St. Landry democrat., 1882-05-20
TOPICS Of THE DAY.
News from Everywhere.
CONGRESSIONAL PROCEEDINGS.

THE bill for the judicial ascertainment
ofprivate claims was debated in the House
of Representatives. on the 22d. An amend
nnent by Mr.. Holman, providing that juris-
diction of the Court shall not extend to any
Claim against the United States growing out
OF the destruction of property by Union forces
during the rebellion, nor to the use OF prop
<rty by such forces at the seat OF war, nor to
any claim which is now barred by virtue OF
any provision of any law OF the United States,
was adopted-l03 to 81.
TIE bill for allotment of lands to Indians
passed the Senate on the Gath. The bill to
constitute majority of the Supreme Bench a
quorum was discussed without action. Also
the Mississippi River Improvement ill........
In the House bill passed appropriating $780,,
900 fpr removal of He'll Gate distractions. Res
olutions were introduced calling for CORE
spondence relating. to the Paris monetary
conference; approving the invitation to the
American peace congress. Bills were intro
duccd: AboIisrfng taxes on tobacco: appro-
printing 100000 for presidential mansion
at Washington; for new Mississippi River
commission. The bill to increase the police
force of the District WAS debated at length,
the discussion taking political turn. The
bill finally passed.
THE bill to permit grain brought by Cana
dian farmers to be ground at mills in the
United States passed the Senate on the 18th.
Consideration of the Mississippi River I'M
provement bill, appropriating $1,000 ,OOO was
resumed all pending amendments to increase
the appropriation and apply part of the
money for the benefit of the levee system
were wi hdrawn, and the bill passed by a
viva voce vote without objections. On mo-
tion of Mr. Miller (Cal.), who reported it, the
House bill to execute certain treaty stpula
items relating to the Chinese was taken up
andthe Senate committee amendments up to
the last sections, "A and Is. were agreed to
striking out the 18th section. which prohibits
any State or United States Court from adj
uniting Chinese to citizenship, Mr.. Farley in
sisted that the section should be retained
He said that the committee had assumed that
it was not necessary, but he knew that not
withstanding prohibition of the statute on
the subject, courts had naturalized Cinnamon.
He wanted now specific enactment on the
point. The amendment of the committee to
strike ont rejected and the section
was retained-yeas, 26: nays, 80. The
18th section. which defines the words "Chi
ne>e laborers" wherever used in the act to
mean both skilled and unskilled laborers. and
Chinese employed in mining, was carried by
yeas, %; nays. %. The vote was party one,
except that Messrs. Miller, of California,
Jones, of Nevada, and Cameron, of Wiscon-
sin, voted with the Democrats In the
House the bill passed authorizing the Sioux
City and Pacific Railroad to bridge the
Missouri. The resolution for information re-
garding the Paris monetary conference was
the Speakers action action in removing the
from the Third Auditor stated that S234,-
600 was due the State of Missouri on
account of war claims. The House re-
fused to consider the Lynch Chalmers election
contest. Mr.. Robinson made a speech on the
resolution regarding the imprisonment of
Americans abroad. A substitute offered by
Mr.. Cox adopted. 1t calls the
President to continue his efforts to secure the
release or prompt trial Of imprisoned Ameri-
cans.
THE Chinese bill came up in the Senate
on the 26th and was discussed by Messrs
Slater and Hawley. Mr.. Edmunds moved an
amendment defining the expression, Chinese
laborers as persons usually engaged in man
ual labor. LIN the House the Lynch Cham
bers election contest was considered and
both majo, ity and minority reports read.
There was some political talk and the bill was
laid over.
IN the Senate, on the 9th, Mr.. Sherman
introduced bill directing coinage of stand
ard silver dollars only when demanded for
public use and convenience. The motion to
take up the bill to punish the unlawful Ger
LITIGATION of the bank checks was lost by q
tie vote. There was lively discussion
over the political disabilities bill, after
which the Chinese bill was taken up and de-
hated, without action. In the House, Mr.
Townsend of Ohio submitted the conference
report on the life saving service bill. The
amendment recommending the pension fea-
tnre was adopted The ynch Chalmers
election contest was considered; argument of
both contestants was heard and the case laid
over.