The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1884-05-16
CONGRESSIONAL PROCEEDINGS.

In the senate, the bill to release from the OBJ
legation of secrecy the members of the Fitz
John Porter court-martial was indefinitely
postponed The bill to aid in the construction
of a ship canal between Lakes Union and
Washington and Puget sound, Wash, was re-
ported favorably. The shipping bill was de-
bated.
In the house, on the 1st,a motion of MI. Nor
rison that general debate on the tariff bill be
closed at 4 p. m. next Tuesday was agreed to,
and the house proceeded, in committee of the
whole to discuss the bill. Among the speakers
was Mr.. Eaton, q democratic member from
Connecticut, who fiercely denounced the meas
are. The bill was further debated at the even
ing session. Es
The house, after a long debate, passed the
bill covering defects in the Chinese bill. The
amendments provide for o passport system
the vetoed ~twenty-year bill; all Chinese to be
required, before entering or leaving the United
States, to provide themselves with certificates
containing a detailed description of their per-
sonal appearance, which must be exhibited to
the customs officers at ports of entry or de-
parture; o special Gordon of officers to
guard the frontier of British Columbia, in
order to prevent the unlawful immigration of
Chinese from that country; every constable,
justice, policeman, sheriff and deputy sheriff
along the border to have the power and au-
thority of a United States marshal to make ar
rests for violation of the restriction law: tho
appelation of merchants" under which SO
many Chinese had recently entered the United
States, to be clearly defined and held applicable
not to peddlers. hucksters, etc, but only per-
sena-actually engaged in business as the word
is popnfafIy 1nd6Tgtooh-Ihe bill ~1afssed-
yeas lSi, nays II. The negative Vote was cast
by Adams Hll.), Brewer IN. ", Browne Ind.),
Everhart, Henderson (IlI), Hit, Kean, Lyman,
Price, Rice, Skinner IN. ", Smalls and Spoon,
or, MI Republicans.
Senator Van Wyck of Nebraska introduced in
tho senate a bill to restrict foreigners and tor-
elgn corporations in the ownership of public
lands and any lands in the territories. The
Be 1t enacted etc. that it. shall be unlawful
for any persons or any associations not citizens
of the United States, or for any corporation or
company organized under authority of any for
eign state, prince or potentate to acquire title
en- quantity of public lands than indi-
viduals of the United States are authorized to
enter under the settlement and Improvement
laws thereof, or TO acquire, receive or hold by
deed, grant or trust decd, hereafter executed
greater Quantities of landIn the territories than
GAO acres.
This bill is intended to protect American
stocklaisers and farmers from the invasion of
large English corporations which have acquired
thousand of acres of land in the western ter
rltories for these purposes. Senator Plumb of
Kansas also introduced a bill still more
strengent on the same subject.
The honse decided, on Monday, by a vote Of
l42 o9S, to consider the contested election
case of O'Farrel (Dcmocrat) against Paul tIte-
adjustor), of Virginia. The minority we're
port. j.. S. iil' Wise prepare Readius ter
member from Virginia, ~tierce1y denounced this
action OF the Democrats. The minority reso-
was lost-Sl to 40. This was a strict party
vote, except That Cook, Democrat, of Iowa, yot-
ed with the Republicans in the affirmative.
The majority resolution declaring OTarrell
entitled to the seat was then adopted and
O'Farrell took the oath.
In the Senate, Wednesday, a bill was in
troduced by Mr. Ednlunds to place Gen.U. S.
drant on the retired list of the army. Mr.. Hill
made a spoech in favor of the bill to declare
forfeited the lands granted tho New Orleans.
Baton Rouge 4 Vicksburg Railway company.
The discussion of the shipping bill was re-
sumed, and a substitute for one section was
submitted by Mr.. Vest, and accepted by Mr..
Frye, author of the bill, abolishing all tonnage
dues on United States vessels on entering
United States ports only retaining such dues
on vessels of foreign countries discriminating
IN like manner against the United States.
In the house the bill for the relief Of Fitz
John Porter came up with senate amendments.
Mr.. Slocum moved to non-concur in the sem
ate amendments. Mr.. Balm moved concur
renee. Mr., keifcr opposed the bill, declaring
~ unconstitutional Mr.. Slocum said
he was glad the gentleman from
Ohio had stacked Fitz John Porter. The
would be glad of it, because he
would regard what the gentlemen said against
him as q compliment, and it would be SO re-
garded by the country. He (slocum) had only
been surprised that the gentleman from Ohio
had not summoned Charles Garfield and Elder
to sustain his course as he had done a few DAYS
ago. Applause on the Democratic side
and misses on the Republican sidel.
Mr.. Belford said he would take Grants words
as to the injustice to Gen. Porter rather than
the words of Mr.. Keifer or any other party on
the floor. The motion to refer the bill to tho
committee of the whole was lost, and the SEN
ate amendments nonconcurredin in.
The 1ron-clad oath which was provided for
at the outbreak of the war and has never been
repealed, although numerous attempts have
heen made to strike it from the statue books,
mas at last been abolished. The house on
Wednesday, coneurred on the bill which passed
the senate some time ago for the purpose. and
u only needs the signature of the president to
become a law. This oath has always been adj
milistered in congress, and in courts to per-
who did not take part in the rebellion,
whiie those who did have taken what is known.
as themodified oath.
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