St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1882-06-03
TOPICS OF THE DAY
News from Everywhere.
CONGRESSIONAL PROCEEDINGS.

THE8fariff commission bill passed the
House Of Representatives by avote of ISL to
So on the 9th A resolution was adopted per-
hitting the contestant in the Alabama cleo
ton case to withdraw his papers This leaves
Oates in possession of the seat Mr. Hubbell
introduced bill to enlarge the duties
and powers of the Department of Agri-
culture. Referred. It provides the Depart
ment of Agriculture shall hereafter be an ex-
ecutive department and the Commissioner
shall be known as the Secretary of Agrcul-
ture, and bureaus for the collection of infor-
nation concerning railways, manufactures,
mining interests and animal industry shall be
attached to the department.
Mr.. BAYARD urged early action on the
tariff bill, in the Senate. May s, as the com
mission was required to report finally by De-
cembcr next. Mr.. Edmunds objected to any
further proceedings on the bill. Mr.. Beck
said he regarded the bill as in the nature OF
IN affidavit for q continuance, as, ii passed,
it would postpone action two years longer
in the interest of the protectionists. After
a few suggestions upon the course the
, bill ought to take, the President pro tenn.
nounced that it would go to the calendar.
Messrs. Window Hawley, Harrison, CockreH
and Pugh were made committee to investi-
gate the bonded whisky bill Mr. Groome
introduced Il joint resolution rendering the
thanks of Congress to, and comforting
additional rank on, Chief Engineer
was debated and several amend
mentS were rejected, and without final action
the Senate went into executive session and
soon after adjourned. In the House, Mr..
Bragg of Wisconsin. introduced bill for the
RELIEF of Fitz John Porter, similar to a meas
ure offered in the Senate. 1t authorizes the
President to appoint FitZ John Porter, late
Major General of the United States volun-
teers, Brevet Brigadier General and Colonel of
the Army, to the position OF Colonel in the
Army of the United States, to the same grade
and rank held by him at the time of his dis
missa1 from the army by sentence of the
IL t,H.,
him on the retired list of the army as of that
grade. The House proceeded to the conSid-
Grafton OF the bill to enlarge the duties and
powers of the Department of Agriculture
THE House tariff commission bill passed
the Senate, May ., by vote of IS to 10. Six
Democrats voted with the Republican side in
the affirmative and two Republicans with the
minority against the bill. All pending House
bills donating condemned cannon for monu
mental and other purposes also passed. The
District Committee was instructed to inquire
into the management of the Jail with
reference to privileges granted prisoners and
the freedom with which visitors are admit
ted. =. The House resumed consideration of
the bill enlarging the powers of the Agricul-
tural Department. Mr. Townshend, of Hi
nOis, offered an amendment providing that
the Secretary Of Agriculture s, shall be prae-
The provision transferring to the new
Department OF Agriculture the powers
and duties vested in a commission known as
the Geological Survey was stricken out. Mr..
Dunnel (Minn.) offered an amendment pro-
viding division of forestry, the chief of
which shall ascertain the annual amount of
consumption. expectation and importation of
timberand other forest products, the probable
supply for future wants, and means best
adapted for the preservation and renewal Of
mitted an amendment to the bill agreed to by
the Committee on Civil Service Reform. Up
on this and upon the original bill the previ-
GUS question was ordered, and the House ad-
journed.
THE bill for intermediate appellate courts
was proceeded with in the senate, May TO-
Mr.. Davis urged the retention of the section
limiting the appellate jurisdiction of the cir
cult courts. The bill establishing an assay
Office at Deadwood, Oak, passed.. The
House passed-l72 to without amend
ment the bill creating an Executive De-
partment of Agriculture, which provides
that the department shall be under the con:
troll of a Secretary who is an experienced and
practical agriculturist, and establishes de-
partment of agricultural products. industry,
land and statistics. The conference report on
the Indian appropriation was agreed to and
the bill finally passed-yeas, l34; nays, b.
The Geneva award bill was discussed and
went over.
THE Madison Day claim for the value Of
small lot of land in New Orleans, which at the
time purchased by him at judicial sale under
the confiscation act was covered by. mort.
gage, but was bought upon representation of
the Government that no REMEMBRANCE upon
it existed, passed the Senate, May 11-27 to
%. Six Democrats voted with the Republi-
cans in the affirmative. The bill for
intermediate Appellate Courts was further
amendment was adopted on motion Of
Mr.. Davis Ull.) providing more explicitly that
Jurisdiction of Circuit Court shall be neither
enlarged nor abridged by the bill. The con-
ference report upon the Indian appropria-
ton bill was submitted. The total has been
reduced by the conference S45a. 200. The re-
port was concurTed in and the bill passed.
......In the House, Mr.. Sherwin, from
the Committee on Education and Labor, re-
ported bill to aid in support of the common
schools. Printed and recommitted. 1t pro-
vides for the next five years there shall be an
nually appropriated Sic, 100000 to aid III sup
port of free common schools, which amount
shall be apportioned to the several States and
Territories according to the number of their
illiterate population over 10 years of age. An
amount not exceeding per cent. of the sum
apportioned may be used for the education of
teachers in public schools.
PERSONAL AND POLITICAL.
THE President has signed the Chinese
bill.
GEORGE OTTo TREvELYAN has been
appointed Chief Secretary for Ireland.
The State Department and the Gov
eminent Of Mexico are in correspondence
looking to an arrangement to prevent suc-
cessful Indian outbreaks on the border. The