The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1884-01-17
DOINGS OF CONGRESS,
Edmands Elected President Of the Sem
ate---PenSiOn Measures.

| In the Senate, on Wednesday, the 9th inst,
petitions were presented as follows: By Mr..
Plumb, from 10000 ex-soldiers of the Union
army, representing one hundred regiments, or
one hundred thousand men, residing in seven
/ teen States and Territories asking for the
establishment of Soldiers Home in Kansas.
By Mr.. Logan, praying for the passage of an
act pensioning x-prisoners of war.
| Mr.. Morgan offered the following resolution,
| which was agreed to-
Resofved That the Acknowledgement be in
strueted to transmit to the Senate copies of the
reports, with the accompanying papers, made by
different examiners of the Department of Justice
concerning the business of the courts of the United
! States in Alabama, Arkansas and Texas, which
reports relate to abuses by the officers of said courts
and the n1arshals OF said districts in the charging,
collecting and accounting for fees and other abuses
referred to in the report OF Brewster Cameron gen
eral agent of the Department OF Justice, made to
said department January 5, 1881.
The rest of the session was occupied with the
discussion of the new rules
THURSDAYS PROCEEDINGS.
In the Senate, on Thursday, petitions were
presented by Mr.. Voorhees, from Posts of the
Grand Army of the Republic praying for the
passage of the bill now pending repeating tho
statutory Limitation in regard to arrearages of
pensions.
Mr. Voorhees, also submitted the following
resolution; which was considered by unani-
nous consent, and agreed to:
Resoiued. That the Secretary of War be directed
to inform The Senate the number of soldiers in the
late war for the Union who served year, the
number who served two years the number who
served three years. and the amount of bounty paid
4 TO each class respectively; also, that he inform
4 the Senate of the amount approximate amount
4 Of money which would be required 10 equalize
/ the bounties of those who served in said war.
/ Among the bills introduced were the follow
/ ing:
BY Mr.. Sawyer, a bill amending the Revised
/ Statutes relative to the delivery of letters and
money-orders TO persons engaged in fraudulent
lottery schemes by striking out the word
fraudulent" and thereby making the statute
apply to all lotteries; also. a bill prohibiting
the mailing of papers, &c, containing lottery
advertisements
By Mr.. Cullum. providing for the eonstruc-
ton of the Illinois and Mississippi River canal
Mr.. Dawes introduced bill to provide for
/ the transmission of correspondence by tele-
graph. This bill provides for the creation of
a United States postal telegraph company
under the direction of the P0st0fsice Depart
ment, the creation Of the Office of fourth assist
ant postmaster general. this official to be presi
dent of the board of directors of the company,
and for the establishment of postal telegraph
Offices at post-offices throughout the United
States and the transmission of correspondence
from such postal telegraph Offices.
FRIDAYS PROCEEDINGS
In the Senate, on Friday, Mr Van Wyck,
! from committee of improvement Of the Missis-
! sippi River, reported a joint resolution making
immediate appropriation of 81, 100000 for the
continuance of the work of improvement al
ready entered upon by the Mississippi River
commission. After some debate it was amend
ed so as to give it the form of bin, which
was read three times and passed.
The following bills were introduced:
By Dir. Call, to establish a university of med
icine: also to provide for the establishment
of postal savings banks.
By Mr.. Edmunds, providing for the relief of
the survivors of the Jeanette expedition aud
crew, and of the heirs of the deceased mem
bers. 1t authorizes the Secretary of the
4 Treasury TO pay to Chief Engineer Melville
and Lieutenant Danenhower 81 600 each; to
Raymond L. Ncwconb. naturalist: John Cole,
acting boatswain w. 7. c. Nindermann, sea-
nlaa, and James III. Bartlett, seaman, $500
each, and 10 the remaining survivors 1906
each 1t also authorizes the payment of sum
equal to one years salary of each of the de-
ceased members OF the Jealipette's expedi-
ton and crew to their respective heirs. The
bill was accompanied by a letter from the
Secretery Of the Navy recommending its pas
sage
Mr.. CuIlom according to notice heretofore
given, addressed the Senate at length with
regard to his bill to recognize the legislative
power Of Utah 1t provides that the govern
ment of Utah shall consist of governor and
council of nine members. 10 be appointed by
the President and confirmed by the Senate,
and they shall be citizens and qualified voters
Of the Territory.
DIR. Brown opposed the bill, speaking on the
question from the standpoint Of the constitu-
tion He declared all the legislation of Con
gress IN connection with Utah affairs uncon-
sfitutional and indefensible.
MONDAYS PROCEEDINGS.
In the Senate, on Monday, Mr.. Cockrell
offered the following resolution, which was
agreed to:
Resofred. That the Secretary OF the Treasury be
directed TO report 10 the Senate the amounts OF gold
Coin and bullion deposited in the treasury. sub
treasures and designated repositories of the
United States IN exchange for silver certificates
and for which silver certificates nave been issued
during the calendar years 1873 to Jss3 il more
convenient during the fiscal years 1879 To 1883 and
during the first six months of 1854, and also
whether there has been any refusal 10 receive sue
gold coin bullion silver certificates and If so
the reasons therefor.
The Senate then proceeded to the election oil
President pro tenp0re. Mr.. Sherman nomi-
mated Senator Henry B. Anthony, of Rhode
Island, and Mr.. pendleton offered the name OF
Thomas F. Bayard, of Delaware. Mr.. Anthony
was duly elected, but declined the honor in the
following remarks: Il thank you, Senators
for this distinguished honor. 1t would be
affectation in me to say that it has come en-.
tirely unexpectedly, for / have been for some
time aware or your kind and Hattering pur-
pose. 1t would be still more ahectation IN Inc
, TO deny that the acceptance of it would give
me pride and pleasure; but the state Of my
health, which you all know is precarious, for.
bids me to assume any labors that j can con.
sistently and honorably avoid Although
would not hesitate to undertake any burden
laid upon me by my brother Senators, even al
the sacrifice of health, if it were thought
could perform it better than another, yet
think it is no Sinking OF duty, no cowardly
Incidence in me to decline a position which SC
many Senators can fill with equal and greater
advantage TO the Senate and to the country
Therefore, Senators, with a heart oyerfowina
with gratitude for all your kindness to me,
most respectfully decline the position
Dir. Edmunds was then placed in nomination
and duly elected, and the following resolution
offered by DIR. Sherman, was then agreed to
Resolred That the Secretary Of the Senate inform
the President of the United States and the Hous,
of Representatives that the Senate has chosen Hon
George L. Edmgnds, Senator from the State o
Vermont, President pro tenipore of the Senate.
Senator Hill then spoke at length in support
, of the postal telegraph bill introduced by him
Among the bills introduced was one by Sen
, ator Cockrell with regard to the fees of attor
neys in pension cases. which provides tha
where written contract is entered into be
tween the claimant and his attorney, and ther
submitted to the Commissioner OF Pensions fol
his approval, fee not to exceed $50 may b.
g paid, and that III cases requiring extraordinar,
g labor on the part of the attorney and the ex
{ penditure Of money to perfect the case a con