Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-06-21
WHAT CONGRESS is DOING TO-DAY.
Senate To-day.

Mr. Dawes presented and had read at the clerks
desk, in the Senate to-day, sundry petitions signed
by the governor, members of the state senate,
board OF education, and other officials OF Massa-
chusetts, the subject of ilteracy in the states
and In behalf of appropriations in aid Of common
schools in the states
Committee reports were made as follows:
By Mr. Rollins, from naval affairS.-Favorably,
the Senate joint resolution for the appointment OF
commission on the revival OF international COM
merce in U. s. steamships suitable for naval uses.
BY Mr.. Harrison, from the committee on military
Enthusiastically, with amendment, the Senate
bill to increase the efficiency of the signal service
of the army.
Enthusiastically, House Joint resolution con-
cerning an International fishery exhibition to be
held at London In May. 1888;
The reported bills were placed on the calendar.
Mr.. Brown submitted amendments which he
intends to offer to the river and harbor bill, ap
propriating $4,000 for the Savannah river, above
Augusta; S5 0C0 for the navigable chanLel through
the RomDey marsh, near Savannah; and $4,000
for Brunswick harbor, Ga. Referred TO COMMITTEES
Mr.. Malone called up the Senate bill for public
buildings at Lynchburg, Arlington, and Harrison
burg, Va, and moved to insert $50 600 for build
ing-a Abingdon. After discussion the amendment
was carried by yeas 80, nays q. Those of the men,
berS OF the public buildings committee who re-
sponded voted "no." The bill then passed.
Mr. Dawes reported from the committee on
Indian affairs original bill granting the right
OF way to the Arizona Southern Railroad Company
through the Papago Indian reservation in Arizona.
Referred to the railroad committee.
PROPOSED INVESTIGATION OF LABOR STRIKES.
Mr.. Morgan called up his resolution for a COM
mttee OF investigation into the labor strikes, their
causes and remedy, the committee to sit during
the vacation to visit different places to send for
persons and papers, to examine persons under oath.
Mr.. Morgan, in support OF the resolution, dis
Claimed for 1t any personal, partisan or other pur
pose than as means of securing authentic in
formation as to the causes of the labor agitation
and their amel1OratiOn or prevention. He said he
could not serve as chairman If the committee was
authorized. He spoke of the universally OF the
strikes as indicating the presence of deep-rooted
economic question, OF which but little was gen.
orally unde rStOOd.
Mr.. George urged the importance and necessity
OF the proposed inquiry, and reviewed some of the
probable causes OF the present antagonsn be
Further discussion, participated IN by Messrs.
Morrill,, Hoar, Davis, OF w. Va, Garland and
Sherman, developed general unanimity OF sentl-
meAt In favor OF the early passage OF the resolu-
tiOn. The only diversity of opinion was as to the
method in which the investigation should be made,
The resolution was finally referred to the COM
mittee On education and labor, with instructions
to report upon 1t within one week.
The Senate resumed consideration OF the House
bill TO enable national banking associations to
tend their corporate existence.
House Of Representatives.
The Speaker teing absent this morning, the
House was called to order by Mr.. Burrows, OF
Michigan.
THE WRONG BILL PASSED.
Mr.. Reagan, arising to question OF privilege,
stated that the bill passed on Monday last "to
regulate immigration" was not in the shape In
which it was intended to pass it. The committee
on commerce had intended to pass substitute for
the original bill, but by mistake the wrong draft
had been sent to the clerks desk On his motion
a resolution was adopted requesting the Senate to
return the bill to the House.
1.-THE main difference between the bill as passed
and the substitute is that the former charges the
cost OF returning paupers, criminals, &C., to the
nation to which they belong, while the latter
charges it to the steamship company bringing
them over
On motion OF Mr. Russell, Senate amendments
were concurred in to the House bill to admit free
of duty articles intended for the exhibition OF art
and industry TO be held at Boston during the year
The House then resumed the consideration of
the bill for the erection OF Congressional library
building.
THE CONGRESSIONAL LIBRARY ELL DISCUSSED.
Mr.. Geddes argued that it was absolutely neces-
sary that suitable accommodation should be pro-
vded for the valuable library in the possession of
the government, but contended that it would be
far more convenient and economical to have the
building erected in Judiciary Square, a govern
ment reservation in the central portion OF the city,
'' Mr. Townshend end said that he he Believed Believed oi1 from
what he saw In the public prints that persons
owning property east OF the Capitol were seeking
Mr.. Rice Mass.) declared that more persons had
been heard In opposition to the proposed site than
no foundation for the charge that lobbying had
been reSOrted to.
Mr.. Townshcnd inquired whether the gentleman
was not aware OF the fact that persons had made
an assessment OF three per cent on property
owners east of the Capitol. for the purpose OF de-
fraying the expenses toward securing the sale Of
their property to the government.
Mr.. Rice replied that he had never heard of such
thing until yesterday. He believed that the
matter IT, r. saoqli be investigated but he did hot
OF merltorious bill.
Mr.. Reed said that he did not think that any
suggestions On the floor rejecting directly or
indirectly on the integrity of the body to
unsn as ps0ngsa a s7 pan scamp naa
who owned this property, it was no ground for
coming in here and impugnng the honesty Of
any member of the House to whom money could
be applied for the purpose OF carrying through a
great public measure like the present, let him
come in and make his statement; but when he
came into self-respectng body like the House
with such an insinuation, it ought to be repelled
Mr.. Townshend asserted that he had made no
charge whatever; he had cast no imputaton what
ever on any member OF the House. lie then read
from the Chicago Tribune an article charging there
was real estate ring of eastern men who owned
the property east of the Capitol, and who wished
He wished to call attention to the circumstance
that no man who had championed this bill had
come from the south or west. and there was no
charge that southern or western men owned an
inch OF real estate which they sought to unload on
the government
Mr.. Riee.-The gentleman's last remark shows
not only an anmuS, but an ignorance that was
astonishing in regard to the matter upon which
he had made such serious charges
Mr.. Townshend.-I have made no charge.
Mr.. Rice, in reply TO Mr.. Tewnshend's remark
that no southern man favored the bill, stated that
two OF its most earnest advocates were Senator
voorhees, and Butler. II Mr.. Gibson were present
he would be found championing the bill. He de-
sired to repel any intimatiOn that eastern men had
been influenced In this matter by any such influ-
ence as was alleged by the gentleman from Illi-
nOIS
Mr.. Humphrey. member OF the committee
which reported the bill, denied vigorously that the
committee had ever heard OF any lobbying. and he
hoped that no member would ever again stand on
this floor and repeat from any newspaper what
ever that there was job Id any meritorious meas
ure without bringing proof or the statement. It
was not worthy OF man. The time had come
when Congress should not remain silent on mat
ter of this kind.
After further. and at times acrimonious discus
sion, Mr.. Rice moved to postpone the further con-
slderatton OF the bill until the 18th OF December,
| 1882
Pending which r...Randall moved to lay the
bill on the table. LOst--yeas 12, nays ia
Mr. Rice'S motion was then agreed to without
division.
The District I'm Congress.
TEN DISTRICT JUeTIcEs OF THE PEACE CONFIRMEp.
The nominations OF the following justices of the
peace for this District were confirmed yester Law