Woods funding bill got fairly before
the house on Tuesday and led to a heated dis
cusson. 1t proposes to take up some $500, 600
900 of and @ per cent. bonds that fall due
during the coming year by the issue OF an
equal amount of per cent. bonds. The meas
ure is opposed by the fiat money lunalics who
propose to pay the bonds by an issue of $500,
100000 of greenbacks. After the end of the
debate on Wednesday, and before the adjourn
ment for the holidays, Mr.. Wood got the house
to give the bill the first place on the docket on
the rcassembling of congress with the debate
limited to one day.
During the discussion Of the bill on Tues
day Mr.. Sparks Of Illinois and "greenback
Weaver" got into an alteration, in the course
of which Weaver called Sparks a liar, and
Sparks retorted by calling Weaver Il liar, a
scoundrel and VILLAIN, at the same time COM
menclng to draw off his coat and advance to-
ward HIM with clenchcd fists. Weaver SAID
his fighting weight was 1855 pounds and told
Sparks to come on. But tor a rush of mem.
bers between the belligerents no doubt there
would have been then and there terrific fistic
encounter, but unhapplly they were kept be.
yond reach of each other. The house was
thrown into an immense hubbub, from which
it only recovered by an adjournment Next
day it occurred to some member that the dig
nifty of the house required that some notice of
the disgraceful occurrence should be taken,
and Mr. Bowman offered resolution tor the
expulsion OF both Weaver and Sparks. In
stead of this, however, motion was adopted
that the parties make an apology to the house,
which they thereupon did, Mr.. Weaver lead
ing off and Sparks following.
A bill to abolish the tax on bank checks was
called up IN the house on Monday, but lacked
a twothirds vote to suspend the rules for its
immediate consideration, the vote standing 12O
to 6S showing, however, that there is large
majority in favor of the bill when it comes up
in its regular order
The bill to pension Mexican soldiers was
made the order IN the senate tor January Sth
The appointment Of Judge Wood to the su-
preme bench was confirmed by the senate on
Tuesday after a sharp debate, but senators
voting against him.
Conkling and Lamar made their first ap-
pearance in the senate on Wednesday, just IN
time to vote for the holiday adjournment.
Both houses adjourned on Wednesday for
two weeks--to Jan. 9Th.
A number uf Ponca chiefs, representing
every band in the tribe, held talk with Secre-
tary Schurz General Crook, and others, on
Wednesday. The coppercolored statesmen
declared that it was the unanimous desire of
their people to acquire title to their reserva-
ton in indian Territory, and sell their lands
IN Dacotah. President Hayes, however, with
a desire that full justice be done the Poncas,
has appointed Generals Crook and Miles,
William Stickney, of Washington, and Walter
Allen of Newton, Mass, to proceed to Indian
Territory, confer with the tribe, and forward