The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1882-12-29
HOUSE.

Dec. 14.--Mr. Pound reported back a res
olution of inquiry IS to whether patents to
unearned lands had been issued to railroad
companies Mr.. Epson offered resolution
calling for report of all failures 10 carry
out mail contracts. Mr.. Converse intro
the grounds of Columbus barracks to the
Eastern Railroad company. The house
went into committee of the whole on the
p0stoffice appropriation bill. Considerable
discussion. arose over the. failure to make
provision for fast mails, Mr. Robson ex--
planning that the Chicago and Omaha pool
was the difficulty encountered Mr.. Reag
an entered protest against reduction in
the rate of postage. The committee rose,
and the house passed bill to place Robert
Smalls on the retired list of the navy for
running a rebel gunbOat out of Charleston
during the war.
Dec. 15-In the house as a question of
privilege, Mr.. Reed presented the memorial
of Jas. III. Mclean, who was elected to the
present congress to succeed the late Thomas
Allen, of Missouri, and who was refused
certificate because the Second district had
been legislated out of existence. After con-
siderable debate 1t was resolved by IA to Is,
to swear in Mr.. Mclean, and he took the
oath. Mr.. Martin introduced bill to al
low a drawback on articles for export man.
ufactured in part of imported material. The
pOstoffice bill was taken up. Mr.. Town
ish postage on secOnd-class matter. Mr..
Reagan, who was postmaster general of the
cOnfederacy, thoughta reduction in the rate
of postage would remove small tax from
those best able to bear it. Mr.. Robson ar
gued In behalf of a cut to 2cents. Mr.. Cas-
well secured an increase of $3.50, 900 for star
service.
Dec. 16.-The house passed bill author
ing the Soldiers home commissioners to sell
certain property at HarrOdsburg, Kentucky.
The pOstoffice appropriation bill was con-
sidered In committee, and the proposition
for special mail facilities was rejected. Mr..
Holman gave notice OF an amendment pro-
viding that land-grant roads shall receive
only half the compensation allowed to 9th
er railways for carrying mails. Mr.. Wads-
worth reported a bill to grant pension to
the widow of Major General Warren. A
bill was passed to cede to the First taxing
district of Tennessee certain lands in the
city Of Memphis. Mr.. IiscOck offered a
resolution for holiday recess from Decem-
Der y to January3.
Dec. 1S.-The desk of the late Hon. G. s.
Ortiz in the house was draped In mourn
ing, and the chaplain alluded to his death
In tender. phrases. Mr.. Butterworth offer
tobacco trade by the proposition to reduce
the tax, and pledging the house to grant n
rebate on unbrOken packages should the tax
be repealed. Mr.. Kelley reported back un-
fav0rably the resolution for a holiday re-
cess, and 1t was voted down by los to f23.
A resolution offered by Mr.. Robson, to
impose a fine of fifty dollars per day on
members absent during the holidays, was
adopted.
DEC. ia bill was introduced to limit
the number OF liquor saloons In the District
of Columbia to two hundred. Mr.. Mills Of
fered resolution inquiring of the pOstmas-
ter general III letter-carrers had been pro-
hibited from wearing OvercOats. A number
of requests for leave of absence having been
presented, IL was voted by III to 101, to adj
jOurn from December % to January 2. Bills
were intrOduced-to prevent federal office
holders from interfering with the freedom
of elections, to stop the Importation Of adul-
terated tea, to annul the anti-polygamy law
and to repeal the statutes for the preemp-
ton Of public lands. A resolution was
adopted that the Garfield board of audit re-
port all claims presented and allowed. The
postofiice appropriation bill was considered
In committee Of the whole and the relations
of the Pacific roads to the government were
fully explained. "a
tDEC. 20.-The house passed bill to per-
nit retired army officers to hold civil Of
fees In the territories, after rejecting an
amendment to cover their retired pay into
the treasury. The postofiice appropriation
bill was passed. Mr.. Lynch offered resO-
luton to extend the provisions of the pen
sion appropriation bill to enlisted colored
men, Fifteen leaves Of absence were
granted.