The Mineral argus., 1884-05-01
CONGRESSIONAL PROCEEDINGS.

tom Nh. Hill rclllifh+u that the committee
were unanimous as to the first clauses Of the
mi which relate to doing the work by con
tracts with the existing companies.
The contract system r}nlins the most
rrouinent feature of the bill and is not widely
diga,ent from the scheme of the postal tele-
Graph company, except that it empowers the
55ostmaster general to receive bids from any
telegraph company for contracts. The provis-
IONS relating to the establishment of a govern
ment system, pure and simple, in the event that
no satisfactory contract with established COM
UaDies is secured are a combination of the
features of the Hill and Edmuuds bill.
The long contest over the appointment of
Mccoy to the Aberdeen, Oak, land office was
finally settled by his confirmation by the SEN
ate on the 10th. Mr.. Mccoy, who is there. saws
he has had this fight on his hand for three
years. and he is very glad it is over, He re-
cards the result as a complete vindication.
. Al the opening of the senate, Wednesday, the
9th. the chaplain prayed to just one senator be-
side the presiding officer, and that was Mr.. Harris
of Tennessee. Possibly no may have felt more
than his fellows the need of the ministrations of
their spiritual adviser, but whether this be true
or not. it is a fact that he was the only sena-
tor present. Half a dozen came in during the
next five minutes, but it was some time before
q quorum was present.
Bills have been reported to the senate as fol-
lows: BY Mr.. Vest, from the committee on
ommerce, favOrably, a bill to authorize fine
construction of a bridge across the Mississinni
at St Louis. By Mr. Miller (Cal), foreign re-
lations, an original amendment to the consular
and diplomatic appropriation bill, to take the
place Of the bill referred to that committee in
tended to provide for the an
pointment Of a special commissioner
to visit the principal South American
countries for the purpose of collecting informa-
ton looking to the extention of our trade in
that direction. By Mr.. Wilson, postofices and
post roads, an amendment to the postoAice an
preparation bill referred to that committee. in
tended 10 provide for the settlement of most
masters salaries, under the act of March 3
1888. Senate adjourned TO Monday.
On Thursday the 10th, in the house the COM |
mlttee on laws relating to the election of presi-
dent and vice president reported a substitute
for tho senate bill. A bill amending the stat
utes regarding the immediate TRANSPORTATION of
dutiable goods was reported. The remainder |
OF the day was devoted to bills for the erection
OF public buildings at various points. and nu- |
controversies arose, causing much
c0hiusloh Ihe house adjourned, having sat
day IN continuation of Wednesdays session.
Mr.. Raymond presented to the house April
10th the petition of many citizens of Dakota
1rging the passage of his bill in relation to the
homestead law.
A petition signed by about 1900 members
the Andersonville Survivors association
lsklng that the soldiers confined in rebel pris-
ms during the late war be pensiOned. was re-
'elYed IN the house recently. The autographs
we're neatly bound in book form, and attracted
4 good deal of attention.
Representative Warner has reported from
he committee on pension, bounty and back pay.
he bill providing:
Every person specified in the pension laws
Who served for a period of six months or
more, who has an honorable discharge and is
lot receiving a pension, or a greater pension
han that provided by the bill, and who is now
by reason or wound, injury or disease,
Which there is reason to believe originated in
he service, shall be entitled to receive a pen
ION during the continuance of the disability at
rate proportiOnate to the degree thereof.
dependent parties shall only be required to
how by competent evidence that they are with
other present means of support than their
'Wn manual labor, or contributions of others
lot legally bound for their support.
The speaker of the house laid before the
louse a message from the president submitting
special estimate from the chief of ordnance
or a permanent annual appropriation of So
to provide necessary armament for sea
cast fortitications. The president saws: ssIn
presenting this estimate | do not think it nee
ssary to enumerate considerations which make
of the highest importance that there shall be /
o unnecessary delay in entering upon work =
must be commensurate with the public !
interest to be effective, and which will take :
llCn Illc. Inc message was referred.
In the House, Mr.. Ellis. from the committee
n appropriations, reported back the. senate J
III authorizing the secretary of the navy to Of {
n a reward of $4,000 for rescuing or ascer- ]
lining the fate of the Greedy expedition. After s
brief debate the bill passed. {
In the house, Mr.. Hopkins, as a privileged ]
after, called up the resolution declaring that {
re charges against Gen. II. V. Boynton are {
)t sustained by the evidence, and that there
no ground for any action by the house. He q
lTp1 that the pOmmittgp paDoptinr fha rag,J,, =
on did not desire to debate it. Mr.. Keifer. =
lthor of the charges, was present, but did not =
e mt to make a speech, and the resolution =
as adopted without opposition. :
A joint resolution was introduced in the
.ouse by Mr.. McCoid of Iowa to provide for 7
he appointment OF a committee of seventy-six 1
, be composed of two persons for each state. .
! different political parties, for the purpose I
| considering and proposing to the several =
tates the propriety of the legislatures of two 6
Ilrds of the states calling a convention tn q
on the 4th day of July, 1887, for proposing t
llendments to the constitution of The United c
n
Mr.. Mcmillan presented to the sonate the {
of the 81. Paul chamber of com
lSree, praying Tor an appropriation of $25,- Il
~ Tor the improvement of the Mississippi n
at that city. Mr.. Strait presented to the b
Ouse the petition Of e.. +. Kennedy, asking Y
'r a pension. Mr.. Strait introduced a bill for o
ne relief of Mary Mont, widow of a late wagon d
laster IN the United States army in the war a
it'll Mexico.
In the senate, Mr.. Bayardm moved and the SEN p
adopted the following amendment to the X
avail appropriation bill: Requiring the sec a
of war and the navy, with the assis- N
lnce OF the gun foundry board, which the q
mehdnlent REEVES, to report ON the begin Ia
lB, OF the next session of congress for a plan e-
nd estimate for the preparation and purchase Al
a plat for a gun factory to complete guns