National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1881-01-18
uOvsE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.

/ The SPEAKER, as the regular order, proceeded
TO call the States for bills and resolutions undel
which call several were introduced and referred.
| By Nj. r.MARTIN, of Delaware: To provide forand
regulate transfer tickets between street railroads
/ in the District of Columbia.
By Mr. ELLIS tby request: To improve the
! sewerage of Washington city
/ BY Mr.. MORSE: To regulate appointments and
promotions in the Marine Corps.
! Also tby request in regard TO claims for damages
! by reason of public Improvements in the District
! of Columbia, and granting the Court Of Claims
/ jurisdiction over the same.
! By Mr.. NEWBERRY: Providing for Joint com.
mission by the United States and Great Britain 10
investigate the alleged false and fraudulent proof
and statistics used before the Halifax fishery COM
mission.
Also for the appointment of joint committee OF
I the Senate and House to investigate the same sub
By Mr.. FORD: 4 resolution declaring it to be
! the opinion of the House that every interest de-
mands the immediate construction of telegraph
lines by the Government and requesting the Com
mittee on Post-OfficeS and P6S-ROads to report a
bill for the construction of such telegraph lines
may be necessary to protect the people from mo-
| The SPEAKER ruled that the resolution was
| not in order under the call, and it was not ad-
By Mr. CONVERSE: Toreclaim the swamp lands
of the Potomac River and to deepen the channel
! of that river.
! By Mr. HUTTON: Authorizing the Washington
and Chesapeake Railroad Company TO extend its
! road into the District of Columbia.
I Inc NfIA Idll DtlOIC tie HOUSE Il
nicatiOn from the Secretary OF the Interior trans
mitting the report of the Superintendent of the
| Census, which shows the total population Of the
| United States to be 80, ,S66.
! Mr.. COX, Of New York, then introduced his ap-
pOrtiOnment bill, which fixes the number of Repre-
senaives at 30l and it was referred with the com
munication, to the Committee on the Census
At the conclusion of the call of States Mr.. FORD
offered his resolution relative 10 Government tele-
! CRASH lines. and it was referred.
Mr. SPRINGER offered resolution relative to i'll
guiTy into the expediency of establishing a tele-
| graph postal system. Referred
Mr.. FRYE offered a resolution, which was
adopted calling On the Secretary of the Treasury
for information relative to the character and
amounts of the public Indebtedness Of foreign gov
ernments, and the rates of interest, the present
market value, the time OF payment, and the dis
count premium realized on the original negotis-
ton of the respective bonds and securities Of each
government
The SPEAKER then announced the regular
order TO be the motion made OH the third Monday
OF last month"; to suspend the rules and pass the
bill authorizing the readjusmen of the salaries of
poStmaserS OF the third, fourth, and fifth classes,
in accordance with the act of June s, 1866.
This motion was made by Mr.. STONE under in
structious from the Committee on Post Offices and
Post Roads. Mr.. STONE, in advocating The bill.
stated that the amount involved about $500 900
Mr.. BLOuNT opposed the bill. There was
nothing TO show that it would not involve as much
s. 10000 and yet the House asked to pass it
under suspension ofthe rules.
Mr.. PAGE hoped that the House would reflect be
fore il involved the Government in such a large
expenditure of money. The bill would net bene-
fit single postmaster in the country. Nearly all
the claims were in the hands of claim agents.
The motion TO suspend the rules and pass the.bll
was rejected-yeaS. l59 nays, S2-not the necessary
tWo-thirdS i'll the affirmative. There were several
changes of votes made pending the announcement
of the votes and i'll order prevent any mistake the
Speaker cast his vote in the negative.
Mr.. CONVERSE, chairman OF the Committee on
Public Lands, under instructions from that COM
mittee moved TO suspend the rules and pass the bill
quieting the titles-ef settlers the DeS MOineS
River lands in the State of Iowa.
Mr.. VAN NOORHiS demanded the reading of
the report ofthe committee, asserting that this was
the most infamous bill eFerpreSented to Congress.
The reading of the majority report consumed
nearly two hours, and then Mr. VAN VooRHIs
called for the reading of the minority report This
being objected to, the Speaker ruled that its read
ing was not i'll order, and from this decision Mr.
VAN NooRHIs Appealed, which appeal was laid
upon the table
The question then required on seconding the
motion for suspension OF the rules, and it was
seconded-I47 TO /.
MeSsrS. CARPENTER and CONVERSE argued briefly
in favor Of the bill 1t matter of justice, they
contended, to the settlers that they should be al
lowed go into and have their titles settled
\ great deal of opposition TO the bill was shown
on the part of members from Western New York
particularly Mes>rs. VAN VOORHIs PRESCOTT, and
LAPHAN, and the halEhours debate On the bill
very noisy one.
The motion TO suspend the rules and pass the
bill was agreed TO, the only negative votes being
cast by New York members and few others.
The House then (at five o'clock adjourned.