The Middlebury register and Addison County journal. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1883-1885, 1884-04-18
SUMMARY OF CONGRESS.


Consideration of the Blair educational bin
was resumed Mr. Hoars amendment was
adopted providing that the amount TO be dis
tributed in the first year be $1,000 900, in the
second year S10,O0)0 600, and in the third year
Sl5,0OOOO), and the appropriation to be then
diminished at the rate of S2,OO0,OOO yearly
until the expiration of the eighth year, when
the appropriation shall cease. Another
amendment offered by Mr.. Hoar, that
equal opportunity of education be given
to all children was adopted. Mr.. Sherman
offered an amendment, which was adopted,
providing that the money shall be used only
for common schools not sectarian in charac-
ter. The bill was finally passed by thirty
three to eleven. 1t appropriates ST7,OOOOOO
to be distributed among the States in proper
ton to their illiteracy, on the basis of the
census of 1880, the payments to extend over
eight years.
The bill for the relief of Generl w. w. Az
Grill was reported favorably.. Bills were
passed authorizing the construction of two
bridges over the Rio Grande river. The
naval appropriation bill was considered and
amended.
Mr. Hill, from the committee on postofiices
and post roads, reported favorably to the Sen
ate an original bill To establish postal tcle-
graph system. Mr.. Hill remarked that the
committee were unanimous as to the first ten
sections of the bill, which relates to doing the
work by contracts with existing companies, but
that a minority of the committee were OPP
posed TO the sections relating to the construc-
ton of purchase of lines by the government
THE bill to promote Captain Thomas G.
Corbn. now on the retired list of the navy.
to the rank of rcar-admiral on the same list
was postponed indefinitely The naval APP
preparation bill was debated
The naval appropriation bill was further
discussed and amended "A bill was intro
duccd to provide for the protection of railroad
employees engaged in interstate commerce
go. The committee on foreign relations re
ported substitute for the bills to appoint a
commission TO visit the south American coun-
tries. and to authorize the President to invite
Mexico and the Central and South American
countries to send delegates to n convention in
Washington. The substitute, which was
framed by Mr.. Frelinghuysen, with the APP
proval of the President. appropriates,
through an amendment to the consular diplo-
matte bill, 10000 to enable the President to
compensate a commission to be appointed to
examine and report upon the relations of
the United States with the countries in queS-
ton, and upon the best modes of securing in
innate national and commercial relations, etc.
Mr. Converse of Ohio secured the floor
and moved TO suspend the rules and pass the
bill restoring the duty of 1876 on wool. After
the thirtv-minute debate allowed by the rules
the motion was lost by a vote of 1l9
yeas to 1926 nays. Mr.. Springer introduced
tscation by the Italian government of the
property of the American college in Rome
IA bill was introduced by Mr.. Lowering
granting n pension of s. month to all United
States soldiers and sailors who served sixty
days during the late war. go. The House
adopted a resolution declaring it unwise for
the present Congress to abolish or reduce the
tax ON spirits distilled from grain.
\ bill was passed declaring that the supreme
court of every Territory shall consist of a
Il. 1 : 1
providing that every Territory shall he di
vided into four judicial districts. and a dis
tl'ct court shall be held in each by one of the
justices of the supreme court. \ bill was
passed requiring the governors of the Terri
tories to be resident of the Territory to which
he is appointed at least two years preceding
appointment
y bill was passed for the adoption of re
vised internal regulations for preventing col
lison at sea. "A resolution was introduced
and referred providing for an investigation
of the present system of railroad transporta-
ton of live stock.
Mr.. Eaton reported a substitute for the
Presidential electors bill, which was referred
ga bill was introduced by Mr.. Bowen to
provide for the protection of employees OF
railroad corporations engaged i'll Interstate
commerce and in the transportation of freight
by railway in the District of Columbia and
the Territories of the United States.
After a short debate the House passed. the
Senate resolution Offering a reward of So
0)0 for the rescue of the Greedy party. This
reward Mr.. Ellis explained, is expected to
stimulate the sealers and whllcrS who go
north early in the season, so that they will be
on the alert AMI take pains to explore the
bays, coasts and islands and seek for traces Of
the Greedy party. In committee of the
whole the pension appropriation bill was con-
sidered. The bill appropriates S20,6Sl, 400
and reappropriates an amount estimated at
SG6,O00,OOO The appropriations for the cur
rent year were Sl26,00O,0OO, of which only
S25,613,000 were expended during the first
half of the year.