The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1884-01-31
A WEEKS NEWS.
Cleaned ay Telegraph and Mail
CONGRESSIONAL.

In the Senate, the 21st, several petitions
were presented praying an investigation of
divorce legislation in differenI States. and to
arrange for the collecting OF divorce statisticC.
The Senate then took up the calendar. The
bin permitting retired army officers to head
the civil Offices of the Territories passed. The
bill establishing civil Government
in Alaska was taken up. It provides for
dent with powers similar to those of Govern
ors of other Territories, establishes courts
etc. An amendment was adopted making the
laws of Oregon. as far as applicable, the laws
of Alaska. A final vote was not reached.
Many bills were introduced in the House;
among them one by Mr.. Anderson (Kas.) to
provide for the adjustment of land grants
made in aid of the construction of railroads.
A resolution offered by Mr.. Holman that in
the judgment of the House, all public lands
heretofore granted states and corporations to
aid the construction of railroads so far as the
same are subject 10 forfeiture by reason of
non-fulillment of the conditions on which the
grants were made, ought to be declared for
feited TO the United States and restored to the
public domain. and instructing the Committee
on Public Lands to report bill TO carry into
effect such views, was adopted by 25l to 1S
The bill repeating the laws prescribing the
fron-clad oath was passed.
In the Senate, the 22d, Mr.. Cameron,
(wis) from the Committee on Indian Affairs
reported adversely a number of petitions ask
ing the opening of Oklahoma lands to settle
ment. At the conclusion of morning business,
ton of American pork by France and Ger
many was called up and debated. 1t was
amended and adopted. The Senate then took
up the bill TO provide a civil government for
Alaska, but before reaching any conclusion,
went into executive session. In the House,
Mr.. Parker offered a resolution directing the
Committee on Agriculture TO inquire into the
allegations that the manufacture of oleo-
margarine and butterine was detrimental to
the dairy and agricultural interests of the
country. After the introduction of bills the
Ions ar--cv, frfn 1rrlfff of fh4 TlD1o
upon the Greeley Relief bill, which passed.
The House then took up the calendar. When
the bills relating TO public land grants were
reached a spirited debate took place as to
whether they should be referred to the Public
Land Grants Committee or Judiciary
Committee. The House by a vote
of Ill to 80 referred the bills to the Land
Grants Committee The bill passed providing
that no damages or profits shall be recovered
from any defendant for an infringement on
patents when it shall appear that he merely
used it for his own benefit on any article pur-
chased in open market without notice that
the same was subject TO patent. On motion of
Mr.. Ryan, Thursday, February %, was fixed as
the day for delivering appropriate tributes to
the memory of the late Dudley C.. Haskell.
In the Senate, the 23d, Mr.. Sewell, of the
Committee on Military Affairs, reported favor
ably the bill for the relief of Fitz John Porter
Mr.. Logan presented minority report. Mr.
Harrison presented a petition from the As
sembly Of Knights of Labor of Indiana, pray
of foreign laborers under contracts made
abroad. After other proceedings of minor
Importance the Senate went into executive
session.. -. In the House Mr.. Anderson offered
resolution requesting the Secre-
tary of the interior to imme-
diately inform the House whether or not the
Leavenworth, Lawrence s. Galveston and At
Gibson, Topeka Il Santa Fe Railroads had been
completed within ten years from the passage
of the act granting them lands, and if not, by
what authority the list of lands was certified
60 farC N,N. m. ~
Committee of the Whole on the state of the
Union, which occupied the balance of the day.
The Senate, the oath, passed the House
Joint resolution for the relief of the Greeley
expedition, voting down all attempts to limit
the expenses. A resolution was passed giving
Senators clerk at six dollars per day during
the session of Congress. A bin was reported |
favorably making all public roads postiroads.
The debate upon the bin provid- |
Ing a civil Government for |
Alaska was then resumed. After the |
Introduction OF numerous bills the House |
went into Committee of the Whole on the bill |
making appropriations for paying the rebate |
tax on tobacco, and the payment of the ex-
penses OF the New Mexico Legislature. After |
consideration, the bill was reported to the |
House and passed. The bill appropriates S3- |
10000 for the rebate on tobacco, and 81 1865 |
Tor the payment of expenses of the Legisa- |
In the Senate b.n providing for the relief of
the Greeley party.
In the Senate, the 18th, Mr.. Blair intro |
duced bill to provide for the free circulation |
of newspapers and other periodicals and pub |
locations within the State where published |
Mr.. Bayard, from the Committee on Finance |
reported favOrably on the bill providing for |
the issue OF circulating notes of National |
Banking Associations. A Committee of Con- |
ference was appointed on the Greeley |
Relief bill. bill passed donating |
q part of the Fort Smith mill, |
tary reservation to the city of Fort Smith |
for the benefit of public schools The Alaska bill |
was then taken up, debated and finally passed. |
1t provides a civil Government for Alaska |
similar to other Territories, but prohibits the |
manufacture or sale of intoxicat- |
Ing liquors, except for medicinal and scientific /
The House considered at length /
M Committee of the Whole the FitZ John |
Porter bill, but reached no final action.