The bee., 1884-02-02
SUMMARY OF CONGRESS-
Senate.

Mr.. Sherman offered a long resolution pro-
viding for an Investigation by the committee
on Yilrges and elections into the recent po-
htlsal disturbances and tragedies at DAN
vile, Va, and in Copiah county, Miss. The
resolution went over until the next day, on
motion of MIR. Cockrell, of Missouri. who
suggested that Mr.. Sherman might in the
meantime d more recitals to 1T. MIR.
Sewell from the committee on military af-
fairs. reported favorably the bills for the re-
lief of Fitz-John Porter. Mr.. Harrison, i'll
Mr.. Logan's absence, said there would be
minority report. "A resolution by Mr..
Mr.. WycS calling on the attorney general
for information about the compensation
for special attorneys employed in the star
route cases, the Teasonab!eness OF
such compensation, and his reasons for pay
ing the same, was agreed to-. IA bill per-
mitting Lieutenant L. K. Reynolds, of the
navy, to accept from the emperor OF Austria
the decoration Of the royal and imperial
order of Francis Joseph, in recognition OF
his heroic conduct in reScuing the crew of an
Austrian bark, was attacked by Mr..
carries q commission of the United
States in his pocket ought to be, sat
isfied with it. Messrs. Morgan, Bayard aud
Hoar defended the bill, and it passe1 MIR.
Buffers resolution providing that each Sena,
tor, not chairman Of committee, snail
have q clerk, or secretary, at salary OF
S1,0C0 a year, to be paid out of the contingent
fund OF the Senate, was agreed to by vote
of thirty to thirteen :. Mr.. Merrill reintro-
duced his bill of the last Congress providing
for the setting apart of the net proceeds OF
the sales of public lands, ami a sum equal to
half the amount paid into the treasury year
ly by the subsidized Pacific railroads, as an
educational fund to be apportioned among
the States and Territories.
Tho Joint resolution, fo1, thp relief of lJieu-
tenant Greely was passed. As passed ths
resolution authorizes the President to spend
as much money as he deems necessary.
An amendment was adopted providing
that the men who go ON the ex-
pedition shall be volunteers. Mr.. Sher-
man introduced his bill of the Forty
seventh Congress for the preservation
of the woods and forests of the national do.
main adjacent to the sources OF the naviga-
bic rivers and their affiuents in the United
States. Mr.. Miller, of New York, intro
duced a bill authorizing the President to pay
back to China the balance of the Chinese
indemnity fund, the specific claims having
all been satisfied. :. In executive session
there was an acrimonious debate between
Messrs. Edmunds and Butler while consider
ing the nomination of Emory Speer for
United States district attorney for the north,
ern district of Georgia.
Mr.. Hoar called up his bill providing for
the performance of the duties Of the Presi-
dent in case of the removal death, resigna-
tion, or inability of the President and Vice
President. 1t was read three times and
passed. In the contingency named, it vests
the presidential duties first in the secretary
of state; If there be none, or if he be under
impeachment or otherwise ineligible, then in
the seen etary of the treasury, and in case of
the ineli9ibility of that officer, then iIf the
secretary of war, and so on successively in
q "a nf-
secretary of the navy and secretary of the in
terror 1tprovides whenever any such officer
is thus intruSted with the presidential duties,
if Congress shall not be within twenty days
OF assembling, he shall forthwith issue a
proclamation cohvening it within twenty
days The bill is only to apply to the officers
named, if they have been appointed by and
with the advice and consent of the Senate
Mr.. BIair introduced bill to provide for
the free circulation of newspapers and
other periodical publications within the
State where they are published. 1t provides
for the amendment of the postoffice appro-
priation act of March, 1919, so as to allow one
copy of each publication of the second class
to go through the mails free to each actual
subscriber. -. Mr.. Bayard, from the COM
mittee on finance, reported favorably the bill
providing for the issue of circulating notes
to the national banking associations.
A joint resolution of the Ohio legislature
in favor of the restoration of the tariff on
wool was presented. "A petition was pre-
sented from Theodore D. Woolsey and others,
praying for the passage of law to provide
for the collection of divorce statistics. :. Mr..
Hoar, from the committee of the judiciary,
reported an anti-polygamy bill. =.
Announcement of the death of Mr.. Mackey
was made end on motion of Mr.. Batler the
chair appointed q committee consisting of
Messrs. Butler Pendleton and Hill to attend,
on behalf of the Senate, the funeral obsequies,
and then, cut of respect to the memory of
the deceased, the Senate adjourned.