The Dallas weekly herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1885, 1882-05-11
vasIon of existing custom duties OF

ijy Finloy--To authorize the Sandiord ,
Indian River railroad company to cOnstruC
bridge across the ~. Johns river, In FlOl
! ida, and TO establish II as port Of trade.
= by Scales-Proyiding that homestead an
4 personal property exempted as proyldet
for under the laws of each state, shall not b
, liable TO execution of judgments obtainet
on claims due the United States.
The house then took up the bill to en-
large the duties and powers of the depart
ment of agriculture.
Anderson, of Kansas explained and ad
yocated the bill.
Aiken, of South Carolina, supported the
proposition to elevate 10 the dignity of an
executive department the bureau OF agri
culture, which represented the great farm
ing interests, on which rested the welfare OF
the government.
Muldrow, of Mississippi, advocated the
pending bill, maintaining that no good
reason could be shown why the department
of agriculture should be at an inferior grade
in comparison with the executive depart
nents ofthe government. Agriculture was q
paramount interest of the country and this
fact sheuld be recognized in the legislation
OF congress and in treaties of this govern
ment with foreign countries of any import
anCe in their effect on the agricultural in
| tersts, and he contended that the representa-
lives of those interests should have place
in the cabinet of the president.
Kenna, of West Virginia, was in favor
of a substitute offered by him
providing for departments of indus
tries to consist of division of ag-
rculture and a division of commerce.
| Speeches in favor of creating department
of agriculture were also delivered by Car
| penter, of Iowa. Geddes, Of Ohio, Rich, of
Michigan. and Grant, of Vermont, and
then, at O'Clock, the house tool, recess
until 1880, the evening session to be for de-
bate on the subject.
The speaker stated he would be absent
for two days, and that Burrows, Of Michi-
gan, would occupy the chair.
CONTRIBUTIONS.
The senate to-day confirmed as post
masters: John Sullivan, Starkville; James
w. Flanagan, jr., Longview, Texas The
nomination Of Temple G. Byrne, as post
master at Terrell, was rejected.
SENATE.
WASHINGTON, May 9.--The district COM
mittee was instructed to inquire into the
management of the Jail with reference to
privileges granted prisoners and the free
dom with which visitors are admitted. The
recent escape was referred to, also the re-
ports that 4 notorious prisoner holds a
daily levee and receives on Sundays from
sixty to one hundred visitors.
After disposing of+the routine OF busi-
ness the bill establishing intermediate ap-
pellate courts to relieve the supreme court
of the press of business was further dis,
cussed without action.
A communication was received from the
superintendent of the census asking an ap-
preparation of $4,000 to defray expenses
OF the Office for the remainder of the fiscal
year.
After executive session the senate ad-
journed.
HOUSE.
The house took up the bill to enlarge the
duties and powers of the department of
agriculture.
The bill was read by sections for amend
ments.
Townshend, of Illinois, offered an amend
ment providing that the secretary of agri'
culture shall be a practical and eXpe-
rienced agriculturalist. Adopted. -
The provision of the bill transferring to
the new department OF agriculture powers
and duties vested in the commission known
as the geological survey, was stricken out.
Dunnell, of Minnesota, offered an
amendment providing for a division of for
estry, the chief of which shall ascertain
| annual amount of consumption, eXporta-
ton and importation of timber and other
! forest products, the probable supply for tu-
ture wants, and the means best adapted for
the preservation and renewal Of forests.
Adopted.
Kenna, of West Virginia, then offered his
substitute for the original bill. The ages
and nays were then ordered, pending which
Randall moved that the house adjourn.
| Lost-ayes, 50; nays, 80.
The question then recurred on Kenna's
substitute, and it was reiected-ayes, so;
nays, lis.
Hubbell of Michigan, then submitted
an amendment to the bill agreed to by the
committee on civil service reform. Upon
this and upon the original bill the previous
question was ordered.
TNoTE-The condition of the wires ha.
seriously affected reports from Washing
ton