National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1881-02-15
CONGRESS YESTERDAY.
Passage of the POst-Omce Bill-An Avs
Ianche of Bills Presented. &c.

The credentials of Senators re- elected FRANCIS
NJ. CocKRELI, of Missouri, and HENRY L. DAWES,
of Massachusetts,, were presented, the former by
the Vice President and the latter by Mr.. HoAR
Read and filed.
Anextraordinarily large number Ofpetitions ffom
temperance organizations of many of the States
for a constitutional amendment to prohibit the
manufacture and sale of all alcoholic beverages
were presented. The presentation of these COM
munications alone occupied some thirty minutes,
fully -ha.s of the Senators present having Deen
charged with one or more OF the peIiIlonss. IN tn
reference of the subject to a select committee ;
but no such committee exiSteds the peuuons
took the usual course and were referred 10 the
Bills were reported from committees as follows:
! By Mr. GARLAND, from the Judiciary Commit
tee, fayOrably: To amend section 699 OF the Re-
yised Statutes, relating to writs of error and ap
peals. Placed on calendar.
Also, favorably: House bill to fix the times for
holding the United States District and Circuit
Courts for the western district of Texas. Passed
By Mr.. DAVIS, of West Virginia, tavorably:
House bill appropriating money toward the eX-
penses to be incurred in the centennial celebra-
ton of the battle on GrotOn Heights, and 1or other
purposes Calendar.
By Mr.. SAUNDERS favorably with an amend
ment: Establishing the Territory of Pembina and
providing temporary government therefor, ac-
cOmpanied with a written report ON the SUBJECT
Calendar.
| By Mr.. BOOTH, from the Appropriation Com
mittee, with amendment, and u recommendation
that it pass: Senate bill authorizing the payment
OF prize money 10 officers OF the FarraSit meet Ior
the destruction Of the enemyS vessels IN IS62 ac-
companied by Il special report on the subject
| Resolutions were offered as follows and adopted
| BY Mr. INGALLS,: Calling upon the District
| Commissioners for information as 10 what damage
has been done to the Long Bridge by the recent
| food in the Potomac, and whether, in repairing
| the same, some method cannot be adopted that
will diminish the probability of foundations OF the
Mr. INGALLS, said his object was to call attention
to the fact that very large proportion of the dis
asters that befel the city of Washington on Saur-
day last was undoubtedly due TO the faulty con-
structiOn of the Long Bridge Two or three spans
of that structure now stood on the ice perhaps q
thousand feet from the piers from which they had
been swept, and it was the judgment of those com
petent 10 express opinion upon IL that II clear
waterway had been left under that bridge the city
would have been protected from that calamity.
BY Mr. HOAR: Directing the Secretary of the
Treasury to report to the Senate the rules OF ad-
mission to the customs office at New York, ap-
proved by the President March 6, 1879, and Janu-
airy 30, $780, and such statement of the proceedings
under the same may show the practical effect OF
the operation of said rules upon the public ser
wee.
By Mr. PLATT: Instructing the Committee on
Post Offices and POStR Reads to inquire whether the
practices of the Post Office Department in letting
contracts for the transportation of the mails to per-
sons who, though the lowest bidders therefor, do
not intend personally to perform such contracts
ton, is in accordance with public policy; and, If
any, what means can be devised to prevent the
same; and report by bill or otherwise
MesSrS. WITHERs, EATON and BLAINE were con-
stituted the Senate cOnferees on the Army appro-
priatiOn bill.
On motion of Mr.. THURMAN, the Judiciary
Committee was empowered to sit during the ses-
sOns of the Senate for the remainder of the seS
sion.
Mr.. VOORHEES, presented the joint resolution of
the Indiana Legislature for the suppression of
contagious diseases of domestic animals. Read
and referred.
Mr. HARRIS resolution for night-sessions ON
the District code bill was discussed and tabled.
The Post Office appropriation bill was proceeded
with in the Senate yesterday, and after long de-
bate the Dill was passed.
Mr.. WITHERS, from the Appropriations Com
mittee, reported, with amendments, the District
appropriation bill. Placed on the calendar.
After debate upon the priority of business, the
House funding bill was taken up and informally
laid over as the regular order OF business O-mor
row.
The cattle diseases bill was then taken up and
five of the eleven sections of the bill read,
when Mr.. THURMAN criticised the machinery TO
be created by it as complicated and cumbersome.
At this point a message from the House, an
nouncing the death of Representative Fernando
Wood, OF New York was received and read.
On motion of Mr.. BAGARD, as a mark of respect
for the memory of the deceased the Senate (at five
o'clock adjourned.