The Warner weekly sun. (Warner, Brown Co., Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1885, 1884-04-18
CONGRESSIONAL PRACEEANGS.

tenn. Mr.. Hill remarked that the committee
were unanimous as TO the first clauses of the
bill, which relate to doing the work by con-
tracts with the existing companies.
The contract system ranlins the most
prominent feature of the bill, and is not widely
different from the scheme of the postal tele-
graph company, except tnat it empowers the
postmaster general to receive bids from any
telegraph company for contracts. The proyis-
ions relating to the establishment Of a govern
ment system, pure and simple, in the event that
TO satisfactory contract with established ccm-
nnnies is secured are q combination of the
features of the Hill and EdmIsllds 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, says
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 yindication.
At the opening of the senate, Wednesday, the
9th,the chaplain prayed to just one senator be-
side the presiding tiicer, md that was MI; Harris
Of Tennessee. Possibly he may have felt more
than his follows the need of the ministrations OF
their spiritual adviser, but whether this be true
or not, it is q 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
a quorum was present.
Bills have been reported to the senate as fol-
lows: BY Mr.. Vest, from the committee on
commerce, fayorably, a bill to authorize the
construction of a bridge across the Mississiop 10
at st Louis. BY Mr.. Miller (Cal.l, 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 APP
pointment OF a special commissioner
to visit the principal South American
countries for the purpose of collecting informa-
tion looking to the ~extention of our trade in
that direction, BY Mr.. Wilson, postofiees and
post roads, an amendment to the pogtofice an
preparation bill referred to that committee. in
tended to provide for the settlement of post
masters salaries, under the act OF March 8.
1888. Senate adjourned to Monday.
On Thursday the 10th, in the house the COM
mittee 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-
merous controversies arose, causing much
confusion. The house adjourned, having sat
all day in continuation of Wednesdays session.
Mr.. Raymond presented to the house April
10th the petition of many citizens of Dakota
urging the passage of his bill in relation to the
homestead law.
A petition signed by about 1900 members
of the Andersonville Survivors, association
asking that the soldiers confined in rebel pris-
ons during the late war he pessioned, was re-
reived in the house recently. The autographs
were neatly bound in book form, and attracted
a good deal Of attention
Representative Warner has reported from
the committee on pension, bounty and back pay,
the 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
not receiving a pension, or a greater pension
than that provided by the bill, and who is now
disabled by reason or wound, injury or disease,
which there is reason to believe originated in
the service, shall be entitled to receive a pen
sion during the continuance of the disability at
a rate proportionate to the degree thereof.
Dependent parties shall only be required to
show by competent evidence that they are with
out other present means of support than their
own manual labor, or contributions of others
not legally bound for their support.
The speaker of the house laid before the
house a message from the president submitting
a special estimate from the chief of ordnance
for a permanent annual appropriation of SO,
500. 600 to provide necessary armament for sea-
NDIoN OttAlCdtiOiAE. ~ PACpiAOAt o0yo- III
presenting this estimate / do not think 1t nee
essary to ennmerate considerations which make
it,nf the highest Importance that there shall be
no unnecessary delay in entering upon work
which must be commensurate With the public
interest to be effective, and which will take
much time" The message was referred
In the House, Mi. Ellis. from the committee
on appropriations, reported back the senate
bill authorizing the secretary of the navy to Of
fer a reward of $50, 0g0 for rescuing or ascer-
tanning the fate of the Greedy expedition After
a brief debate the bill passed.
In the house, Mr.. Hopkins, as a privileged
matter, called up the resolution declaring that
the charges against Gen, H. V. Boynton are
not sustained by the evidence, and that there
is no ground for any action by the house. lie
stated that the committee reporting the resolu-
ton did not desire to debate il. Mr.. keifer,
author of the charges, was present, but did not
see fit TO make a speech, and the resolution
was adopted without opposition.
A Joint resolution was introduced in the
house by Mr.. McCoid of Iowa to provide for
the appointment OF a committee of seyenty-s SIX
to be composed of two persons for each state,
OF different political parties, for the purpose
of considering and proposing to tho several
states the propriety Of the legislatures OF two
thirds Of the states calling a convention to
meet on the 4th dayof July, 1881, for PROPOSING
amendments to the constitution Of the United
States.
Mr.. Mcmillan presented to the senate the
memorial OF tho 81. Paul chamber OF com
merce, praying for an appropriation OF So
600 for the Improvement Of the Mississippi
river at that city. Mr.. Strait presented to the
house the petition of X. Z. Kennedy, asking
for q pension. Mr.. Strait introduced a bill for
the relief Of Mary Monti, widow of o late wagon
master in the United States army IN the war
with Mexico.
In the senate, Mr.. Bayard moved and the sen
ate adopted the following amendment to the
naval appropriation bill: Requiring the sec
retaries of war and the navy, with the assls-
lance of the gun foundry board. which the
amendment reyiyes, to report on the Begin
and estimate for the preparation and purchase
OF Il plat for d gun factory TO complete guna
from six inches calibre to sixteen inches cali
bre, including buildings and shrinking pit and
to report d full and detailed estimate for the