The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-03-06
DEAD BILLS.


List of a Number of Propositions Which
Failed to Become Laws.
WASHINGTON, March 5-The calendar of
the committee of the whole, which is COM
posed of propositions involving the expendi-
lures of money on the part of the govern
ment, contains among others the following
For the appointment of a liquor-traffic COM
mission.
Providing permanent construction fund for
the navy.
To regulate the tax on weiss beer.
Authorizing the construction of vessels of
war.
For the admission of the State of Washington.
Providing for ocean mail service.
The Hennepin Canal bill-for the construction
of the Illinois and Mississippi canal.
For board of commissioners of interstate
commerce.
To create an agricultural commission.
10 create commission on Immigration.
The titles of bills on the House calendar
fill ten printed pages. Those of the greatest
importance are:
To establish postal savings depository.
The French spOliation bill.
To promote the efficiency Of the revenue ma
rine service; also, of the signal corps.
Declaring forfeited certain railroad land
grants
To limit the coinage OF standard silver dollare,
and to suspend the issue of silver certificates.
To establish uniform system of bankruptcy.
For the issue of gold certificates.
Permitting the use of domestic materials in
thelconstruction of ships for foreign account.
To incorporate the Nicaragua Maritime Canal
Company
To declare the forfeiture OF the Texas Pacific
railroad land grant,
To authorize the consolidation of the Southern
Paefic and other railroad companies
For treaty with the German empire.
The titles of bills left untouched on the
private calendar fill twenty-five pages and
represent some 400 bills. Under the head
special orders" left unacted on, are the fol-
lowing:
To prevent political assessments.
To aid in the support of common schools.
To grant pensions to the survivors of the Mex
lean and Indian wars.
Under the head unfinished business" the
only matter of Importance is a bill to regu-
late the carriage of passengers by sea, with
the Presidents veto message.
Under the head of business on the Speak
er's table" are the following:
To regulate immigration.
Relating to the entry OF distilled spirits in dis
tillery and special bonded warehouses, and to
the withdrawal of the same.
Under the head of "biIls from the Senate
on their first and second reading" there are
ninety-6ve bills unacted on that came over
from the first session of the Forty-seventh
Congress, and thirty-one for the second ses-
sion. Among the latter are the following:
For the survey of passes between the afflu-
ents of the Upper Mississippi and Columbia
rivers.
For the performance of presidential duties
in case OF the removal, death, resignation or
inability OF both the President and Vice-presi-
dent
THE sENATE's UNFINISHED WORK.
The bills and resolutions remaining upon
the calendar of the Senate reported from COM
mittee but not finally acted upon, number
thirty-eight. Some of the more importantar
A resolution proposing an amendment to the
constitution in relation to the manufacture. im-
portation and sale of Intoxicating liquors.
Resolution extending the franking privilege.
Resolution for printing 10000 copies of the
Medical and Surgical History of the War.
Bill to establish branch mint at Omaha
Making government paper currency legal
tender for customs dues.
To incorporate the Inter- Oceanic Ship Railway
Company.
To constitute the Bureau of Agriculture an ex-
ecutive department.
To establish a Bureau of Animal Industry.
To place Thomas L. Crittenden on the retired
list of the army as brigadier-general.
Admitting Dakota to the Union.
To exempt freight vessels of less than twenty
five tons burden from inspection and license.
Bill providing to form q government for
Alaska.
To expediate the administration of justice in
the Supreme Court of the United States.
To provide for the Investigation and settlement
of claims against the United States, (which, in
Justice and good conscience, ought to be paid"
Resolution to appoint commission on the
revival OF international commerce.
To prevent the payment of double pen sions.
To enable corporations 10 become surety on
offic al bonds
Increasing the area of Yellowstone Park,
To relieve ships from compulsory pilotage.
To suppress the opium traffic between the
United States and China.
To provide for specific annual appropriation
for fifteen years for school purposes, the basis
OF illiteracy.
The ''Dingley'' shipping bill, which passed
the House early in January, was not taken
up by the Senate till yesterday at midnight
objection having been raised which seemed
to jeopardiZe the passage of the bill. The
commerce committee withdrew the tonnage
and mail-pay sections, which had been added,
and the bill, with some amendments then
passed. Two hours later the bill reached
the House. and attempts were made to send
it to a committee of conference or to pass it
as amended, under suspension of the rules.
Owing however, to the deadlock over the
South Carolina election cases the House re-
fused to entertain either motion, and the
shipping bill failed.
The river and harbor bill, appropriating
$S,047 900, was strangled in the Senate by a
motion to lay it on the table upon the last
day of the session. Among the other propo-
sitions which failed to reach legislative en-
actment were:
To forfeit the land grants of the Northern Pa
cihc, Texas Pacific, Atlantic & Pacific, and other
railroads
To reduce the amounts paid land-grant rail-
roads for transporting the mails
To place General Grant upon the retired list.
To constitute the wife competent witness
against her husband in prosecutions for polyg-
amy.
FAILING NOMINATIONS.
List of Nominations on Which Adverse Ac-
tion or None at All Was Taken.