The bee., 1883-01-27
Eorty-SeventI, Congress.
SENATE.

SENA1E.
Ia the Senate Mr.. Edmunds introduced
(by request) bill to provide for the appoint
ment OF commission to investigate the sub,
lect OF railroad transportation. He said he
DID not commit himself to all the provisions
of the bill, but he thought the subject worth
on consideration, believing that railroad
transportation required some sort of regula.
ton
Mr.. Davis wv. Va.) presented the report
of the committee of conference on the Agri-
cultural Appropriation bill, which'wa agreed
to.
On motion of Mr.. Plumb, the Postoffice
Appropriation bill reported by him was taken
up. Mr.. Plumb rose to explain some of the
features of the bill.
Mr.. DAVIS wv. Va.) called his attention to
the item of S1S5,000 "for necessary and spe-
cial facilities on trunk lines of railway" and
asked an explanation of it. The use of the
the benefit of the appropriation to certain
railroads to the exclusion of others
Mr.. Plumb SAID he would accept any
amendment which would not defeat the OBJ
jeet of the appropriation, which was simply
to keep up the existing service.
Mr.. DAVIS SAID that no matter what Ian
guage was used, the whole of this money
would 90 to two railroads, the Pennsylvania
and the New York Central. He thought
there were other lines just as deserving, and
that more service to the community gener
ally could be had for the money if it were
more evenly divided. Either fairer divi
sion of the appropriation ought to be made,
or else it should be struck out, leaving all
the cities upon the same footing in this re-
spect.
The paragraph appropr1atlng $165,OOO "for
necessary and special facilities on trunk
lines" gave rise to debate.
close of the morning hour, Mr.. Morrill, called
for the regular order, the Tariff bill. mo-
tion of Mr.. Plumb to postpone it until to
morrow, In order to proceed with the Post
office Appropriation BILL was lost, and the
Tariff bill was taken up. After much debate,
but little actual progress, the Senate ad-
iourned.
In the Senate the bill to increase the police
force of the District of Columbia was passed.
The fast mail amendment to the PostOffice
Appropriation bill granting S1S5,000 for ne
cessary and special facilities to certain trunk
lines was also passed. The Tariff bill was
then further considered and several amend
ments adopted. Out of respect to the men,
ory of Representative Shackelford, whose
decease was announced by Senator Ransom.
the Senate adjourned.
In the Senate bill was reported to author
ize the county of Yankton, Nebraska, to issue
bonds. The credentials of Senator-elect
Frye were presented. The Postoffice Appro-
priation bill was discussed at some length,
but no action was taken. The Tariff bill
then came up and was debated until adjourn
ment.
IL tie Eyrate the bill providing for even
lngFcssious was called up and discussed until
tho expiration Cf the morning hour, when 1T
gave way to the Tariff bill. One amend
mont was adopted to the latter, after which
the Senate adjourned.
HOUSE.
MIR. Rice called up the special order, beng
the joint resolution providing for new
mixed commission in accordance with the
treaty of April 25; 1866 with the United States
of Venezuela.
The JOINT resolution Is accompanied by a
voluminous report, which recites iii detail
the proceedings of the old commission, ard
the reading of which consumed an hour and
a half. After brief debate the resolution
was passed.
Pending discussion, MIR. Pettlbone, from
the committee on elections, submitted the
unanimous report of that committee In favor
of the claim of J. L. Cain, to be admitted as
a delegate from the Territory of Utah. and
Mr.. Cain appeared at the bar of the House
and took the oath of office.
In the House the Naval Appropriation bill
was taken up, and after speech by Mr.. Ro-
beson in favor of the provisions contained
therein, the death of Mr.. ShackelfCrd was
announced, and the House adjourned.
In the House a resolution to Investigate
the management of the Hampton Soldiers
Home was adopted. The Post Route bill
was passed. Two private bills were passed
and the House adjourned.
On motion of Mr.. Tucker bill was passed
removing the political disabilities OF Francis
FL. Smith, ST., of Virginia.
Mr.. McLane presented petition OF VIM.
H. Perot and others, of Baltimore, asking for
damages on account of the unlawful seizure
and detention of cargoes OF sugar by the
Treasury Department.
The House then went into committee of
the whole on the Navy Appropriation Bill.
Mr.. Whitthorne said the effect of the pro-
posed changes in this bill was to disturb the
harmony of the service, to breed jealousy, to
promote fayoritism, to increase the retired
list. and to enhance the pay of the Navy.
The bill seemed to appropriate $15,OOO,OOo,
but he could show that it in realty appro-
priated over $23, ,OO0. .0O0, and the differences
would have to be provided for as deficiency
by the next Congress.
In the House number of bills were intro
duced, and several of minor importance
passed. The naval appropriation was fur
ther considered In committee of the whole