National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1882-01-06
AT WORK AGAIN.
CONGRESS- COMMENCES BUSINESS.
Bills, Petitions, and Resolutions offered In the
Senate and House-Hr. Orth's Remarks
Relative TO the Formation OF Commit
tees-The Regular Order.
The Senate was called to order on Thnrsaay by

The Senate was called to order on Thursday by
the President pro tcmpDrt, Mr. Davis. ~
The Chair submitted report from the District
Commit ssioners in response to the resolution Of
December ~, in regard TO the obstruction OF New
York and Massachusetts avenues at their inter.
| section, between Seventh and Ninth streets, In
| the city Of Washington stating the work had not
been done by their authority That no expense
| therefor Ind been incurred by the District, ana
| that they are Informed the work has been done
! under authority OF officers OF the United States.
| Laid OIL the table
| Also petitions from the bar Of Rockford H.,
| for the organization Of court of appeals aud
| from the bar and judges of the courts of Marion
| ison, New Albany, and Evansville for an add.
tional circuit judge in the Seventh Circuit,
| Bills were introduced as follows:
BY Mr.. Jones, Of Florida! To regulate the ap-
pointmcnt OF sailmakers in the United States navy.
=, BY Mr. Anthony: To promote the efficiency OF
by MI Vance Directing copies of the official
| letter books ~ the executive department of the
state Of North Carolina TO be furnished to said
| State.
by Mr.. Maxcy; To increase the efficiency Of the
| Signal Service Of the army.
BY Mr.. Hin, of Colorado Relating to land in
Colorado lately occupied by the Uncompaghrc and
White River Ute Indians.
by Mr., Plumb To provide for the disposition Of
BY Mr.. Congcr: To confer positive, in place Of
relative rank on the officers of the Corps of En-
gineers ofthc United States navy.
Mr.. Garland offered II resolution instructing the
| Committee on Finance TO inquire into the pro-
nricty of rclunding to parties who paid for protec
ton under the trade. mark legislation the fee re-
| quired by the act of Congress touching that sub
feet, which was decided by the Supreme Court OF
| the United States In the trade. mark cases to be
unconstitutional, and TO report by bill or other
wise Adopted.
on motion OF Mr.. Kellogg the Secretary of War
was directed TO transmit copies of any and all
papers relating to the repair improvement Of the
Mississippi River levee In front OF the city Of New
i Orleans.
The morning hour was mainly occupied in the
presentation Of petitions, OF which large number
| prayed for the exercise of Government control
| over rail transportation charges.
Mr.. Miller, OF New York, presented one urging
| that the proceedings OF Congress be printed in
| newspaper form weekly and a copy thereof sup.
piled free 70 every family In the United States
The resolutions of the General Assembly Of Lou
isana, asking for an appropriation to repair the
Postum FORK Levec, were submitted by Mr.. JONAS
Mr.. Garland introduced joint resolution to re.
! appropriate the amount (sS75,000 appropriated by
the act of March. 1877, TO pay in full to certain
Southern mail. contractors the amounts due under
their contracts for the years 1859, go, and 81.
| The bill introduced by Mr. Maxey to Increase
the efficiency ofthe Signal Corps Of tile army adds
| to the signal Corps from among those who have
| shown themselves qualified for signal duty three
| majors, twelve captains, and twelve first lieuten-
mounted officers. Ii prohibits the commissioning
of an officer in the corps until he shall have passed
a satisfactory examination before board OF
officers expert in the service, TO be appointed by
| the President; but officers now on duty in the
Arctic regions may be eligible upon approval OF
Promotions in the Signal Service are to depend
upon examinations and the suspension OF an
officer will be the penalty of failure to pass exam
| ination. Authority Is given the President, with
the consent Of tho Senate, 10 appoint professor
of meteoroogy in the Signal Corps at the pay and
allowances of the professor of mathematics ut the
| Military Academy.
The bin introduced by Mr.. Anthony, to promote
| the efficiency of the navy, provides that when
| upon an inquiry had pursuant to law concerning
the fitness of all officer for promotion, II appears
that such officer is unfit to perform the duties OF
| the place to which 1t is proposed to appoint him
| by reason of drunkenness misconduct or want OF
1 capacity not caused by the performance of his
duty he shall not be placed on the retired list and
| shall be discharged from the service; In which
| case he may be allowed the pay of his grade moi
| longer than two years thereafter
| The bill of Mr.. Hill, of Colorado, relating tc
lands in Colorado lately occupied by the UncOm-
| paghre and White River Ute Indians, declares
such lands public lands subject to disposal under
existing laws
A copy of the proceedings of recent meeting o.
| he Board Of Trade and Transportation of New
| York was presented by the Chair. 1t contained
resolutions declaring that transportation rates by
| rail should be determined not absolutely, as be.
tween competing roads, by the distance, but by the
net earnings; approving the stand of the New
| York Central as against determinations Of tive
| cents per hundred in favor of Philadelphia and
| three cents per hundred in favor of Baltimore
| recommending laws TO remove the perplexity re-
garding the value of the trade dollar and to make
lars are legal tender: and favoring the Hen
| nepin Canal route. 1t also contained the call fol
| an executive committee to represent the New
| York organizations in the endeaYor to secure
| national bankrupt law
The Senate adjourned until Friday, 9th instant