Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1882-06-06
THE NATIONAL CAPITAL.
CONGRESSIONAL PROCEEDINGS.
More NsW BllIs-That Campaign
AssesAment-A Public Building for
PensacOla-The whisky Ring In-
qutry-COnsOltdaIiOn of Pacific
Railroads.

were introduced and referred:
By Mr. Herndon, of Alabama-Authorizin
q preliminary examination and survey of
that section of the country bstween the
Coosa and Tennessee rivers for the purpose
Of ascertaining the practlcability of uniting
them by navlgable canal.
By Mr.. Ellis. of Observation-Disclosures
70 The act Incorporating the Texas Pacific
Railroad Company.
By Mr.. Robertson, of Louisana-Relin-
gushing the cotton tax collected in the
Mississippi valley States, and appropriating
the same for the permanent improvement of
the Mississippi river.
Bv Mr. King, of Louisisns-ADpropriati
100000 for the repair Of the New Orleans
custom house.
By Mr. Batterwortb. of Ohio-Authorizing
the Southern Pacific Railroad Company and
other railroad companies to unite and con-
solidate SO as to form continuous line of
railroad between the tidal waters of the At.
lantic and Pacific oceans.
By Mr.. Robinson of New York-Granting
pension of $1,000 year to s. Randolph
Meikleham, the only surviving grandchild
Of Thomas Jetferson. Also approprIating
$40, 600 for the removal of the remains OF
Thomls Jefferson to Charlottesville, Va,
and for the erection Of a monument over
them.
Mr.. White, of Kentucky, offered a reso-
luton requesting the Secretary of the
Treasury 10 report to the House his views
as to the conduct of the head of the Internal
Revenue Bureau IN connection with the
preparation of the Dunnell bill to extend
the bonded period Of distilled spirits, and
what improper influences, II anv, were
brought to bear on the Commissioner of
Internal Revenue to bias his judgment or to
induce him to make a accommodation to
this House which might result in the loss of
$50 100000 of the peoples money. The
resolution was referred to the Committee
of Ways and Means.
Under a suspension OF the rules a number
OF bills providing for the erection of public
buildings were passed. among them one At
Pensacola, to cost $1,000 being $50 coo
less than the bill called for as it passed the
sensfe, and one at Brooklyn, N. Y, costing
$500 600.
The House then adjourned.
SENATE PROCEEDINGS.
In the Senate, President pro TEN. Davis,
before proceeding with the order OF busi-
ness, made a personal statement regarding
his ABSENCE on Friday. He said he was
suddenly called away from the city, and
that his letter designating Mr.. Ingalls, to
perform the duties of the Chair during that
day was In exact conformity with letter
from a former presiding officer (Mr. Thur
m ~, in pur uance of which a member
Nr. Eaton) temporarily discharged the
duties OF the chair without objection.
Since this precedent has been regarded as
of doubtful authority the Chair, desiring to
guide his action by the judgment OF the
s nate, would feel obliged by a decision
that would relieve this important question
OF its laborious embarrassment.
MIR. Anthony thought that, II the discus
sion OF the question would have the effect Of
emphasizing The necessity for better regula-
tion OF the Presidential succession, It was
fortunate that It had occurred.
After brief remarks by Messrs. Garland,
Logan and Sherman the Committee on
Rnles, on motion of Mr.. Anthony, was in
structed TO inquire into and report upon
the question.
Mr.. Lapham reported favorably from the
Committee on Woman Suffrage, with a
statement Of the views Of the msjority IN
IFS favor. bill for an amendment to the
Constitution giving suffrage TO Woman.
Mr.. George presented a minority report
on the subject. The bill was placed on the
calendar.
Resolutions were offered and disposed of
SIS stated:
BIZ Mr.. ndetor-Requesting the Presi-
dent to transmit all the correspondence not
heretofore communicated between the State
Department and Messrs. Trescott and
Walker Blaine on the Peru-Chili matter.
Adopted.
By Mr.. Pl1mb-R quiring the Public
Printer to report whether the employment
of compositOrs or others in the government
printing office is limited or qualified by the
rules or regulation of any organization,
secret or open; whether the employees there
are under any obligation which requires
them TO abandon their employment at the
dictation o. any person Or association:
whether the Public Printer regards himself
as under any obligation, expressed
or implied, to any organization as to the
personal character or qualification of any
person employed or TO be employed in the
{ ffice in any capacity whatever, and whether
the pr0secu Ion OF the business of the Office
is IL anYwse dependent upon the action cf
any organization existing inside or Ou side
of that Office. Adopted without debate.
The japanese indemnity bill, the regular
order, was laid aside, and the Senate re-
spmed consideration OF the army appropria
tiOn bill, the question being upon the Sen
ate committees amendment providing for
voluntary retirement Of army officers after
fOrtv years service, and compulsory retire.
ment at sixty-twO years of age.
Mr.. Bsysrd asked that the two features be
voted upon separately, and 1t was so Or
dered.
The first branch of the amendment then
prevailed without dissent. Upon the com
pulsory retirement clause considerable de-
bate was had, In the course OF which Mr..
MaNev said the army retired list now cost
the country S0l2,932 annually, and this bill
will increase that sum $500, 900.
The age for compulsory retirement was
finally 6xed at sixty four years.
Mr.. Pendleton offered a resolution In
structiDg the Civil Service Reform Commit
tee to inquire into q political assessment
NOTICE Which has recently been served upon
the government employees in Washington, |
in which notice is embodied his statement:
"Such assessments will not be objected to
In any official quarter"
The committee Is Instructed to Inquire |
what authority the statement Is based upon.
Laid over under objection by Mr.. Plumb,
of Kansas.
Bills were introduced as follows:
By Mr.. Kellogg-Author!Zing the New
Orleans and Northeastern Railroad to con-
strucG BRIDGES over the channels of Pearl
river and Like PCnchartrain.
By Mr.. Jonas-To attach the parishes of
St. Nary aud Iberia to the Western Judicial
Dlstrict OF Louisiana.
The Senate bill making the time required
to acquire hOmesteads on the publ C do
main three Instead of five years came up on
the calendar and was passed.
Adjourned.
CONSOLIDATION OF PACIFIC RAILROADS.
The bill introduced by Representative |
Butterworth, authorizing the consolidation |
OF the Southern aud Atlantic and Pacific |
Railway Companies, provides that nothing |
in the act shall be held to aut horize the con- !
solidation of parallel or competing lines be- |
tween the Pacific coast and ports on the |
Gulf OF Mexico or the Mississippi river to |
impair any right acquired by these com- |
psnies under previous acts Of Congress.
The bill introduced by Representative |
Ellis, o. Louisiana, supplemental to the act |
to incorporate the Texas Southern Pa |
cihc Railroad Company provides that |
the franchises conferred BY the act |
OF Iarch 3, 1881, upon that |
pBrt of the Fexas Pactac Rosd lying west |
OF the Rio Grsnde, at or near El PasO, msy |
be transferred to the Southern Pacific Rail- |
road Company of New Mexico and Arz INA.
and the Los Angeles and San Diego Com |
o nv of California. The bill makes it law |
tul for the roads mentioned to merge into
one company.
THE RECORD or CONTESTS.
The record of contested election cases 10 |
the present House now stands as follows: |
Republican contestants, seated 8; Green !
hacker, seated 1; Republican contestants, |
5; Democratic contest, dismissed |
l; Republican contest abated by the death |
OF the contestee, l (Gillets VS.. HerndCn |
First AlabamaG seat of delegate declared |
vacant Cannon VS.. Campbell Utah Terri |
tory /. Total, IL. Ten cases remain to be |
disposed OF.
ALABAMA CLAIMS.
The President to-day signed the bill re- |
the Court OF Commissioners OF |