The Portland daily press., 1883-12-12
XLvIII CONGRESS-.
SENATE.

In the Senate this morning, after prayer and
reading of the journal, Senator Aldrich Of
Rhode Island, announced the presence Of SEN
ator Anthony and asked that he be sworn in
Immediately All the Senators rose from their
seats and remained standing while the oath
was administered by Senator Edmunds.
Among the petitions presented was one for
psnsioning prisoners of war and for granting
soldiers and sailors who served ninety days in
the late war warrants for 160 acres of land.
A bill was presented by Mr.. Sherman to
provide for the encouragement OF closer COM
mercial relationship and in the interest of per-
pstuation of peace between the United States
and the republics of Mexico, Central and South
America and Empire of Brazil.
A resolution was offered by Mr. Beck and
ordered printed calling on the secretary OF the
treasury to furnish information regarding the
sinking fund which it is stated is being kept
up by overtaxation.
MI Frye gave notice that he would call up
on Thursday the report of the committee on
rules of the Senate.
The Senate then went into executive session.
The Senate confirmed the nomination of
Walter G.. Gresham of Indiana, to be postmas-
ter general.
BY Mr.. Hawley, to establish standard time
in the District of Columbia.
By MIR. Ingalls,, to provide for determining
the existence and removal of inability of the
Presnent to discharge the powers and duties
of his office; also to establish uniform system
of bankruptcy.
When the House met this morning the
Speaker was suffering from severe cold, aud
Mr. Cox of New York was called to the chair
The reading of yesterdays journal was dis
pensed with. The Speaker pro tenn. continued
the call of States for bills and resolutions of
inquiry under which call a number were in
troduced and referred.
A bill was introduced by Mr.. Ray of New
Hampshire, to repeal the duty on sugar and
molasses; also enc to repeal the tax on the ma
tional bank circulation; also to reduce the fees
for post Office money orders.
A bill was introduced by Mr.. Brewer a. New
jersey, to provide for the widows of keepers
and surfmen who lose their lives in the life
saving service.
A bill was introduced by Mr.. McAdoo, of
New Jersey. to prevent any officer, agent or
servant of the government from hiring or con-
tracing for the labor Of prisoners incarcerated
for violation of laws of the United States.
By Mr.. Robinson of New York, resolution
of inquiry calling on the Secretary of the In
terror for information concerning the purchase
of public land by foreign noblemen, s9-called,
and titled aliens, with their names and amount
of acres purchased, and also for such informa-
ton as may enable the House to formulate
such laws as shall prevent the establishment
of land monopolies and landlord systems in
this country, and provide against having the
public domain fall under the power of aliens.
A resolution was also offered calling on the
Secretary of State, for information as to
whether the Minister to Great Britain has re-
ceived any title of nobility, such as Lord Rec
tor, from any foreigDs State, and If such En-
gish Lord is still retained in the service of the
United States; also calling on the Secretary of
the Navy for information as to whether any
officer of the Lazy has received or accepted
any gift or present from any king, prince or
foreign state without the consent of Congress;
also whether officers and sailors of the United
States navy rendered any service to the Brit
ish navy in the recent bombardment of Alex
andria In Egypt; also reciting that it has been
stated repeatedly by the public press that a
British spy, NJ e. O'Brien, had been allowed
to tamper with the mails in New York, and
was known as such by the United States in-
spector Newcomb, and he was by him permit
ted to visit his Office in the New York post
office where he had apparently an unlimited
opportunity to tamper with and open the COR
respondence of American merchants and citi-
zens, and where he laid plans for entrapping
those unfortunate men, some OF whom, Ameri-
can citizens, had recently been tried in Liver
pool and sentenced to imprisonment for life;
and directing that the Postmaster-G General ex-
anime into the matter and communicate to the
House the facts and circumstances connected
Herewith.
Mr.. Robinson of New York also introduced
bill for the enforcement of an eight hour
law; also to abolish the test OATH
For the registration of ships and sea-5oing
vessels and for the encouragement of United
States shipping.
To reduce to one cent postage on drop letters.
Bills were introduced by Mr.. Burlsgh Of
New York to abolish tonnage duties on tugs,
tow boats and vessels not propelled by steam,
and trading between contiguous foreign terri
tory and the United States.
By Mr.. Slocum of New York for the relief
of Fitz John Porter
By Mr.. Van Al1yne of New York for the re-
tirement of the trade dollar and the re-coinage
of it into any authorized coin of the United
States.
BY Mr.. Rosecrans of California, proposing a
constitutional amendment for the suppression
of polygamy. III
By Mr.. Smith of Pennsylvania to remove
the tax on bank circulation.
By Mr.. Poland Of Vermont, limiting the use
OF writ of "habeas corpus"
By Mr.. Ouray OF Arizona, for the transfer
of the Indian Bureau from the Interior to the
War Department. also for the admission of
Arizona as State.
By Mr.. Raymond of Dakota, to establish the
territory of North Dakota.
By Mr.. Cone of Utah, for the admission Of
Utah as a State.
By Mr.. Warner of Tennessee, abolishing the
duty on salt, matches, needles and brooms.
One thousand and twenty-one bills were in
trodueed yesterday and to-day.
The House at 5.15 adjourned.