The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1884-03-20
CONGRESSIONAL MATTERS.

CONGRESSIONAL 1EA1TERs.
Bills and resolutions have been introduced
in the senate proposing constitutional amend
ment limiting the amount Of legal tender notes
unless Sess y ashel
wise; authorizing the United States to resume
possession of certain lands granted Iowa to aid
| in the construction of railroads.
Bills and resolutions have been introduced
in tho House incorporating the Yellowstone
Park railroad; for constitutional amendment
prohibiting the making Of anything but gold
and silver coin legal tender except after de.
claration of war for carrying on tho improve
ment and repair Of rivers and harbors by con.
tract; granting copyright to newspapers The
| bill to incorporate The Spokane Falls Il Coeul
GAlene Railroad company was reported favor
dent transmitting the house resolution on the
death of Edward Lasker, returned by Prince
Bismarck. Mr.. Hiscock at once offered q res
olution expressing surprise and regret at the
action Of the German chancellor and reiteratine
the expression of regret at Herr Insker's death.
The resolutions introduced III tho house by
MIR. Hiscock on the Lasker business, and re-
ferred to the committee on foreign affairs
were as follows: Whereas, II has come to the
house that a communication Of it to the parlia-
ment OF the German empire, entirely friendly
| in is intent, respectful in it's character, and
| sent through regular channels of international
communications, has been arbitrarily intercept
ted and returned by percOn now holding the
position Of chancellor of the German empire,
| therefore be it
Resolved, That this house cannot but express
| surprise and regret that it should he even tenn
porarily within the power of single too
powerful subject to interfere with such sim
pie, natural and spontaneous expression OF
kindly feeling between two great nations, and
thus to dotract from the position and prestige
OF the crown on one hand, and from the rights
| of representatives of the people on the other.
| Resolved, Tha: this house does hereby reiter-
ate the expression of sincere regret at the
| death of Edward lasker, and it's sympathy
with the parliament of the German empire, OF
which for many years he was distinguished
| member.
The Mexican treaty has been ratified by the
eenate, but it had narrow escape When il
was up before it was defeated by one vote.
This time it was carried by one vote, and that
was cast by Senator Pike of New Hampshire,
was the only one to change his views since the
ton to the ratification of the treaty was based
upon three articles, tho same being lumber,
| sugar and tobacco; but it is not
believed by its advocates that any OF
those articles will be imported from Mexico in
to the United States to an extent that will inter-
fere with the producers on this side of the bor-
der The treaty will open an enormous mar
ket for manufactured articles from the Upitetl
6tates,s as the Mexican duty upon wearing ap-
parel, cured meats aud other necessaries Of life
has been practically prohibitory, while the tax
upon wines and other Injuries has been very
Senator Allison presented a memorial from
the Iowa legislature in favor of the regulation
of Interstate commerce. Bills were intro
duccd to suspend for two years the coinage of
| silver dollars, and issue 81 and 81 treasury
improve tho low-water navigation Of
the Mississippi from Cairo to New
Orleans. The following nomi-
nations were sent to the Senate: J. E. irish.
Wisconsin, consul at Cognac; Abram J. Gift
ford, New York, agent Indians, Fort Be1 thold
secretary of Wyoming; Lewis l. Wheelock,
postmaster, Owatonna, MINI.
The senate confirmed:-Col John Newton,
chief engineer with rank of brigadier general
Norman Buck, Idaho, associate justice of the
supreme court of Idaho; w. F. Fitzgerald.
court Of Arizona; John C. Perry, New York,
chief justice of the supreme court of Wyom-
ing.
In tho House, under the call of committees,
reports were submitted by Mr. McCoid, judi
ciary committee, providing for two additional
associate justices for Dakota. By Mr. Rose
Grams, military AFFAIRS favorably, the bill to
authorize the Cheyenne, Black Hills Il Montana
Railroad company to build across the foot of
favorably, the bill to place Col George w.
Getty on the retired list as major general Mr..
Morgan, same committee, reported adversely
the bill to construct q macadamized road from
Memphis, Tenn. to the National cemetery near
that city. Mr.: Perkins, favorably, committee
diminished reservation, Kansas. A long par
tisan debate took place OH Monday.
In the house Gov. Wakefield has presented a
remonstrance from about hundred prom
inent citizens of Martin county, against any
action by the public lands committee looking
to the forfeiture of railroad grants of Southern
Minnesota.
Mr.: Wakefield also introduced bill in tho
house day to authorize the president to ap-
point John $. Altman, of Henderson, Mimi,
late first lieutenant of the United States army,
q first lieutenant in the army and thereupOn to
place him upon the retired list al such lieu
tenant
Mr.: Strait presented to the house a petition
OF l13 citizens of Renville county, Mimi pray
ing for the forfeiture of the grant of lands
made to the Hastings T. Dakota Railroad COM
pany, for the reason of tho great injustice and
gross frauds that have been practiced by the
railroad companies against the settlers.
A petition was presented in the house by Mr.
Nelson from A. ": Sites, asking that clause
be embodied in the bill to repeal the timber
culture act permitting all who have claims un-
der this act, and who have failed to complete
their entries for any cause beyond their con-
troll, to pay for the same at the rate Of $1.25
per acre. or less.
A resolution was offered in the senate for a
constitutional amendment making the presi-
dental term six years, ana the president ineli-
ligible to reelection. A bill was introduced to
establish forest reservation at tho head waters
Of the Missouri river, and the head waters of
Clark's Fork, Columbia river in Montana. The
bill for the relief of Gen. Porter was debated,
Mr.. Sewell of New Jersey speaking in favor of
it, and Mr.: Wilson Of Iowa against it.
given to the consideration Of the postofice bill,
and another day will probably be taken up with
it. The republicans made bitter fight against
the reductions proposed in the bill, and in the
course of the day they resorted to filibustering,
but were finally overpowered by democratic
Mr.. Davis of Illinois made the first success
full fight aga inst the appropriation committees
bill in providing for the postal service. Dur
ing the last session of congress the salaries of
the postmasters in nine of the largest cities Of
the country were raised, but the present bill
cuts them down to $1,000 each. Davis
made q motion to retain the salaries of these
postmasters as they are now. He was support
ed by Bingham of Pennsylvania and Horn Of
Michigan, but was opposed by Holman of In
diana and Townsend Of Illinois. His amend
mcnt was carried by q considerable majority
An attempt was made in the senate on the
I4th. to sesuro an appropriation for the sup
preston of the foot and mouth disease that is
raging among the cattle in the west Senators
Cullom, Plumb, Warner, Miller and others
urged haste in the matter, as there was need
of immediate relief to prevent tho spread OF
the plague; but tho extreme state rights
men insisted upon vcntilating their
views. The most vigorous opposition they re-
ceived was from one of their own number
Senator Garland of Arkansas, who took radical
grounds in favor of the powers Of congress, and
is recognized as one of the ablest lawyers ir
the senate, his remarks created some surprise
as Garland said there were no constitutions
objections raised when money was appropriated