The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1882-03-01
CONGRESS-.
SENATE.

| WASHINGTON, Feb. 29.-Bills were intro
| duced:
/ By Senator Vest-For public buildingl
| at Hannibal, Mo.
By Senator Ingalls-Authorlzing the
President to appoint Alfred Pleasanton,
Brevet Major General In the army and
place him on the retired list
The postoffice appropriation bill was re-
ceived from the House and referred.
The Chinese bill came up as unfinished
business but Senator Miller temporarily
yielded the floor to Senator Ferry, to allow
the post route bill to be considered, and
the amendments by the Senate committee
were read and agreed to-
The house resolution rendering the
| thanks to the Hon. James Ct. Blaine, for
the appropriate address delivered by him
| on the occasion of the Garfield memorial
exercises, was, on motion of Senator Sher-
man, taken from the Presidents table and
concurred in.
Senator Window, from the Committee
on Foreign Relations reported resolution
instructing the Committee on Foreign Re-
latiens to make inquiry concerning the
loss of certain State papers and regarding
the alleged action of diplomatic representa-
tives of the United States at France and
Peru, in any contracts of public or private
nature, with either Of said governments,
and whether any officer of the United
States any personal interest in any matter
before mentioned, and report with recon-
mendations. Laid over one day under the
rule.
The sections of the House post route bill
Us amended, were adopted, and the bill
passed.
On motion OF Senator Allison the Senate
insisted upon its amendments to the imms-
diate deficiency appropriation bill, and Sc
nators Allison, Plumb and Beck were ap-
pointed conferees.
The senate then took up the Chinese
immigration bill to carry into effect the
treaty by suspending the coming of Chinese
laborers for twenty years, after sixty days
succeeding the passage Of the act. 1t al
lows them to come during these sixty days,
and those who were in the country at that
date, November II, 1880, to go and come
at pleasure The bill does not apply to
Chinese officials or their servants, and also
excepts from suspension Chinese mer-
chants, travellers, students Snd teachers,
who in coming and going are to be regis
tered at the custom houses, and are to
produce passports from the Chinese gov
ernment, showing they Individually belong
to the excepted classes. The time at which
the treaty takes effect is optional with
China or the United States, and the pre-
amble to the bill recites that in the opinion
of the United States that the coming Of
Chinese laborers |'endanger good order in
certain localities in it's territory"
Senator Grover moved to amend by add
ing new section, declaring the words
Chinese laborers, :" wherever used in the
act, shall be construed to mean both skill
ed and unskilled laborers and Chinese em-
plored in mining.
Senator Farley moved an amendment
prohibiting State and United States Courts
hereafter from admitting Chinese to citi-
zenship, and repeating all laws in conflict
with the act.
Senator Miller, of California, then de-
livered speech which was listened to with
marked attention.
Senator David Davis came down and
took his seat near the speaker.
During Senator Miller's speech the lob
byists of the galleries were Rstonished by
the appearance in the diplomatic gallery
of four members of the Chinese legation.
Upon being apprised of the subject under
discussion they Immediately retired. Sena-
tor Miller spoke one hour and four min
utes
Senator Voorhees, said he would ask to
have the bill laid aside tomorrow for
about an hour, to enable him to speak up
on the library building.
The bill was informally laid aside to per
NIT action on the House bill to furnish I'M
pressions OF invitations to the Garfield me
mortal service which was passed
After an executive session the Senate ad-
journed.