National Republican., 1880-03-11
CURRENT CAPITAL TOPICS.
Little Progress Made in Legislation
by Congress.
Speech Making In Either House OF Congress
democrats Getting Sick of Their Bant-
ling-Tho Land Commissions La
bors-Pubiic Printing--A Rider
for an Appropriation Bill
to DO Introduced.
The Two Houses OF Congress.

In the Senate yesterday Mr.. Thurman, from
tho Committee on the Judiciary, reported adj
verscly the bill to reimburse tho several States
for interest paid on war loans. Mr.. Davis
Ull.) presenting minority report, the bill
was placed on the calendar.
Aftcr some minor reports and the introduce
tiOn of n fow bills tho motion of Mr.. Thurman
made on Tuesday to refer to the judiciary
Committee tho remonstrance of Indian chiefs
against tho passage of the bill to establish u
United States court IN the Indian Territory,
was taken up, and nh animated discussion WAS
carried on till the close Of the morning hour
between the respective members of the Judi-
Ciary Committee and the Committee on Terri.
tories from which tho bill was reported
Tho reference of the romonstrance to tho
Judiciary Committee is looked upon us hostile
TO the bill, houce the opposition of the Com
mittee on Territories. No vote was reached
when tho morning hour expired. When
vote Is reached 1t will he significant as to the
probable fnte of tho bill.
Mr.. Mcdonald resumed his speech in sup
port of the Fitz John Porter bill, criticiging
the action of the court-martial and endeavor-
ing to vindicatc tho military record Of Cen
cral Porter upon tho memorable occasion
which has caused so much discussion.
Mr.. Logan briefly called attention to some
alleged Inaccuracies in the speeches of Mcssrs.
Mcdonald and Randolph, and Mr.. Jones,
Of Florida, was recognized as entitled to tho
floor.
Pending motion for an executive session
Mr. Garland oiiorod n resolution which ho said
ho would speak TO hereafter, to the effect that
| there were many nice legal points involved
in tho pending bill. and that it be referred
| to the Judiciary Committee for examination
Of its legal aspects.
| The Senate then went into executive scs-
sion and soon after adjourned.
| In the House Mr.. Reagan obtained leave to
have printed resolution declaring it u politi.
cal necessity for the United States to have
control of any canal across the isthmus
The call of committees in the morning hour
was proceeded with. and u number of bills
wore reported from the Committee on Naval
Affairs, among them one providing for COM
mission OF seven officers of tho navy upon the
practicabiity of completing the four double
turret monitors-Puritan, Monadnack, AM
| phitrite aud TerrOr-which was passed.
Bills approprlating 100000 for tho rollef of
tho suffering Irish, to prohibit the removal of
Indians to the Indian Territory, to restrict
Chinese immigration and to provide for the
enforcement of tho oght-hour law wero also
reported and placed OH the calendar.
After the morning hour the Republicans
had the floor on the bill 10 prohibit political
assessments upon the employees of tho Govern
ment Speeches We're mado by Messrs. Young
(Ohio), Butterworth, Hayes. Richardson IN.
", aud Crowley, nll attacking the bill rs un-
constitutional and as violative of rights OF
American citizens. Messrs Young and But
terworth, particularly, replied to the speech OF
Mr.. House, of Tennessee, and defended the
character of President Hayes and Minister
Noyes, who wore made tho principal subjects
of attack on Tuesday. They also exposed the
falsity of the claim that tho Democratic party
was entitled TO any credit for patriotism or for
maintaining the political or financial credit oil
the Government. The bill will probably be
voted on to-day.
An evening session was held for the Consid.
Grafton of pension bills and a number wer,
Oassel.