The Portland daily press., 1884-01-22
FORTY-EIGHTH CONGRESS-.
5ENATE.

WASHINGTON, Jan. 21.
In the Senate this morning, the chair az
nounced that the new rules would 90 into oper-
alton today.
The chair laid the before the senate the fol-
lowing bills from the House of Representatives:
one making all public roads and highways post
routes and another to enable courts of the
United States In cases where poteDts have been
obtained by fraud to aunul such patents.
By Mr.. Hale, from the Portland, Me-, board
of trade, praying for such legislation as may
check the rapid decline of the American mer-
chant marine.
The following petitions were also presented
and appropriately referred:
By Mr.. Dawes, from many educational in
situations and citizens of Massachusetts, pray
ing for appropriations for the establishment OF
schools in Alaska
By Mr.. Cockrell, from ex-soldiers of the Un-
ion army residents in Missouri, praying that all
ex-prsoners of the war be pensioned.
By Mr.. Logan, from number of ex-soldiers
praying for the passage OF bill fer equaliza-
tion of bounties
the Senate, providisg that any further debate
on the Mexican treaty, be had with open doors
An objection was made to its reception, and
the chair ruled it to be cut of order to present
such resolution in open Senate.
Mr.. VanWyck appealed from the decision
OF the chair, and on motion of Mr.. Edmunds
the Senate resolved to close the door at once in
order to discuss the appeal, so at p. m. the
doors were closed.
The ruling of the chair was sustained by the
the Senate in secret session. Objection was
then made to the Immediate consideration of
the resolution, even in secret session, and 1t
went over for one day, under the rule, and the
doofs was then reopened.
Bills we're introduced as follows;
By Mr.. Edmunds to amend an act granting
aid for the construction of railroad and tele-
graph line from the Missouri river to the Pa
ciic ocean, and to secure to the government
the use OF the same for POSTAL and military aud
other purposes, approved July l, 1882, and bills
amendatory thereof, one of which prcvides for
settlement of clsims OF the United States and
to secure to the United States the Indebtedness
of the companies to them.
HOUSE.
Under the call OF States the following bills,
etc., were introduced and referred:
By Mr.. Dunn of Arkansas, requiring the
Secretary of the Interior 10 ascertain what
railroad companies are indebted to the govern
ment for the cJst of surveying land granted to
them by the United States, and to give notice
to such companies that he is ready to deliver
patent for land, to which tho companies would
be entitled if that cost was paid; and that II
within two months from date of notice the
costs are not paid proceedings shall be insti-
tuted against such companies.
By Mr.. Finerty of Illinois, to confer brevet
promotion on army officers particularly dstin-
puished by heroic action in Indian warfare.
w
government of each State to appoint commis-
sioners to establish a system of International
commerce and decide the praciicaolhty OF es-
tablishing bureau of international commerce.
To reduce the life timo Of a patent to five
wears: also to amend the rules SO as to require
ex-members of Congress before being entitled
to privileges of the floor to obtain an order
from the Speaker, which order shall only be
issued upon such ex-memDer declaring upon
his honor he is not interested directly or indi-
rectly IN any corporation or person having
pecuniary interest in the defeat or passage of
measure before Congress or committees, and
piedg'ng that while the House is in session he
will not communicate with any member re-
specting any claim which may affect the vel
fare of any company or corporation or person
having an interest in legislation. In Case of
the violation of this pledge the committee on
rules shall declare the ex-member forever de-
prived of the privileges of the floor.
To regulate United States commerce through
national court of arbitration.
Requiring all sail vessels to provide them
selves with signal lights.
To improve the civil service by relieving leg
islative officers from performing executive
functions.
To encourage education and provide a ma
tional series of text books within the jurisdic-
tion of Congress.
A large number Of bills were then intro
duced and referred.
Mr.. Cox of New York moved to suspend the
rules and pass the bill repeating the laws pre-
scribing the iron clad oath.
Mr.. Boutelle of Maine opposed the bill.
Mr.. Cox explained that the bill only affected
Jurors aud men like him who took the oath.
The mon who had been in secession did not
take this oath, therefore it did not affect South
ern men. He appealed in support of the bill
from politics, from sectional hate, from old un-
charitbleness to better era of good feeling
! which had been ushered in.
The motion Was agrvod TO and tho bill pass-
| ed-195 to IL.
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