National Republican., 1880-02-20
CURRENT CAPITAL TOPICS.
Progress Made In the Two Houses
of Congress.
a Way Proposed to Secure New School Build
ings-Light to bo Had ON Police APP
pointments--The New Twenty-iirst
Rulo of the House--Suffcrers
that Should Receive PEN
sions at Once, &c.
Tho National Legislature.

Inc proceedings III congress yesterday were
without special interest. The Vico.Presdent
laid before tho Senate o report from tho Secre
tary containing information asked for by q
resolution of the Senate in relation to land
grant railroads that had not complied with
the conditions of their grants.
A number of bills wero introduced and re-
ferred, among them ono introduced by Mr..
Rollins and referred to the District Committee
providing for the sale of tho Corcoran Market
square, and the application of the proceeds %
the erection Of school buildings for tho Dis
trict of Columbia. A proviso is attached that
no school building shall hereafter be erected
unless tho plan thereof be first approved by
the Board of School Trustees.
The rcsolu tou introduced by Mr.. Blair,
calling on the Commissioners of the District
for information as to whether the law had
been violated by the appointment of other
than honorably discharged soldiers and sailors,
which went over on Wednesday on objection
being made, came up. Mr.. Whyte endeav-
orcd to have II referred to tho committee on
the District, where it could quietly sleep, but
the motion WAS disagreed 10 and the resolu.
ton adopted.
Mr.. Gordon called up the motion to recon-
sidor the vote ordering select Committee on
Oceanic Canals, and the vote was reconsidercd-'
yeas 20; nays, 25. The resolution was then
discussed until the expiration OF the morning
Senate resumed the consideration of the Five
Per Cent. Land bill, which was continued until
tho Senate went into executive session, from
which IL adjourned until to-day.
The House devoted tho morning hour TO tho
consideration of the bill TO regulate the re-
mova of causes from State to Federal courts
without disposing of the subject.
At 1880, tho morning hour having expired,
the House in Committee of the Whole re-
sumed considorai ion Of tho proposed amOnd
ments to tho rules. Mr. Stephens addressed
the House. aud WAS listoned to with marked
attention as he enunciated his views upon the
subject quoting from tho provisional and per.
manont constitution of the COnfcderacy and
the constitution of the State Of Georgia, to
show that he had there as here advocated
the strctest adherence to the subject TO be
provided for in appropriation bills,
Many amendments to the twenty first rule
were acted upon and vote OH the adoption
of the rule as amended reached and the next
rule reached. The twenty.hrst rule as
amended reads as follows:
/. Bills and Joint resolutions introduced for ref
eTence and those reported by committees without
such introduction, shall be read first time by
their titles and printed, the second time in full the
third time by their titles, unless the reading in full
shall be demanded By Member
2. Bills and joint resolutions on their passage
shall be read the first time BY title and the second
timc in full, when, II the previous question is
Shall the bill be cnSro3sed aud read third time
and II decided In the Affirmative IL shall be read
the third time by title ness the reading in full Is
demanded by Member, and tho question shall
then be put upon It's passage.
3, No appropriation shall be reported In any gc-
era appropriation bill, be in order rs amend
mCnt Thereto for any expenditure not previously
authorized by law, unless in continuation of up
proprlations for such public works aud objects rs
are already in progress Nor shall any provision
IN any such bill or amendment thereto changing
existing law be in order, except such AS, being
gcrnanc to the subJeCtnntCr OF the bill, shall re
trench expenditures by tie reduction OF the mum
ber salaries, ofthe officers of the United States;
by the reduction of the compensation Of any per
sOn paid out Of the Treasury of the United Stats
or Oy the reduction OF the amount of money coy
to amend such bill upon tile report OF Il committee
having jurisdiction Ot the matter Of such amend
ment which amendment being germane to the
sublectmatter OF the BILL shall rctrcnch expondl
lures,
l. No bill or resolution shall at any time be
amended by anneNiug thereto or Incorporating
herewith the substance Of any other bill or resJlu
ton pending before The House.
5. All bills for improvement of rivers and har
boTs and for the establishment OF change Of post
routes shall be delivered 10 the Clerk rs In the
of petitions and memorials, lor reference 10 appro
PIRATE committees.
g. Upon all bids and resolutions appropriRtins
| money or creating charge or debt upon the peO-
| ple the yeas and nays shall be taken ON the lima
passage Of the bill in the House and enored on tn,
| journal.
Having gotten through with the last rulc
over which there Is likely TO be any scriou,
controversy, the House, AT 4i45 p. n, adj
/ ion urnnd