The Evening critic., 1882-01-24
MAKING LAWS.
WORK ON CAPITOL HILL.
what senatore ana Representatives
are Doing To-dav-A Short rarifI
Discussion in the House - The
Funding BILL in the Senate-Notes
md Comments.

In the Senate to-day Senator Anthony
presented the petition Of 600 employees of
the Census Bureau, asking for one months
additional pay.
Senator Edmunds, from the Committee
on Judiciary, reported a bill tc punish
polygamy and for other purposes.
Mr. Morrill,, from tho Committee on
Finance, reported back adversely several
bills looking TO a metric coinage.
Mr.. Blair, from the Committee on PEN
sons, reported bill for the relief of Mrs
Lincoln. The bill gives her $4,000 and a
pension of $4,000 during her natural life.
1t was passed unanimously.
Mr.. George introduced q bill making the
Agricultural Department an Executive
Department.
Mr.. Davis, of West Virginia, introduced
a bill to incorporate the National Guarantee
Fidelity Company of the District of
Columbia.
The morning hour being over, Mr.. Sher-
mans funding bill was taken up aud Mr..
Call took the floor. He will probably get
through to-day.
In the House.
A privileged report was submitted to the
House this morning directing the Commit.
tee ON Commerce to inquire into the for
eign carrying trade, which was adopted.
Messrs. Abraham s. Hewitt and J...Hyatt
Smith were granted indefinite leave of ab-
sence, the latter on account of sickness, and
the former to attend the funeral of the late
Clarkson N. Potter.
The House considered spiritedly bill,
the significance of which was the removal
of duty until January 1, 1884, on all con-
tributions from abroad to charitable objects
in this country. There was neat little
debate on this bill. The bill was reported
from the Ways and Means Committee pro-
viding for the passage free of duty of lot
of clothing contributed by foreign philan-
thropists for the colored exodusters in
Kansas.
The proposition to extend the scope or
the measure to other charitable objects was
a motion by Sam Cox, who said addressing
that prince of protectionists, Judge Kelley,
chairman of the Ways and Means Commit
tee, that it would be no more unreasonable
to enlarge the scope of the measure than
the action Of the House was when it agreed
formerly to admit free menagerie of all
the animals in the ark to attend the Phila-
delphia Centennial to study human nature
Hooker, of Mississippi, insisted that the
bill was proposition to open up channel
for admitting goods free unrestricted.
Mr.. Haskell, with a good deal of noise,
ploNtu bHdb III only TeltrIcu 10 clOUnln5.
Mr.. Cox explained that the object of his
motion was simply to give equal privileges
to white as well as colored people, and in a
neat little speech with the text, Give the
white man chance" he advocated his
amendment.
After further discussion the bill was
| passed.
Mr.. Humphrey, who evidently had
| constituent unprovided for, introduced
rrc Int fn int mn o1I nj ,t,
| charge of the House elevator, maintaining
that the hours, from a. m. to 5 p. m,
were too severe on one person.
The resolution was referred to the Com
| mittee on Accounts.
number of committees reported during
| the morning hour. The most interesting
report was the favorable recommendation
of the resolution calling on the Secretary
| of War for q statement of the expenditures
| of appropriations for the Signal Service
| from 1875 to 1881, including all disburse-
| ments made by Capt. Henry w. Howgate.
| This was adopted.
The House then went into Committee of
the Whole on the fortification bill.
| Capitol Notes.
| Next Thursday is set apart for general
| debate in the House.
Ex-senator Eaton and Dr. Loring were on
the floor of the Senate to-day.
| THE President sent to the Senate the
nominations of two United States Marshals
and number of postmasters.
Mr.. Chauncey 1. Filley, of ST. Louis,
| was at the Capitol to-day. 1t is understood
| that he is after the st. Louis post-oflice.
| The House Committee on Rules have
under discussion the propriety of reportin &
a resolution creating a select committee on
inter oceanic routes 1t is alleged that the
Committee on Foreign Affairs will oppose
any such proposition.
nv. Cox, of New York, has introduced q
bill calling on the President for all CORE.
spondence with the British government on
file in the State Department in reference to
tie case of d. II. OConner, citizen of the
United States and imprisoned in Ireland.
The Invalid Pensions Committee of the
House to- day received reports from the sub
committees on House bills 1916, 1876 and
to the House. The committee hereafter
will not consider bills referred to it which
have not been first presented to the Pen
siop. office.
| Postmaster General Howe intends to ask
Congress for authority to delegate some per
son to sign the warrants issued by the Post
office Department. This is strictly rou-
tine duty, and consumes much valuable
time, owing to the large number of the
| WarTdnt5. n slulllar power Is cOuIcrrcu Dy
law upon the Secretary of the Treasury.
The House Committee on Pensions have
appointed the following subcommittee
On subjects relating to the Mexican and
Indian wars, Messrs. Hepburn, Stone, Steele
Hewitt of Alabama and Burrows; on sub
jects relating to the war of 1872, Messrs. Rice
Weber and Robinson; on subjects relating
to the life-saving service, Messrs. Marsh
Fulkerson and Cox.
Representative Bliss, of New York, ha.
introduced a bill proposing that all pen
sioners now on the pension rolls or who
may hereafter be placed thereon by reasor
of the amputation of either arm or by reasoI
of having been totally and permanently
disabled by exsection or otherwise in eitho
arm shall receive q pension at the rate o
$3.50 per month from the date of the ap
proyal of the act.
Thursday next has been set apart by tn
House Committee on Post offices and Post
roads to hear q delegation from the tarit
convention ON the subject of subsidizinl
United States mail steamers in order tina
they may be able to compete with foreigi
ships in oceanic commerce. The committe
has not yet acted upon the Presidents Mes
sage recommending legislation for maxim
, | awards for Star mail routes
: Representative Norcross, of Massachusett:
has introduced bill providing that ma
| tional banks shall be entitled to issue Gil