The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1883-02-08
THE WORK OF CONGRESS.
Still Wrestling With the Mysteries of
the Tariff.
A APPROPRIATION BILLS.
Another Futile Effort to Call
Up the Whisky Bill.

Mr.. Miller, from the Committee on Foreign
Relations, reported tayorably the bill to incor-
porate the Maritime Canal Company of Nicara-
qua, with amendments.
Mr. Hawlcy Conn. introduced a bill for the
retirement Of Quartermaster-Gcmcral Rufus In
gals, with tho rank Of ior-gencrol.
Mr. Garland (Ark.l called up the bill to pro-
vide for holding a centennial cotton and indus
trial exposition in 1851, which was amended
so as to provide that the invitations to foreign
nations to participate m the exposition shall
be given by the board OF managers instead Of
the President Of tho United States, and passed.
Mr. Blair (N. II. called up the joint rc5Olu-
tion presenting the thanks of Congress to John
i. Slater of Connecticut for his bcneiiccnce i'll
giving $l,000000 for the education Of the col
ored people OF the South, which was passed.
The Senate then resumed consideration of
the tariff bill. and long discussion olsued in
regard to the duty on sugar, but no action was
reached.
At o'clock the House resolutions in rcIa-
ton to the death of the late Representative
Orth were received.
On motion of Mr.. Harrison Qnd.J they were
laid before the Senate.
Mr. Harrison, Mr.. Frye Me- and Mr. voor-
hecs Gnd) made appropriate addresses, and
the Senate then adjourned.
THURSDAYS PROCEEDINGS.
In the Senate on Thursday, the LIST inst, Mr.
Hoar Mass offered Il resolution. which was
agreed to, directing the Committee on Educa-
ton and Labor to inquire into the eXpediency
of providing by law against the employment
of convict Labor by the United States on public
works, or by contractors under the United
States.
Mr. Malone VA presented the credentials
of Mr.. Riddleberger SenatOr-eleCt from Nir
ginia, which We're read and fled.
Atthe close of the morning business the tariff
bill was taken up, the question being on Mr.
Frye's (Me.) amendment proposing an Gd-rdiO-
rem duty OF 40 per cent. upon all sugars. After
a long debate the amendment was lost The
substitute offered by Mr. Morrill, on behalf of
the Committee on Finance for the sugar sched-
ule in the committee bill was then adopted
The amendment has been published. The
consideration of the sugar schedule in Commit
tee of the Whole being concluded, the Senate
took up the tobacco schedule.
The amendment of the Finance Committee
fixing the duty on cigars, &c, at $3.50 per
pound and % per cent. Gd raiorefa was adopted
The following amendment was also adopted:
Tobacco in leaf unmanufactured, when the
greater portion of the bale box other package is
suitable for wrappers, 80 cents per pound upon the
whole contents of said bale, box other package;
all other tobacco III leaf manufactured and not
stcmmed, - cents per pound. Stems, 10 cents per
pound Tobacco, manufactured, oil all descriptions
not specially enumerated provided for in this act
40 cents per pound"
FRIDAYS PROCEEDINGS.
In the Senate, on Friday, the I'd inst, the
|. tariff bill was further considered.
Mr.. Ualc's (Me.) amendment making the
duty on potato and corn starch two cents per
pound, about equivalent, he said, to the eMst-
ing duty, was agreed tO-ayes %, noes "a
The rate on rice and other starches was left at
two and half cents pound, as in the bill.
The Senate passed to the consideration of
the cotton and cotton goods schedule
Mr.. Anthony Or. H. interrupted the debate
TO offer joint resolution, which he believed to
be necessary for the protection of human life.
He sent up and had read 4 letter from Mr..
Edward Clark, the architect Of the Capitol,
stating that the Government Printing Office
building was in a dangerous condition from
the overcrowding of the upper stories with
heavy materials. He then introduced joint
resolution directing the Public Printer to re-
move SO much of the stored property as he and
the architect should think necessary in order
to reader the building entirely safe, and appro-
priating $1,000 for this purpose and to pay for
storage of the property elsewhere. The joint
resolution was passed.
Mr.. Mcpherson IN. j. introduced bill TO
improve the efficiency of the Naval Academy.
The Senate then resumed the consideration
Of the cotton schedule and Mr.. Beck (Ky.)
statad again some of his objections to this
schedule.
Owing to the absence of a quorum, the Senate
finally adjourned without action on the section.
During the session the credentials Of Senator
elect Tabor, Of Colorado, were presented, and he
was sworn in.
SATURDAYS PROCEEDINGS
In the Senate on Saturday, the Sd inst, the
annual appropriation bill was reported back
from the committee without any change in the
amount as fixed by the House, 4. e., it approri
ates SS6575, 900, and reappropriates Sl5o00,0O0
Of uneXpended balances now in the Treasury.
The consideration of the tariff bill was
resumed. After number of proposed reduc-
tiOns had been voted down, the rate on thread
and yarn valued at from twenty-five cents to
forty cents per pound was made fifteen cents
per pound, and on the higher grades from
twenty TO torty-eight cents per pound.
Mr.. Beck (ky.) moved an amendment TO the
bill providing that imported goods on shipboard
or i'll public stores or bonded warehouses when
the bill takes effect shall pay the new rates Of
duty, and that goods III warehouses at that time
on which the duties may have been paid shall
be entitled to a rebate.
Before vote on the amendment could be
had, the House resolutions in relation to the
death of Representative Lowe, OF Alabama,
were received Mr. Morgan (Ala.) offered cor
him and Mr., Lapham On. ", the resolutions
were adopted, and the Senate adjourned.
MONDAYS PROCEEDINGS.
In the Senate, on Monday, the 5th inst, Mr..
Cameron pa introduced n joint resolution for
the relief Of the sufferers by thelate disastrous
floods in the valley of the Rhine, in Germany.
At the close of the morning business the
tariff bill was taken up.
Mr.. Beck's amendment making the duty on
stockings, hose, half-hose, etc, thirty-tive per
cent al UatOrem was rejected. He then moved
to make 1T forty per cent, which was agreed
to. On Mr.. BeckS motion, also, the duty on
cotton cords braids, gimps, corsets, etc, was
reduced from forty to thirty-tive per cent. and
the duty on cotton laceS, embrOlderies, etc,
from tOrty-tive per cent to forty.
The Senate then passed TO the consideration
of Schedule |, hemp .iute and flax goods, when
a motion to strike out .jute from the paragraph
laying a duty of SO per ton on it, so as to let
it go on the free list, led to a lengthy debate.
The motion finally prevailed by q vote Of %
to %.
During the session Mr.. Allison Qa.) intro
duced a bill to pension the surviving officers
and members of the Thirty -seventh Iowa Vol
unteer infantry, known us "Graybeards."
Mr.. Van Wyck (Neb) offered the following
resolution:
ResoEced, That the Committee on Pensions be di-
rected to inquire whether any claim agents in
Washington are violating the provisions OF law or
in any manner practiCng eXtOrtlon III taking fees
compensation for prosecuting and procuring
pensions, bounty, homestead, or other claims on
behalf of soldiers or soldiers widows or orphans.