Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1882-12-05
CONGRESS- CONVENED.
A RATHER BUSY OPENING DAY
IN BOTH HOUSES.

IN DUH hOJSElS.
new members sworn INA Variety of
Fresh Legislation Proposed-A Riu
for Prohibiting Political Assessments
Free Ships and Cheaper Ship-buiId-
ing Materials-The Deaths of Senator
Hill and Representatives Lowe and
Updegraff Announced.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 4.-In consequence
OF an unrescinded order of the last session
liking the hour of IL a, IN. for the daily
assembling of the House, the second ses-
sion of the Forty Congress was
to-day opened by the Speaker at that hour.
The galleries, though not crowded. were
comfortably filled, and on the floor a bust
ing throng Ofmembers engaged in friendly
greetings and in exchanging iocular re-
marks in reference to the recent election.
Inc appearance of the chamber is not
changed. The same dingy carpet covers
the moor, though the reVarnishing of the
desks tends to make the hall look some
what brighter. The desk occupied during
the last session by the late Representative
Cpdegfa1, OF Ohlo, was tastefully dressed
IN Dlack and Qrnamented with basket of
flowers,
In his opening prayer the Chaplain of
the House alluded to the deaths of Repre-
ssentatlves Lowe and Updegraff, and gave
thanks that the other members had been
preserved during the recess in health and
prosperity.
The Speaker then formally declared the
session opened and the Clerk proceeded to
call the roll of members.
Inc roll call disclosed the presence of
2O2 members. The following gentlemen
We're then sworn in as members of the
House to I'LL vacancies: r. r. Hit, of IL
nnols, to succeed Mr. Hawk; Seaborn
Reese, of Georgia. to succeed Mr.. Ste
phens; Chas. NJ. Shelley. of Alabama. TO
succeed himself
Mr.. Calkins, of Indiana. presented bv
request a memorial against the swearing
III of Mr.. Shelley, but asked for no action
beyond the reference of the memorial to
the Committee on Elections, which was
done.
The Speaker laid before the House the
report OF the Tariff Commission, and Mr..
Kelley, of Pennsylvania, moved its refer
ence to the Committee of Ways and Means
The report is submitted in manuscript,
making a very vOluminous document of
1000 pages.
1Ir. COX, of New York, inquired Whether
it was a complete reportS
Mr. Kelley-It is finished work
Mr.. COX-Does this discharge the COM
mission?
Mr.. KelIey-That is the understanding of
the commission. Their Secretary leaves
Washington to-day en- route to Europe,
Mr, CoA-I am very happy to hear it.
Laughter,
The report was referred to the Commit
tee of Ways and Means and ordered
printed.
Mr.. Ryan, of Kansas, from the Commit
tee ON Appropriations, reported Ebe In
dian appropriation bill, and it was re-
ferred to the committee of the whole.
The Speaker then as the regular order
proceeded to call the States for bills.
which were introduced and referred in
large number. Among them was one in
troduced by Mr.. Herbert, Of Alabama, to
further protect the executive officers and
employees of the United States Government
from political assessments, 1t prohibits
any Senator or Representative in Con-
gress, or officer appointed by the Presi-
dent, from requesting or demanding from
any of the officers or employees of the gov
ernment money or other thing of value for
political purposes.
Mr.. Vance, Of North Carolina. intro
duced bill 10 repeal the internal revenue
laws.
Mr.. HOuk, of Tennessee-To preserve
the purity of the franchise, and to punish
bribery and other Otienses against free
ballot
Mr.. Dingley, of Maine-To remove GER
tain burdens on the American merchant
marine, and to amend the laws relating to
the discharge of seamen, and also bill
providing for the importation in bond free
of duty Of iron materials necessary for
the construction of sail or steam vessels
to be employed i'll the foreign carrying
trade, such vessels to be built after Jan
uary l, 1883, and before January 1, 1890.
p Of Nov Nc.rI- r.
the purchase of foreign built ships by
citizens of the United States for use in the
foreign carrying t'ade. Also giving
notice of the termination of the treaty of
1868 with the North German COnfedera-
ton.
By Mr.. Gibson, of LOuisiana-Amend-
ing the rules of the House so that
all subjects relating TO the improve
ment of the Mississippi river shall be
referred to the Committee on Levees and
Improvement of the Mississippi River,
and granting that committee the same
privileges in reporting bills making ap-
preparations for the improvement Of that
river as are accorded to the Committee on
Commerce in reporting bills for the i'm
prOVement Of rivers and harbOrs, or to the
Committee on Appropriations in reporting
general appropriation bills.
A resolution was adopted changing tAe
daily hour for the meeting Ct she House
to II O'Clock noon,
At | 35 the Presidents message was re-
ceiyed and Immediately read. The read
ing Of the message was completed al
O'Clock, and, together with the accom-
panying documents, it was ordered printed
and referred to the committee of the whole,
The testimony taken by the special COM
mlttee upon the Mississippi improvement
was ordered printed.
MIR Herbert of A Iqbama tbot, oroer o,,.I
announced to the House the death of Hon.
VIM. Lowe, of Alabama, and was followed
by Mr. Taylor, of Ohio, who announced
the death of Hon. j. 7. Updegraff, and the
House, as a mark of respect to the memo- |
ry of the deceased, at $40 adjourned.
SENATE PROCEEDINGS.
The senate was called to order at noon |
by the President pro tem., Senator Davis. !
of Illinois. After prayer by the Chaplain.
the customary resolutions weia ad6pted
for the appointment OF committees to |
notify the president and House of Repre- !
respectively, that the Senate
had convened and was ready for business.
The President pro TEN, submitted the
reports of the Secretary, Setgeanf-at-Arm
and kinance Clerk Of the Senate. which |
were laid on the table,
A resolution to print twenty thousand
copies of the report of the Tariff Com |
InlSSIOH was IeleTIeu 10 Jn0 committee on /
Printing.
The calendar was then taken up.
After disposing of one or TWO private bills |
the Senate, at p. m, took a recess for |
half an hour.
AT l 30 the Senate was again called TO
order, and the Presidents message was
read and ordered TO be printed
Mr.. Brown, of Georgia, then, in a solemn
and feeling manner, announced the death
of his colleague, Senator Hill, of Georgia. |
He said
" Nr. President: 1t becomes my most
painful duty in this official form to an |
nOunce to the Senate the death of NV late |
colleague, Hon. Benz. II. Hill. That pa !
triotic citizen, grand orator, able states /
man and Christian gentleman died at
his residence in the CITY OF Atlanta
on the 10Th DAY of August last.
The intelligence of the death of Senator |
Hill was read with profound regret !
the whole country, but the I
people of Georgia. whom he had so ably I
served and who had so long delighted to /
honor him, were the greatest sufferers, /
Grief stricken, they bowed their heads in |
sorrow, and will long mourn their irrepar- |
able loss"
Mr.. Brown then offered the customary I
resolution of regret, which was unani- |
mously adopted, and then, on motion of /
Mr.. Brown, the Senate, at 2:j0 D. M. as a /
token of respect for the memory of the /
n1i