The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1882-05-26
WASHINGTON. MAY 22d. 1882.

WASHINGTON, May 22d, 1882.
Congress is making considerable pro-
gress in the business of legislation, and
mas a show of industry. Although
the hour of meeting is eleven o'clock
A. NJ, the members of both Houses
are tardy in making their appearance
often less than dozen members of
the Senate, and less than two dozen
members of the House are in attend
ance when the presiding officer calls TO
order. The first duty on the opening
devolves on the chaplain; it is no
pleasant task for him to offer prayer
to empty seats. Half an hour later
the usual number of members are in
their seats, and, if matters of particu-
lar interest are anticipated by the out
side multitude, the galleries are soon
occupied
The Wisconsin members generally,
unlike many members from other
states, resisted the temptation to at
tend the races the past week and re-
manned at their posts. Most of them
are pressed with business on theirre-
spective committees; especially is this
true of Humphrey ON the Judiciary
Committee. and Williams, chairman
of the Committee on Foreign Affairs.
Both of the committees have been
hard worked for weeks. 1t should
have been noticed last week that Mr..
Williams, of Wisconsin, made a valu-
able speech on the bill to enlarge the
duties of the Department of Agricul-
ture, showing the extent of England's
manufacturing and commercial inter
estS as compared with our vast Amer
lean agricultural interests. In view
of the fact that we are pre.eminently
an agricultural people, he maintains
that greater prominence should be
given to the Department of Agricul
ture. He presented forcible reasons
why this Department should be put or
an equality with other governmental
Departments, and the Commissioner
thereof be made a member of the
Cabinet.
THE HOUSE VOTES TO EXTEND MA.
TIONAL BANK CHARTERS TWENTY
YEARS.
The bill to extend the charters of
the National banks for twenty years
with additional regulations to the
present law for the government of the
banks, passed the House by decisive
vote of 1875 to 81. The discussions on
the question of extending the charters
of the banks disclosed the face that
the Republicans were nearly unani.
mously in favor of a renewal OF
the charters. The Democrats gen.
orally favored giving the banks suf-
ficient time after the expiration OF
their present charters to wind up their
business for retirement. Of the 81
votes against the bill, 60 were
Democrats. 1t is commended, not with.
out good reason, that if the banks were
denied an extension of their charters
compelled to call in their loans, and
close business, Il general panic and de.
preston would follow throughout the
country. The people have had enough
embarrassing experiences of business
revulsions. The country is now pros.
porous under the present banking sys-
tenn, therefore why dispense with it?
1t is not denied that all properly con-
Quoted banks afford conveniences for
the people but it is complained they
are making too large profits. Doubt
less they are making satisfactory prof
its, just as most other combinations of
capital are. What sane men in these
times invest capital in business with
out reasonable expectation of realiz.
ing profits?
RACE COURSE-NEN HIGH IN OFFICE
INTENSELY INTERESTED.
They have race course on the east
ern borders of this city, which appears
to be immensely popular. 1t would
not be alluded to, were it not for the
intense curiosity witnessed in Con-
gress, as well as by the high officials,
to attend the races. 1t had been pre-
viously understood that the vote
should be taken on Thursday, at 4
o'clock P. NJ, on bill of much nation
al Importance, to extend the charters
of the National banks, all of which ex-
pire the present year. On Thursday
the races were to begin, and repeated
during the balance of the week. After
the opening of the session en- Thursday
an effort was made in the House to
change the hour of voting on the bill
to one o'clock, to give members the
balance of the afternoon to witness the
trials of speed on the race track. The
to change the hour of voting
caused considerable racket. Mr.. Rob-
inson, member from Massachusetts,
arose, and, lifting his voice above the
clamor, addressed the chair, Mr.
Speaker--Is the business of the House
to be suspended to accommodate the
to attend the races ?" The
only response was violent pounding
Of the Speakers gavel on the table.
The attempt to change the hour of yot-
ing on the banking bill having failed,
such members as could not resist the
to see the sports betook
themselves to the race course, leaving
the banking bill to its fate.
The President of the United States,
members of the Cabinet, Senators and
Representatives, Foreign Ministers
and all classes, high and low, were
on the race grounds. US.
Senator Beck officiated as one of the
judges. Ladies of high rank were on
the stand. Whether they caught the
general infection of betting on fast
horses, which, it is said, so generally
prevailed with the other sex, is not