New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-01-06
ThE HOUSE SETTLING DOWN TO WORK.
PASSAGE OF THE ARMY APPROP IATIJN BILL W I'll
LITTLE DELAY-THE INTERsGATE COMMtLC.
lBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE |

lBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUHE.l
WASHINGTON, Jan. 5.-Om reassemb!ing to-
day, alter its holiday recess, the House OF
Representatives evmced q disposition to pro-
oeed at once to tho consideration of public
business, and not than an hour was wasted IN
Wrangle between the Census Committee aud the
Elections Committee to Ce,ernine which should
have Mr.. Spriugers Reapporuonneut and Minority
Representation bill reielEcd to II.
The ARMY bill was then taken up and disposed Of
in less than three hours hat clause which has be-
come so familiar in bills Tor several years past
and which prohibited the use OF any of ;he money
appropriated fos tho support of the army for
he paw substance transport tOn Of roops to
be used as IA police force to keep the peace at the
posD is not contained Iii the bill winch passed tne
House to-day, and doubtless ITS omission was the
reason why Mr. Hurd ana several others voted
against the bill. The whole amount appropriated
by the bill Is $2G 81 800 beside reapprOpuatlon
of certain umexpended balances for 1879 and 1880,
which amount to $5G4,714 %. The amonnt appro-
prated for the yeaf is $2642j 800, and the
estimates for the next fiscal year are $Z9O27411 90
The committee offered All amendment to appropriate
S12J 10 pay 90 per cent OF the charges lor Gov
eminent transportation on the Union Pacific and
other land grant railroads. This amendment was
adopted. as WAS also one offered by Mr. Converse to
continue the Board of Officers at the WatcrtOwn
Arsenal to conducG experiments with the United
States testing machine, and requiring the Board TO
report annually to Congress the results Of tests
made on iron, steel and other industrial materials.
With these exceptions the bill passed as IT was re-
ported by the Appropriations Committee.
The short time neodcd 10 dispose OF this BILL free
rom political riders. is IN striking contrast to the
periods of wearisOme and exciting discussion
wasted by the Democrats on the same measure when
they were engaged III their vain attempt TO insure
the election of a Democratic President.
The prelude TO the action of the House of Repre-
sentatlves in taking up the Interstate Commerce
bill to-day afforded the Republican members some
amusement in which the Democrats sOurly re-
fused 10 participate To reach the bill IN question,
1T was necessary for the House TO take separately
aud to consider every bill which prccedes 1t
On the calendar. The first bill is the to pro-
hibit 0ficeholders, claimants and contractors from
contributing money work or any other
valuable thing for political purposes.
That measure about which
the Democrats were especially earnest at the last
Two SESSIONS. When the title OF the bill was read
to-day ripple Of laughter flowed across the Repnb
ican side of the house, and the Republicans ex-
Dressed their readiness to consider IT. The Demo-
Which they wasted days in trying to pass before the
PRESIDENTIAL election. Another intervening bill on
the calendar the for the relief OF tltz John
t'orter. When the title of this read another |
laugh went around among the Republicans. and the
Oemocrats eagerly and solidy voted To lay5hat
measure aside also.
After the Interstate Commerce bill was taken !