Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1883-01-08
THE NATIONAL CAPITAL
SATURDAYS WORK IN THE TWO
HOUSES.

Congress Yesterday-GeOrgi .RevoIu-
tionary CIaim-Right of Way to the
Rome and Dalton ROad-Mississipp
ImprOvement-Expend of the De
partment of Justice.
WASHINGTON, Jar. 6.-The bill to grant
right of way in Alabe ma to the Rome and
Dalton Railroad was to-day reported ia
vorably in the Senate by the Committee
ON Railroads.
The bill to pay Georgia's revolutionary
war claim, which has passed
the House, was reported back to the Sem
ate to-day fay6rably by the Committee on
Revolutionary Claims and place on the
calendar. In its report the committee
says: Your committee conclude that this
claim of the State of Georgia is just and
should be paid, and therefore recommend
the passage of the bilI.''
SENATE PROCEEDINGS.
In the Senate, Mr.. Morgan, from the
Committee ON Public Lands, reported,
with amendment, the bill to grant right of
way to the Rome and Decatur Railroad
Company through the public lands in
Alabama.
The bill to fix the terms of the United
States District and Circuit Courts for the
Eastern and Northern districts of Texas
was passed.
The House bill relating to the exporta-
tiOn Of tobacco, snuff and cigars in bond
free oftaX to adjacent foreign territories
was passed.
The bill to afford relief to Congress and
the departments in the investigation of
claims, was discussed until ? O'Clock,
when the unfinished business-the Presi-
Dental succession bill-came up and
Mr.. Maxey addressed the Senate upon it.
The question was ON Mr.. Edmunds' mo-
ti0n to send the bill to the Committee on
the Judiciary with instructions to report
bill based on the existing law. Mr..
MaXey advocate the bill as it had come
from the committee.
Mr.. Morrill, introduced a Joint resolu-
tion providing for the termination of the
Hawaiian reciprocity treaty. After an
executive session the Senate adjourned.
HOUSE PROCEEDINGS.
In the House, message from the Pres
ident was received transmitting a request
from superintendent Seaton of the Census
Bureau asking an additional apprOpria-
tiOn of 100000 to complete the compilation
of the returns of the tenth census.
A bill was introduced by Mr.. BeltZhOOy-
er,Of Pennsylvania, transferring the Signal
Service Bureau to the Interior Depart
ment.
The House took up Mr.. COx's shipping
bill and considered it as committee of the
whole, and Mr.. Cox delivered a long and
carefully prepared speech in advocacy of
the bill
At the conclusion of Mr.. Cox's speech,
Mr.. Reagan obtained the floor and the bill
went over.
Mr.. Page stated that he would call it
up on Monday after the call of States.
The appropriation committee reported
the fortifications and pension appropria-
ton bills. Adjourned.
THE MISSISSIPPI IMPROVEMENT.
Gen. Comstock, President of the Missis-
sippi River Commission, to-day made fur
ther statements as to the expenditures,
and in reply to question by the commits
sion expressed his belief that the under
work is put entirely beyond an expert
mental state. 1t ought to be confined to
one reach instead of divided up as at pres
ent. He also further explained his rea-
sons for believing that the leyees are not
desirable in connection with the work of
improving navigation.
EXPENDITURES OF THE SUPREME COURT.
Clerk Mckinney, of the Supreme Court,
was to-day examined by the House Com
mittee on Expenditures in the Depart
ment of Justice. He testified that last
year the gross receipts of his office were
$44,0 600, and the net receipts $29, ,496. The
previous year the net receipts were
$4,000.
THE COMING WEEK IN CONGRESS.
WASHINGTON, Jan. THE unfinished
business to come before the Senate to-
morrow during the morning hour is the
House BILL which provides for relieving
Congress and the Executive Departments
of the investigation of claims against the
government by their transfer to the Court
of Claims. At O'Clock the regular order
will be the Presidential succession bill.
Final action upon this measure is expected
before the adjournment. The special
order made several weeks ago assigns
Tuesdays session of the Senate
for the consideration of the bill
reported from Senator Blair's
committee last summer to establish an
educational fund by applying a portion of
the proceeds of the sales of public lands to
public education, etc. The bankruptcy
bill was similarly assigned, on the 2Sth
ult., for consideration by the Senate next
Wednesday, but the Chairman of the Fl
nance Committee has given notice that on
this Wednesday he will ask the Senate to
take up the tax and tariff bill, reported
from that committee last Thursday, and
that he will urge its consideration thence
forth to the exclusion of all other busi-
ness.
The programme for the week in the
House of Representatives will depend
very largely upon tne iengtn OF Ine uIS-
cussiOn, which has now begun, in regard
to the shipping bill. Its passage is not
expected before Tuesday, if then, as dur
ing its consideration in cemmItte of the
whole it is subject to an unlimited num-
Der Of amendments, on each of which the
yeas and nays may be demanded. In the
House, the fortiicaations bill. which
is not likely to consume much time, and
the pension appropriation bill will follow.
The large amount of the appropriation
$S1, 900, ,000-proposed by the latter may
Will doubtless be effected very readily.
The naval appropriation bill is next in
order, and the sundry civil bills may be
reported from the committee before the
end of the week.