The Middlebury register and Addison County journal. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1883-1885, 1884-05-30
SUMMARY OF CONGRESS.
Senate.

senate.
The Senate passed a bill extending
to August, 1886 the time to begin lay
ing the cable authorized by the act Of
August, 1889. -. The Agricultural appropri
alton bill was amended and passed
The only changes of importance made by the
Senate are an increase in the amount of appro-
priation for the laboratory from $l60OO TO
S5O,oO0; the addition of the item of $4,000
for sinking artesian wells on arid lands, and
an item of $1,000 for the encouragement and
development of silk culture.
Bills were passed as follows: For a public
building at Jacksonville, Fla, 5000; one
at Vicksburg, Miss. 800, 200; one at Chat
La, $4,000; one at Troy, N. Y, $115,O
one at Portland, Oregon, $3.50 0)O; one at
Sacramento, Cal, 100000; one at Ashe-
vile, N. G., 100000; one at Saratoga
Springs, N. Y, 100000; one at Dayton Ohio
Sl5O,OO0; one at Springfield, Ohio, Sl0D.C0J.
Bills were also passed appropriating $40 0 for
the erection of public building on govern
ment property at Fortress Monroe, and $751;
5OO for the erection of necessary buildings in
Guiding a gymnasium on the government res
ervation at West Point, N. V. Petitions
were presented with regard to government
ontrol of the telegraph both adverse and ia
vorable
The Senate debated without action the bill
to establish bureau of labor statistics. A
bill was passed making the Cantilever bridge
over the Niagara river post route. The
pension appropriation bill was reported, with
amendments. The bill provides for the re
appropriation of the unexpended balance of
the appropriation for invalid pensions for the
current year estimated at S6G 10000 o. and for
the appropriation of an additional 81, 900, 900
for the payment of pensions; 500, % for fees
OF examining surgeons; $780, for the pay
and allowances of pension agents, and $4,000
for the contingent expenses of pension agen-
cieS.
The bill for the establishment of bureau
of labor statistics was passed. AS it came
from the House it provided for a separate bu-
reau, Independent of any department, some
what in the manner of the department of ag-
riculture. In the Senate an amendment offered
by Mr. Aldrlch, i'll the nature of a substitute,
was passed. This substitute makes the bureau an
appendage merely of the interior department.
1t provides for the appointment Of a commits
sioner of labor to serve for four years, at a
salary of 5000 year He is charged with
the collection of information regarding labor,
its relation to capital, the hours of labor the
earnings of laboring men and women, etc.
The total expenses of the bureau are not to ex-
coed 81, coo year. The Senate passed the
invalid pension bill as reported from the COM
mittee.
Mr.. Hewitt explained that he did not write
a letter to Henry w. Oliver. ir, which was
signed with his name and published. . Senate
amendments to the Dmgley shipping bill were
concurTed in. Consideration of the contested
election case of English against Peelle was
begun. =. On motion of Mr. Hiscock, of New
York, bill was passed declaring the Cantil-
yer bridge across the Niagara river a post
route.
Aftera stormy debate the House decided the
Indiana contested election case of English
against Peelle, the sitting member, in favor of
the former by 10 yeas to l21 nays. a resolu-
ton was introduced by Mr. Bayne empower
ing the committee on rules to report whether
or not William II. English, father of the
successful contestant, had not violated
the privileges of the floor. Mr..
Mr. Baynes resolution, intrlsting the inves-
tlgation to a select committee of seven mem
beIs, to be appointed by the Speaker, and re-
qulrlng 1t further to inquire whether any ex-
member employed as agent or attorney i'll any
contested election case, or for any railroad or
other corporation having any claim pending,
has, during this session, abused the privileges
allowed him under rule thirty-four, and re-
port who they are and how they have abused
the privileges. Adopted.
Mr. Kellogg offered Il resolution reciting
that i'll the investigation as to the prosecution
of the star route cases before the committee
on expenditures in the department of justice,
evidence has been given which reflected upon
his character, and directing that com
mittee to investigate the subject of
his alleged connection with the
star route service, and whether he received
money for services rendered in a matter pend
ing before one of the departments of the gov
eminent, or whether he paid money to any
officer ON account of or in connection with
said service. Upon motion of Mr. Hammond
the resolution was referred to the committee
on the Judiciary. Forty-six pension bills were
passed at the evening session.