National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1881-01-28
CONGRESS YESTERDAY.
Beck and Blaine ON Free ships In the
Senatc-Nething Done In the House.


senatc-Nethins Done in the House.
Mr.. DAWES presented petition, signed by John
Welsh, Bishop Simpson, Rev. Joseph Cook, Wen
dell Phillips, and thirty-two thousand other indi-
! yidual signers, with the signatures Of churehes
benevolent and other societies. Representing in ali
more than fifty thousand citizens, praying Congress
to observe the treaties heretofore made with the
Indian tribes, and in the future to dc justice to
the remnants of that people.
The bulky package inelosing the petition, tast
lily bound with red, white, and blue ribbons, was
conveyed from the Senator's desk, where it had at
tracted much attention, to the Vice-President's
table and, with an accompanying explanatory let
ter from the Indian Treaty Keeping Association,
of Philadelphia, which was read by Mr.. DAWES,
was referred to the Committee on Indian Affairs.
The following bills were reported from commit
ices and placed ON the calendar:
BY Mr. CONKLING (from the Committee on Com
merce) with one amendment: To authorize the con-
struction and maintenance of a railway bridge
across the Niagara River.
Mr.. CONKLING gave notice he would call up
the bill at an early day. becauSe.f the sanction of
Congress was not now given to the building OF the
railway its construction would be delayed for
year.
By Mr.. ALLISON from the Committee on Appro-
priations), fayorably: House bill providing for a
deficiency in the appropriation for interest on the
threesiXty-ive loan of the District of Columbia for
the fiscal year 1881, and for other purposes.
By Mr.. VEST from the Committee on Public
Grounds), favOrably: For the erection of public
building in Quincy Ill.
By Mr.. WHITE, favorably: House joint reso,
luton for printing $1,000 copies of the second
revised edition of Bulletin No. 3 of the United
States chronological Commission, being report
on the cotton worm, with means of counteracting
its raSageS. Passed finally.
BY Mr.. WHITE (from the same committed, ia
vOrably: House joint resolution print COO copies
OF the report OF the National Board of Health.
Passed finally.
On motion of Mr. VOORHEES,, after brief ex-
planation, the House bill granting an increase of
pension to James ii. Reeve was taken up and
passed.
Bills were introduced and referred as follows:
By Mr. GARLAND: To establish uniform SyS-
TEN of bankruptcy To Committee on Judiciary.
the Improvement of the Wabash River
By Mr. CALL: To provide for the payment of
the treaty of 1856, to the Seminole Indians.
Mr.. JOSES of Florida, from the Committee on
Buildings and Grounds reported fayOrnbly Senate
bill to provide for the purchase of site and the
erection ofa public building at Minneapolis, Mimi,
and House bill TO provide for the construction OF
public building at jackson, Miss.
Mr.. MORRILL,, from same committee, reported
fayorably Senate joint resolution for the erection
dusky, Ohio
Mr.. BECK addressed the Senate for over an hourin
favor of free ships taking his text the resolution
submitted by him on Tuesday as follows :" That
all provisions of law which prohibit citizens
from purchasing ships and engaging i'll the foreign
I
of them as American ships when owned, COM
manded, and oficered by citizens of the United
States ought to be repealed and that end Senate
bill No al, or bill containing the general pro-
visions thereof, ought to pass
Mr.. BECKS speech, which was delivered from
manuscript, was listened 10 with marked and
thoughtful interest by an almost full Senate and
crowded galleries. the compliment of O unani-
nous vote being rendered TO him, upon the expira-
ton of the morning hour to enable him to pro-
ceed.
Mr.. BLAINE, who followed, spoke without notes,
and the immense audience in the galleries and
upon the floor accorded him the most respectful
and minute attention.
After further debate, the resolution was then
laid on the table without action.
On motion of Mr.. WINDOW, the Senate took up
the naval appropriation bill.
Mr.. WINDOW stated the amendments of the
committee, and that the net amount added to the
bill as passed by the House was S2j9I5O, making
the total reported to the Senate S14, 20 1873
which was S3Ol, ,5i3 less than the estimates and
SS1I 9S7 in excess of the bill Of last session.
In Committee of the Whole the amendments Of
the Senate Committee were agreed TO, as also an
amendment offered by Mr.. Burnside, admitting
boys 10 the naval training schools at fourteen in
stead of sixteen Years OF age.
The bill was then reported to the Senate and
passed finally.
The following bills were then severally cOnsid-
cred:
On motion of Nj. ALLISON, the House deficiency
BILL relating to the interest the three-sxry-fye
bonds of the District of Columbia. Passed.
On motion of Mr.. KERNAN, authorizing the issue
of an American register 10 the Egyptian steamer
DeSsOng Passed.
On motion of Mr.. PLUMB, for the sale of certain
portions of the Fort LeavenwOrth military reserva-
tion. Passed.
On motion of Mr.. CONKLING, to authorize the
construction and maintenance of railway bridge
across the Niagara River. PASSED with amend
ment reserving to Congress the right 10 alter or
amend the act.
On motion of Mr.. JOHNSTON, to authorize the
Secretary OfWar to grant the of certain land
Fortress Monroe, Va, for the erection of hotel.
Pa sSed
On motion of Mr. COCKRELL, to establish an as
say office in the city of St Louis, Mo. Passed.
On motion OF Mr. LAMAR. to divide the State Of
Louisiana into two judicial districts. Passed.
Mr.. TELLER submitted resolutions requesting
the Secretary of the Interior to forward to the
Senate the Ute commission report and also calling
for all correspondence between the Secretary and
the commission and between the Secretary and
the Governor of Colorado concerning the tie In
dianS since May, 1880.
Both resolutions were adopted.
The Indian land in severalty bill was taken up
as unfinished business and then (at 40 o'clock
the Senate adjourned.