The National tribune., 1882-03-25
WHAT CONGRESS ISDOING.

The feature of the weeks legislation in Con-
gress was the passage by the House on Thurs
dav Of the Chinese anti-immigration bill 1t
will be recollccted that the bill had previously
passed the Senate; consequently il now only
requires the signature of the President before
becoming a law. It's features have already
been given in the news columns of The Ma
TIoNAL TRIBUNE Upon the receipt of the
hill in the House strong opposition to it was
manifested without regard to party lines,
the arguments advanced against its passage
being based principally upon the expressed
belief that it connictcd with the pro-
VisonS OF our treaty with China. 1t
was urged with great force, and no less
truth, however, that the influx of cheap Chi
nesc labor was operating most disastrously
upon the interests of the workingmcn, espe-
cially on the Pacific slope, and that if Chinese
immigration were permitted to continue, it
would only be question of time before the
Eastern States would also be swarming with
cclestials to the serious detriment of labor
throughout the entire country. The passage
of the bill may he regarded as solution of one
of the most difficult political problems that
Congress has had to deal with for long time.
SENATE.
The Senate was not in session on Saturday,
having adjourned over from Friday until
Monday.
In the Senate on Monday the Military
Academy and diplomatic and consular bills
were reported from the Appropriation Com
mittcc A bin was reported for the admission
of Dakota as a State A resolution was adopted
allowing Senators Butler and Kellogg $500
and $500 for expenses incurred in vindicating
their rights to seats. The House bill to pro-
mote the efficiency of the Life Saving Service
was debated at some length. The tariff COM
mission bill was taken up and discussed by
Senator Beck in reply to Mr.. Morrill, aud others.
Mr. Morrill, replied briefly.
On Tuesday in the Senate a resolution was
adopted calling on the President for the in
structions given our Minister to China in 1880
in regard 10 Chinese immigration. The Life
Saving Service WAS further debated and
amended. The Military Academy appropria-
ton bill was passed Consideration was given
to the tariff commission bill, Mr. Morgan urg-
ing the necessity for prompt tariff revision in
preference to the appointment of a commission
of revision. The bill to remedy the defects
in the law for the sale of Otoe and Missouri
reservations in Kansas was passed.
On Wednesday the bill to equalize the pay
of officers of the navy was reported adversely.
Bills were introduced appropriating 800 100000
toincorporate the Mississippi River Canal Com
paay, the route to be from the St. Mary's River,
in Georgia, through the Ollefenoke swamps
westward to st. Marks, Florida, and thence
along the Gulf coasts. Mr.. Anthony introduced
bill to establish the Office of Assistant Secre-
tary of the Navy. 1T provides for the ap-
pOintnent and confirmation of line officer
of the navy, not below the grade of RearAd
miral, whether active or on the retired list
who shall perform such duties as may be pre-
scribed by the Secretary of the Navy or re-
quired by law; shall act rs Secretary in the
absence of that officer, and shall receive the
highest rate Of pay allowed to his grade.l
Consideration Of the Life Saving Service bill
occupied the Senate until 2 p. m. Several
amendments were adopted. The tariff com
mission bill was laid aside owing to the sud-
den illness of Mr.. Garland. The consular and
diplomatic bill was passed. A bill was re-
ported from the select committee to prevent
the introduction of contagious diseases into
the United States
On Thursday in the Senate a memorial from
1900 Good Templars of Illinois was presented
for the prohibition of the manufacture and
sale of alcoholic liquor. in the United States
The Senate bills in relation to the Venezuela
award were indefinitely postponed. A bill was
Al
Agriculture an executive department and to
enlarge its powers. The resolution declaring
for a reciprocity treaty with Mexico was re-
ferred to the Committee on Foreign Relations
The tariff commission bill was then discussed
until the hour of adjournment.
HOUSE.
In the House on Saturday debate was con-
tinued on the Chinese bill. Speeches were
made in favor of its passage by Messrs. Speer
Deustcr, Guenther, Bloom, and Flower, and in
opposition by Messrs. Moore, Carpenter, Will
liams, and Skinner. Mr.. Flower, a wealthy
Now York banker, and who, by the way, is
assuming the lead on. the Democratic side, in
his speech advocating the passage of the bill,
said that the question was simply whether
Congress should afford protection to capital
only ana DOI 10 ldDOI. ttcitG ldilDT was DrOuglC
to this country by capital to increase the profits
OF capital; il was waGes-saving labor-rob-
bing machine bought and worked in the in
tercsis of capital. The Chinaman was the
rassiyc instrument in the hands of the masters;
he refused citizenship and declined grave in
this land of liberty. There were no other
machines for chcaPening products that the
Government invited to come in duty free. He
favored the bilIin the interest of labor.
On Monday in the House certain amend
ments TO Tie bill appropriating S150,000 to the
Mississippi food sufferers were receded from
and the bill finally passed. Among the bills
introduced were the following: 'Appropriating
100000 for the relief Of the sufferers in the
ovcriiowed districts: to prevent a contraction
of the currency; TO abolish the stamp act on
bank checks, &c. appropriating $1,000 for the
erection of a monument over the grave of
Thomas jefferson.
Mr.. Atkins introduced bill amending SEQ
ton a715 of the Revised Statutes providing
that the prohibition upon the payment of
pension to any one who engaged in or aided or
abetted the late rebellion shall not apply 70
officers or soldiers who served in the war with
Mexico or their widows or children.