Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-01-13
AT THE CAPITOL TODAY.
TWO APPROPRIATION BILLS PASSED
IN THE HOUSE.

4"O AfFAOfA1AT1ON BILLS PASSED
IN THE HOUSE.
Senate PrOceedinga
Mr.. Hoar introduced, by request, a bill relating
to federal elections Referred to the committee on
privileges and elections
PROPOSED INVESTIGATION OF RAILROAD TRANsPoRTA-
TIoN.
Mr.. ingalls, introduced bill to authorize the
President to appoint by, and with the advice and
consent of, the Senate seven commissioners from
civil lfe whose duty 1t shall be to consider and in
vestfgate the subject of railroad transportation,
It's relations to commerce and agriculture gener-
ally, how it Affects these interests what grounds
OF complaint exist resulting from unjust discrimi
nations and exorbitant rates: that the commits
sion shall report to Congress by the first Wednes-
day In December, 1883: that each commissioner
shall receive ten dollars per day while actually
employed and expenses. The commission shall
have power to send for persons and papers, to
travel when and where necessary, and to employ
q clerk and stenographer. The bill was laid on
the table.
THE UTAH ouEsTroN--woMAN SUFFRAGE, ETC.
At the close of the morning business Mr.. Ed
munds moved to postpone the calendar in order to
take up the Senate blu relating to the condition Of
things in Utah.
Mr.. George was not opposed to this bill. but he
thought the BIN to enlarge the powers and duties
Importance. and II the calendar was postponed he
preferred to have that considered.
entitled to prompt consideration by the sanate If
the calendar was to be laid aside Polygamy could
be permanently eradicated only by educating the
children OF Utah, ana the educational bill con-
taiped provisions for that object. He understood.
too, that the Utah bill raised incidentally the
question s OF woman @ snrage' and It would be Idle
growing question could pass without a discussion
W which M would occupy as much time as the revision
the motion to postpone the calendar.
Mr.. CockrelL-Do understand the Senator to
say that the bill which the Senator from Vermont
desires to have considered is in opposition to
Mr. Blalr-I understood him to say So
Mr.. Edmunds.-I did not say it was In opposition
The motion to postpone was lost, ayes 26. noes
S9, and the bill on the calendar to exclude public
lands In Alabama from the operation OF the laws
relating to mineral lands was taken up.
THE BEN HoLLADAY BILL.
Mr. Jones (Nevada) moved to postpone the cal
endar in order TO take up the bill for the relief OF
Ben Holiday While the motion was pending
Mr.. Cockrell moved to go into executive session.
Lost: ayes 81 noes 25. Mr.. Jones' motion to post
pone was agreed to; ayes 2s, noes 26, and was
relief Of Ben Holiday. which was carried; ayes
20, noes "a
Mr.. Plumb moved to strike out all after the en-
acting clause and substitute the bill to enlarge
the powers and duties Of the Department OF Agri-
culture.
MI Williams made the point that the amend
meEt was not germane to the bill.
The President said the Senate had long ago de-
cided that the germaneness OF amendments was
TO be enpsg m on
ed on the words s'Be it enacted" and he was in
formed that toward the end of the last session a
railroad land grant had been engrafted upon a
bill granting pension. [Laughterl
Mr. Plumb addressed the Senate upon his mo-
ton and discussed the merits Of the agricultural
bill
Mr.. Plumb spoke until quarter to two.
MT Williams said he was in favor OF the agricul-
was not In favor OF crowding out the blu the
Senate had ruled to take up.
Mr.. George followed in advocacy OF the agricul-
tural bill
ExECUTIvE SESSION.
The Senate, on Mr.. WINDOWS motion, at 2:25
went into executive session.
House of Representatives.
THE PENSION BILL UNDRR CONSIDERATION
Immediately after the reading OF the journal,
the House went into committee OF the whole (Mr.
Reed in the chair) on the pension appropriation
bill.
pensions, 000 for navy pensions, 81 COO;
for fees and expenses OF examining surgeons
s255, GOO; for pay and allowance Of pension agents.
$290, ,0G0; for contingent expenses, S10,0OOl
Mr. ONeill, under authority of the committee on
appropriations, moved to increase the appropria-
tons for army pensions TO SIS 600 COO Mr. ONeill
there would be an unexpended balance to the
credit OF the pension bureau OF $15 800 OOO which
would bring the appropriation up to the estimates
Of the departments-$1O1,7 $50 GOO
Mr.. Blackburn said that the amendment was
Tight SO far & as It went; but the question was
amounted to $1Ol 10000. This bill appropriated
fS6, 100000 and reapprOprlated the unexp pended
balance which should be On hand at the end OF the
current year. IL was pred1cated on the apprOxi-
mate estimate of the commissioner OF pensions as
to the balance which would be on hand, and
largest possible estimate He feared that this III b
would necess!tate deficiency bill at the next ses-
sion OF Congress.
Mr.. ONeill, OF Pennsylvania said that the reason
that there would be balance on hand was that at
the beginning of the current fiscal year large ad-
ditional force of clerks had been employed In the
PENSION ONCE who had taken several months to
be educated up to state OF efficiency.
Mr. Atkins. OF Tennessee, had no doubt tn at
there would be deficiency, as the force in the
Office % was too large for the amount appropriated
The amendment was adopted.
a,a2 An o Vas aq3gted making immed
the fees and expenses OF examining surgeons.
THE BILL PASSED.
The committee then rose and reported the bill
to the House, when 1t was passed.
TIE WASHINGTON GAS LIGHT COMPANY.
Mr. Murch offered a resolution 1nstructing the
select committee on the charges against Chief
Clerk Bailey to inquire whether that officer has
attempted at any time to influence legislation for
pany. Adopted.
Mr. Forney moved that the House 90 into com.
mlttee OF the whole on the fortifcatiOn bill
Mr. White called for the regular order, and de.
sired to proceed to the consideration OF the un-
finished business being the resolution reported
adversely in June last from the committee on
ways and means calling on the Secretary OF the
treasury for information, relative to the passage
OF the bill In regard to the entry Of distilled spirits
into bonded warehouses The Speaker suggetted
that prior unfinished business was the resOlu-
ton reported in March last from the committee
on rules changing the rules OF the House.
Nr Read, OF Maine.-And IL any business Is
unfinished would like to see It. Laughter.
The Speaker ruled that Mr.. Forney'S motion took
precedence OF the unfinished business, and, after
protest from Mr.. White that the Speaker BY his
decision was "lendtng to this whisky BILL" the
House went into committee (Mr. Davis OF Illinois,
In the cha1r) on the fOrti1cation bill.
CThe Dill makes the following appropriations:
FOR the protection, preservation and repair of
1ortfhcatiOns and other works OF defense, $l750O0
Tor armament OF seacOast fOrtiflcatiOns including
heavy guns and hOwitZers for flank defense, etc.
including the conversion OF smooth bore cannon
into rifles, 100000; for tOrpedoes for harbor de.
tense and preservation OF the same, 00O0; total
$325, COOL
Mr.. McCook, OF New York, In speaking to a
formal amendment entered his protest against the
neglect OF Congress in leaving the seacoast FORTH
cations In helpless condition.
THE BILL PASSED.
The committee then rose and reported the bill to
tho uouco nd it v,aoon1