National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1881-02-16
CONGRESS YESTERDAY.
The Funding Bill in the Senate-Ths
River and HarbOr Bill.


Mr. HEREFORD presented the joint resolution
of the West Virginia Legislature asking for law
to regulate inter state railway traffic. Referred TO
the Committee on Railroads
Bills and Joint resolutions were reported back
| from committees as follows and placed on the
calendar:
By Mr. BAYARD, from the Finance Committee
fayorably: To admit free of duty O monument to
General Washington.
Also, from the same committee, favOrably: For the
relief of the Philadelphia and Reading Railroad
By Mr LOGAN from the Military Committee,
favorably, with an amendment: For placing Thomas
C. Crittenden upon the retired list with the rank
and pay ofa brigadier general.
Five detailed reports from the Military Com
mittee upon private relief bills, prepared by Mr
CAMERON, of Pennsylvania were presented by MI
BURNSIDE and Mr.. CoCKRELL-
Mr.. HARRIS introduced bill to authorize the
Commissioners of the District of Columbia to ap
point three hundred additional pTivates on the
Metropolitan police force for fifteen days from
February, 90. He asked the present consideration
of the bill.
Mr.. EDMUNDS objected
Bills were introduced by Mr.. GROVER, proposing
constitutional amendment in relation 10 the
manufacture and sale of intoxicating hquors, and
by Mr. BLAIR, to prohibit the manufacture lmpoTta-
tiOn, and sale of Intoxicating liquors rs beverage
in the District of Columbia.
Mr. BLAIR said of the latter that he introduced it
at the request of the National Temperance Society,
and requested its reference to the Judiciary Conf
Mr. MCDONALD submitted resolution upon
which, he said, he would ask to make some re-
marks to morrow declaring that the people ought
TO contribute 10 the support of the Government as
nearly as possible in proportion to their respective
abilitieS-that is in proportion to the revenue they
enjoy under its protection; and that in the obsery-
ance or neglect of this maxim consists what IS
called the equality or inequality of taxation. Laid
over.
A resolution for night sessions for bills not OBJ
jected to was discussed, and Mr. VOORHEES, made
an urgent appeal for special session for action on
the bill providing additional accommodations for
the Congressional Library. Laid over.
Upon the conclusion of the morning business
lat 12:20) the Chair announced that the calendar
would be the regular order, under the Anthony
rule, until halfpast one O'clock and added in re-
ply to Mr. KIRKwOOD, that the cattle diseases bill
would then come upas unfinished business.
On motion of Mr.. BAYARD, the pending order
was postponed, and the Senate took up the House
funding bill
Mr.. BAYARD suggested several verbal corrrec-
tions of accidental errors and misprints which
were made, causing the bill to conform TO the in
tention of the committee in reporting it.
Mr. BAYARD addressed the Senate at length
on the subject, followed by Mr.. MCPHERSON
and others The question was taken on the
amendment reported by the Finance Committee TO
make the clause read, The Secretary of the Treas
ury is hereby authorized TO issue bonds to an
The next amendment of the Finance Committee
was to insert the words, I" in denominations OF $50
or some multiple of that sum-"
Mr.. TELLER moved to amend the amendment
by inserting the words, Ten dollars and twenty
dollars
Mr.. HOAR called attention to the absurdity of the
Treasury having to draw warrant for seventeen
cents SO bond.
Mr.. TELLER'S amendment was rejected and the
committee amendment was adopted.
The next amendment of the Finance Committee
was to make the rate of interest three and half
instead of three per cent.
Mr.. VOORHEES, IA member of that comnlittee)
said that, while in the committee he had agreed 10
the amendment reported he had still reserved the
right of opposing them in the Senate, and he now
opposed the amendment because he believed that
the bonds could be fiOated at three per cent.
Mr.. EATON expressed the belief, from converse
ton with fnanciers Of great ability, that Il three
per cent. ten-thirty bond could be foated with
ease.
Mr.. BAYARD opposed the amendment
After further debate, Mr.. KIRkWOOD offered an
amendment making it the duty of the Secretary OF
the Treasury to authorize public subscriptions to
be received at ali Government repositories and
national banks for the bonds and Treasury notes
authorized in the bill, for thirty days before giving
any award to or making any contract with any
syndicate of individuals or bankers, and to award
the full amount of such subscription.
Without action on the amendment of the Finance
Committee on either of the amendments offered
thereto, the Senate (at 500 adjourned leaving the
funding bill to come up to-day as unfinished
business.