The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1880-12-23
NEWS BY TELEGRAPH.

ATE-A number of bills were in
troduced and referred. among which
were the following:
BY Hill OF Colorado-For the re-
tirement OF small legal tender notes.
BY Pendleton-To regulate the
civil service, and TO promote the ef-
iiciency thereof Also 10 prohibit
federal officers, claimants and con-
tractors from making or receiving
assessments or contributions for po-
litical purposes.
The Senate then resumed the con-
alteration of the bill 10 apply part
of the proceeds of the sale of public
lands TO public education. and for
the establishment aud support of
education. Senators Burnside, Nor
rill, and Brown spoke, tho last
named at considerable length, In
support OF the bill, after which il
was informally laid aside TO be
called up tomorrow, when a House
vote win be reached.
The Senate took up the bill appro-
priating $475o to pay Samuel A.
Lowe fer surveys and expenses as
clerk of the Territorial legislature of
Kansas in 1883. After long debate
on the bill the Senate went into ex-
ecutive session, and when the doors
opened adjourned.
HoUsE-Beal of Virginia intro
duced bill declaring tho roads be-
tween all life-saving stations, post
roads. Referred.
Bedford of Colorado introduced a
bill for the retirement OF small legal
| tender notes. Referred.
On motion of Goode of Virginia
the Senate bill granting Il pension.o .of
500 a month to Mrs. Julia S. Tay-
lor, widow OF the late president,
taken from the speakers table and
passed. The morning hour having
been dispensed with F. Wood moved
that the house go into Il committee
on the funding bill, pending which,
Baker of Indiana, from committee
on appropriations, reported back
the fortiticatien bill and antagoniz-
ed I. Woods motion with motion
to go into the committee on that
bill.
Wood making no objection, Ba.
ker's motion agreed to and accord
ingly the house at 1910 went into a
committee of the whole, Converse
of Ohio in tho chsir) upon the for
tification bill.
Baker explained the provisions of
the bill which he said was, except in
one point, identical with that OF last
year. He called attention to the de-
plorable condition Of the country's
sea coast defenses and said that in
the event ofwar with a foreign power
it would be impossible to put any of
our sea coast IN anything like ade-
quare condition for defense in less
than two years.
Randall of Pennsylvania discredit-
ed the idea that we should have war
within life time of the gentleman
from Indiana.
years of its existence as nation
this country had had sixteen years
of war.
Ried Of Maine said the condition
of the sea coast for defenses of the
United States, in view of the pros
poets of the financial condition of
the country was disgraceful in the
extreme. No part of the sea board
could be successfully defended even
against third rate European navy
was not the best thing to meet the
danger and would cost more than
fortifications.
Ellis ofPennsylvania said ships of
any foreign power could enter the
ty and levy IL contribution a thou
sand times greater than the same
asked by the chief of tho ordnance
for tho manufacture of heavy can
non. When a war should break out
there would be no time to improve
defenses. War might break out at
any time. Cuban cruisers were fir
ing on American ships every two or
three months. He hoped tho incom-
ing administration would listen to
no apologies but adopt a policy
which would teach all nations, and
especially Spain. that the American
flag must be everywhere respected.
Reagan of Texas favored the
strengthening of the fortifications
and dwelt on the necessity of pro-
yiding suitable defenses for the Gal
weston harbor.
King also alluded 10 the impor-
tance of strengthening the defenses
ofSouthern ports which might now
be entered and destroyed by the
Spanish men-of-war. General debate
closed and bill was read for amend
ments.
johnson of Virginia, from the Mil
itary Committee, offered an amend
ment, the first section appropriating
S5oO,0o0 instead of $lOO,opo for
strengthening the sea coast defenscs.
Randall of Pennsylvania spoke at
length in opposition to the amend
ment. He was opposed to any in
crease of appropriation under the
forced apprehension of war. There
was no danger Of war, and the coun-
try might better rely OH diplomacy.
johnson supported the amend
ment- He thought the country
should prepare for war in time of
peace The spectacle now presented
by the harbor defenses on the coun-
try was disgrceful.
Blount of Georgia argued against
the amendment and agreed with
Randall that there was no danger of
war. Foreign powers had all they
could attend to at home.
The amendment was further OPP
posed by Hill of Ohio and Calkins of
Indiana, and supported by McCOok
OF New York. Finally the discus
sion closed and the amendment was
rejected by q vote of 80 to Sc.
Other amendments were offered
by Reagan. but all were either re-
jected or ruled out.
The committee then rose and re-
ported q bill to the House, when fl
was passed.
Gibson of Louisiana, from the
Committee on Mississippi River
Leyees, reported a bill appropriatipg
81 100000 for the Improvement of
the Mississippi river. Printed and
recommitted. Adjourned.
WASHINGTON, December l5.-The
following statement showing the
condition of cotton was issued by
the department of agriculture to-
day: There is decline in the return
Of December l4th as compared with
that received November 14th. The
continuance of rain and very cold
weather in November lowered the
estimates of the states bordering on
the Mississippi river The follow
ing is a summary of the reports for
the month by states: North Carroll
na-43 counties report an increase
in the crop as compared with last
year OLA per cent. Soush Carolina
Is counties show an increase of 9pe
cent. Georgia-57 counties increase
1oFSnar -cuf F1orida-lA. counties