The Mineral argus., 1884-06-19
CONGRESSIONAL ROCEEDIECS.

leave of absence, with pay, to letter-carriers.
1t authorizes the postmaster general to en-
ploy the number Of substitute letter-carriers
rendered necessary by the provisions of the
bill, the compensation of such substitute
to be at the rate of $500 a year.
The bill giving a pension of $50 per month
to the widow of Gen Judson Fitzpatrick; the
bill authorizing the sale of portion of the Fort
Hayes military reservation 20 the Ellis County
Agricultural society of Kansas; the
house bill relating to the legislature of Da-
kota Dit provides that the council of the terri
tory shall consist of twenty-four members and
the house of representatives of forty members,
and at the next general election two members
of the council and four of the lower house shall
be elected in each of the twelve legislative dis
tricts of the territory; the bill introduced by
PendletOn to regulate the payment of bills Of
exchange drawn in foreign countries on persons,
firms or corporations in the United States:
Adjourned to Monday.
On Tuesday, in the House, Mr.. Paysor, as
question of privilege, called for consideration
the bill reported from the committee on public
lands, to prevent unlawful occupancy of pub
lie lands. After discussion the bill, was passed.
1t prohibits the enclosure of any public land
when the person or corporation making en-
closure has no color of title to the land, and
makes it lawful for any person to tear down
and demolish any such enclosure when it in
cludes more than 100 acres.
In the contested election cases of the pres
ent congress the house committee on cleo
tons has agreed to allow the following sums
" OABOhSCo vi AulDAbbbCus Aud66GN-
Wise, Virginia, $500 each; Chalmers
Manning, Mississippi, $4,000 each; English
Peelle, Indiana, $1,000 each; Wallace-Mc-Kin-
ley, Ohio, $4,000. each; Watson-Frederick,
$3.50 each; Craig Shelley, Alabama, $1,000
each.
Mr.. Hayson of Illinois, called up the senate
bill to repeal section1 of the act entitled San
act making a grant Of lands in alternate sec
tons to aid the construction and extension of
the Iron Mountain railroad from Pilot Knob,
in the State of Missouri, TO Helena, in
Arkansas approved July 4, 1866. In con-
sideration of the forfeiture, the Iron Mountain
Railroad company is released from the obliga-
tions of a land grant road. An amendment was
adopted excluding from this release that part
of the railroad between Poplar Bluff, Mo-, and
the Arkansas state line, and as amended the bill .
was passed.
The house proceeded to vote on the Califor-
mia & Oregon land grant forfeiture bill, with a
result of yeas 145, nays 8; no quorum. A call
of the house disclosed the presence of 2l0 mem
bers, and the bill was passed; yeas 15O, nays1O
Mr.. Hoblitzel, committee on civil service,
reported adversely bills to repeal the civil SER
vice act They were laid on the table. The re-
port says: The committee have diligently in
vestigated the workings of the commission ap-
pointed to execute the law, and heartily rec
ommend it for the intelligent and efficient ad-
ministratiOn of an important branch of eXecu-
tive power. The report then sets forth and re-
views the evils of what is known as the spolls
system of appointments to Office, and continues
as follows: Since the organization of
the civil service commission
great good has been accomplished in many di-
rections, and better feeling prevails; dominant
public sentiment on the subject of reform in
the civil service, inspiring the hope that at no
distant day the benefits of similar laws may ex-
tend throughout the United States, and by har-
mOny of sentiment and action much of that
which now contributes to the bitterness of
political contests and scandal of our free insti-
buttons shall be eliminated and destroyed.
Your committee, entirely satisfied with the
thorough CONSCIENTIOUS and nOn-partsan work
of the civil service commission, are justifiedin
the belief that its continuance will aid to ii large
) degree in Graduating prevalent evils of the
complaint and restore public confidence in
work performed by the subordinate officials,
and can see no wisdom in the proposed repeal
of the law. Your committee unanimously rec
commended the adverse report.
The judicial bill which passed by the house
increases the minimum of jurisdiction of the
circuit courts from $500 to $4,000 takes away
from those courts the jurisdiction in favor of
assignees of promissory notes and bills of ex-
change, and also of a civil nature, arising be-
tween corporations and the citizens of any state
in which the corporation may have been carry
ing on business at the time the cause of action
accrued, and restricts to defendant the right to
remove the cause from the federal court
The Mexican soldiers pension bill was taken
upin the senate on Monday. The pending a lcend-
ment was laid on the table, being Heidelberg
er's amendment to strike out the phrase 'f0r
the suppression of rebellion, :" from Hoar's
amendment providing pensions for soldiers
who fought''in the late war for the suppression
of the rebellion" Mr.. Williams moved to
lay Hoar's amendment ON the table. Carried
yeas -, nays Is Hanley, Miller,
and Plat (rep.) voting with the democrats.
In the house, bills were introduced amending
the act authorizing the formation of national
banking associations and repeating the internal
revenue tobacco tax. Representative Dingley's
bill regarding national banking associations
provides that in all suits at law or in equity
now pending or hereafter brought to en-
force the liability of shareholders in natl onal
banking associations for contracts and debts
and engagements with such associations to the
extent of their stock therein at par value there
of in accordance with the provisions of the re-
vised statues, shareholders shall have the
right to set up in defense thereof equitable
discharge of the liability by voluntary pay
ment before the assessment is levied upon said
stock by the controller of the currency to en-
force said liability, or any other equitable de-
Tense which such stockholders may have to
such suits.
According to those who are supposed
to be best acquainted with Mrs. Lang
try's intentions, says a New York
journal, that lady will finally take up
her residence in London as soon as she
voo1i1oe ~, opon1o for+,Do n IN fbis a;Jo