Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1884-01-31
CONGRESSIONAL.

JANUARY 2l--SENATE.-Mr. Edmuuds of Yer
| mont introduced bill amending the act grant
ing aid in the construction Of a railroad and
| telegraph line from the Missouri to the Pacific
| Ocean, and securing the use OF the same to the
| government for postal, military aud other pur
poses. Mr.. Logan OF Illinois, In behalf of his
constituents, presented petition for the pas
| sage OF laws giving eX-prisoners Of war the
| benefit OF public lands. The following House
| bills were laid before the Senate: One making
all public roads and highways post routes
| another TO enable courts OF the United States
| In cases where patents are obtained by fraud
to annul the patents by an application to the
| Attorney-General. Mr.. Van Wyck OF Nebraska
| introduced resolution providing that further
| debate on the Mexican treaty be had with open
doors. The resolution was over-ruled A
| resolution was offered directing an inquiry in
| TO the subject of settlements and trading posts
| being established in the Valley OF the Congo
Valley, Africa, for the extension Of American
commerce In that country. A bill was passed
permitting retired army officers 10 hold civil
offices in territories. The bill perfecting land
| titles was considered, but further action was
postponed one week. The establishment of
civil government In Alaska came up, and was
under discussion at the hour of adjournment.
HoUsE.-Bills introduced; Requiring til e
Secretary OF the Interior TO ascertain what rail-
road companies are indebted 10 the govern
ment for the cost OF surveying and selecting
the lands granted, and to inform the officials
OF such roads that the government IL ready for
settlement. Authorizing the Governor Of each
state TO appoint commissioner to establish a
system OF international commerce and decide
upon the practicability of establishing bureau
OF international commerce. Appropriating
s5OOOOO Tor the erection of public building
at Chicago for the use Of the Appraisers Office.
To reduce the life time of patents to five years;
to provide for the adjustment of land grants
given In aid of the construction of the rail-
roads; TO improve the civil service by
relieving legislative officers of the power
OF executive. functions; to provide
national series of text books within
the jurisdiction of Congress; to regulate
attorneys fees In pension cases, and others of
less Importance. Boutele of Maine offered a
resolution asking for information as to wheth-
er maps or documents relating to the Fitz
John Porter case have ever been furnished Gas
alleged) to the graduating class at West Point
for the purpose of inviting criticism.
resolution was adopted limiting the
expenses OF the committee on expenditures of
the department of justice to $4,000 per annum.
The resolution that all lands granted to rail-
roads, on which non-fulfllment of contract
is reported should be restored to the gov
eminent, was adopted after an animated dis
discussion. The bill providing that in any
suit against the innocent purchasers of an
article manufactured In violation Of the patent
laws, IL plaintiff shall not recover $50 or over,
he shall recover no costs, was passed; also the
bill repeating the iron-clad oath.
JANUARY 22-SENATE. Cameron from
the committee on Indian Affairs, reported adj |
versely number of petitions asking for the |
opening of the Oklahoma lands to settlement. |
Mr.. Hoar introduced bill to prevent the cir |
culation of lottery advertisements coming from |
foreign countries in the mails of this country. |
The Senate agreed, after amendment, to Mr.. |
Anthony's resolution relating to the exclusion /
of American meat. As agreed to IL reads: Re- |
solved, That the committee on foreign relations
ate such legislation as shall protect our inter-
ests against the governments which have pro-
hibited or restrained the importation of meats
from the United States The bill to establish |
civil government in Alaska, was then taken
up. Mr.. Plumb opposed the clause establish
ing school system In Alaska and Mr.. Ingalls,
took The same view of the subject. Mr.. Gar
land said that having got Alaska it was neces-
sary TO find out what we should do with IL. lie
was in favor OF school privileges for the child
rem OF that territory. After an executive ses-
sion the Senate adjourned.
HousE-The committee on public lands re
ported a measure relative TO the forfeiture Of
The Texas Pacific land grant. An investiga-
ion was ordered made into the manufacture
)f buttcrine and olemargarine. A committee
vas authorized 90 make the boundary line be-
ween Indian Territory aud Texas The bill
or the relief OF Lieut.. Greeley was passed,
IND also one for the recovery OF infringement
IN patents. This last relieves the innocent
purchaser from prosecution, provided the arti-
lie was pu' chased In open market for his own
Use. An order was made fixing Thursday,
february 2o as memorial day TO the late Rep.
esenta.ive Haskell. Other matters Of minor
Importance came up, when the House adj ,
curned.
JANUARY 23--SENArE-rb The Fitz John Por-
er bill was favorably reported. Mr.. Sherman
4 Ohio introduced n resolution asking for an
Into the election riots In Virginia
nd MississiDpi. Mr. Harlan preeent.d a l