Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-06-06
WHAT CONGRESS Is DOING.
A Lively Colloquy I'm the HOuse-The
General Deficiency Appropriation
Bill-Matters Of District Interest.
Senate To-day.

Senate To-day.
The chair submitted message from the Presi-
dent. transmitting from the Secretary OF State
copy OF the instruction OF May 9Th to Minister Low
ell respecting the modification of the Clayton
BpIwer treaty. Referred to the committee on for
eign relations
House amendments to the bill providing for the
erection of public buildings at Pensacola, Fla, and
Concord, N H., (reducng the appropriations
| Mr. Sewei presented and had read at the clerks
| desk resolutions OF the New Jersey legislature
and Moore house I at YORKTOWN. Va inc Referred 'a'n
Mr.. Vance, from the committee on naval affairs,
SIN
railroad ran through the governments farm at Annap-
| passed
demeanor the solicitation by any executive officer.
clerk or employe OF the United States, not head
OF department, OF money. property or other thing
OF value, and the giving or receiving OF the same
atty imposed is fine Of $500 and the deposition Of
the offender from office. Referred TO the commit
Mr: Rollins introduced joint resolution for the
appointment OF commission the Secretaries of
| the Treasury and Navy and Postmaster General,
with three Senators and three Representatives.
| steamships suitable for naval uses. Referred to
the committee on naval affairs
REDUCTION OF POSTAGE.
MI. Davis wv. Va.) offered a resolution setting
forth that although the rate Of postage all mail
matter has been several times largely reduced yet
soon after each reduction the revenues OF the Post
Onhce department have increased; and that the
Postmaster General now estimates that during
the coming fiscal year his department will be more
than self-sustaining. II Therefore requests the
committee on post ofnces to inquire into and
report upon the eXpediency and DrOpriety Of
reducing the rate OF postage on all letters to two
cents and on newspapers and other printed matter
| rate on all merchandise authorized to be sent
| through the mails. Adopted.
The army appropriation bill was again consid-
cred, the question being upon the compulsory fea-
tUre OF the retirement clause
House Of Representatives.
Mr.. Kelley, chairman Of the committee on ways
and means, submitted In the House to-day the
report OF that committee upon the resolution
onered by Mr. White, relating to the passage of
the bill extending the bonded period for distilled
spirits. Ordered printed and laid on table.
Mr.. Ranney, from the committee on elections
| case of Witherspoon VS.. Davidson, from the lst
Congressional district Of Florida, granting the
contestant leave to withdraw his contest Laid on
table.
Mr. Dingley, from the committee on banking
and currency, reported bill TO suspend the issue
OF silver certificates and to limit the Coinage OF
silver dollars to the requirements of the people.
House calendar.
MI. Page, chairman of the committee on COM
merce reported back the river and harbOr apprO-
whole.
MIR: Reed. from the committee on judiciary. sub
mtted report upon the subject OF the Northern
Pacific railroad land grants Laid on table. 1.-THE
report states that the committee can conceive OF
no legislation which would hasten the completion
OF the road, and therefore recommends none]'
Mr.. Kelley, chairman OF the committee on ways
and means, reported bill correcting an error in
apparel composed Of wool subject only to the same
rate OF duty as that composed OF linen and silk.
~ nf fha hn1a
Mr.. Pound, from the committee on public lands,
reported resolution calling on the Secretary OF
tending to show the truth or falsity OF the aega-
t1on OF j. w. L. Barnes. that certain land grant
railroads have received certificates for lands in
cess OF the amount due them under the acts grant
ing the lands. Adopted.
QUESTION OF PRIVILEGE.
MI. White arising to question OF personal privi
lege, asked for present action upon the report
made from the committee on ways and means this
morning on the resolution previously offered by
him, calling on the Secretary OF the Treasury for
his views upon the conduct OF the head of the In
ternal Revenue bureau relative to the passage OF
the bill to extend the bonded period for distilled
spirits. In the course OF his remarks he re-
ferred to the statement made by Mr. Kelly
yesterday to the effect that the report would have
gentleman from Kentucky {White.) This state
ment he declared to be untrue, unkind, ungener-
GUS and in violation OF the rules of the House. and
but part of that system OF budoZing which had
been adopted to justify the improper conduct OF
the committee on ways and means In reporting
bill which swinded the country out OF $50 900.
MR. WHITE CALLED TO ORDER.
Mr.. Errett called Mr.. White to order, and the
latter declared his willingness to have his words
taken down.
Mr.. Kelley.-I nope that so far as the gentle
mans words apply to me, he will be permitted to
indulge in them and not be held responsible, for
do not regard him as responsible. [Laughter.]
Mr.. White:-In that report Will be found white:
washing OF the committee and whitewaSlhng Of
COrrunt Official Treasury
Mr. Kelley said that after his last denomination
for Congress, Mr.. Burchard, the director OF the
mint, had playfully said that he supposed that he
[Kelley) would be candidate for Congress for the
less Stricken down own by paralysis or iunaey just
then Mr. Cox. of New York, came along and sug-
gested that lunacy was no cause OF exclusion. +!
thought that was wttticism, but, concluded
Kelley, find it is but statement OF fact Laugh
The Speaker and Mr. White then had an ami
mated cooquy to the latter's right to the floor,
which resulted In the Spea&er ordering the SER
geant-atarms to see that gentlemen did not again
interrupt the orderly conduct OF business.
THE SPEAKER THEN DECIDED
that it was not In order at the present time to
slider the report Of the committee on ways and
means.
GENERAL DEFICIENCY APPROPRIATION BILL.
The House then, at 12:40 went into committee of
the whole (Mr. Updegra. of Iowa, in the chair3 on
the general deficiency appropriation bill.
amendments
THE YORKTOWN CELEBRATION.
Mr.. McCook, OF New York, called attention to the
clause appropriaring sa2 e8 to meet the liabilities
incurred by the Yorktown Centennial commission.
He thought that the management OF the celebra-
tion must have been conducted in very extrava-
CANT manner.
The expenditure was Aefended by Messrs His
cock, Martin, and Holman, the former stating that
it was an unseemly thing for Congress to critcise
the expense OF enter rtafnment the representa-
tive3 or the French people.
The District I'm Congress-.
THE RECLAMATION OF THE RIVER FLATS.
The testimony taken by the Senate committee
on improvement Of the river front in relation to
the reclamation Of the flats has been printed, and
| was to-day received by the committee. The COM
mittees report and the bill for the reclamation of
the fats Will probably be presented to the Senate
early next week.
BILLS REPORTED IN THE HOUSE TODAY.
| The following bills were reported from the COM
mttee on the District of Columbia and referred to
the House calendar to-day: To provide for the sus
pension OF the collection of special assessments In
| the District OF Columbia until the improvements