Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-02-06
IN SENATE AND HOUSE.
Detailed Report of the Proceedings il
Both Bodies


Detailed Report of the Proceedings in
Both Bodies.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 5.-In the Senate
to-day the Fitz John Porter relief bill, re-
ceived yesterday from the House of Rep
resentatives, was to-day referred to the
Senate Committee on Military Affairs.
Mr.. Allison introduced a bill providing
for branch soldiers home in one of the
States of Arkansas, Colorado, Kansas,
Iowa, Minnesota or Ohio. 1t was re-
ferred to the Committee on Military
Affairs.
Mr.. sherman called up the bill recently
introduced by him to suspend for five wears
the operation of the Revised Statutes re-
lating to guanO islands. A debate fol-
lowed, which was participated in by
Messrs. Sherman and Ransom in favor of
the bill. and Messrs. Salisbury. McPner-
son and COnger against it. The opponents
OF the bill grounded their opposition upon
the need Of atfording the farmers of the
United States the advantages of cheap
guanos, and those in favor of it contend
ing that these guanOs by themselves were
not adapted to our lands.
Mr.. Hawley offered resolution. which
was agreed to, directing the Committee
on Printing to inquire into the expediency
OF publishing an official gazette of the
United States to contain advertisements
for proposals for contracts and general
orders and announcements by the heads
of the Executive Departments. the more
important appointments and such other
matter as Is now published by the differ
ent branches of the government as adver-
tlsements, or in special sheets, and direct
ing that IN the report of said committee
the expense OF the present methods of
publishing such information be gwen in
detail.
The Senate then resumed consideration
Of the bill providing for a method of set
ting the titles to lands held under the
Mexican land grants.
The following bills were reported IA
Vorably from the committees and placed
on the calendar:
BY Mr.. Hampton, from the Committee
ON Military Atfairs-A bill authorizing
the Secretary of the Treasury to settle the
claims OF the State Of Florida on account
OF expenditures made in suppressing In
dian hOstilities.
by Mr. Call-To authorize the cOnstruc-
ton Of public building at Jacksonville,
BY Mr.. HamptOn-To authorize the Sec
retary of War to audit claims of the State
OF South Carolina for arms and for rentO
the Citadel at Charleston.
W Ithout diSP0sing of the Mexican land
Titles bill, the Senate went into eXecu-
tive session and soon afterwards ad-
journed.
IN THE HOUSE.
Ia the House to-day Mr.. Dockery, of
Missouri, offered a resolution declaring
vacant the positions Of stenOgraphers of
the committees of the House and provid-
ing that hereafter, on the request of
committee, the Speaker shall employ a
stenographer or stenOgraphers at com
pensatIOn to be fixed by the Committee
on Accounts. Mr.. Calkins, of Indiana.
objected to its present consideration and
II was referred to the Committee Oh Ac-
counts.
Mr.. Belmont, of New York, offered
resolution requesting the President to
communicate to the House the cOrrespOn-
dence concerning representations to the
government in reference to existing treaty
determinations against the works of for
eign artists, together with such other in
formation as may be on record in the
State Department. The resolution was
adopted.
Mr.. tucker, of Virginia, from the Ju-
dietary Committee, reported a bill to ex-
tend the duration of the Court of Com
mssloners of Alabama claims. 1t was
referred to the committe of the whole.
Mr.: BrOadhead, of Missouri, from the
9'.iAiC SOiAllhAtICcs l6pOII6u ADVERSELY the
JOINT resolution proposing a constitutional
amendment for the election of postmas-
ters, revenue collectors, and United
States district attorneys. 1t was laid on
the table.
Mr.. Hardeman, of Georgia. from the
Committee on Territories, reported ad
yersely the bill for the election of Terri
torlal Governors and Secretaries by the
people of the Territories. 1t was laid on
the table.
The bill for the erection of a public
building at Macon, Ga, to cost $125.00O.
was reported from the Public Buildings
Committee and referred to the committee
of the whole.
The House then went into committee of
the whole on the bill establishing a bureau
OF animal industry, etc.
After the reading of the repOrt. which
is very exhaustive statement of the cir
cumstances tnat make it advisable for
Congress to legislate upon the subject of
pleurO-pneumOnia among cattle. Mr..
Hatch, of Missouri, Chairman of the Com
mlttee on Agriculture, explained the pro-
visions of the bill. The committed he
said, had met with the difficulty of har
monizing the power which belonged to the
Federal Government and the power which
belonged to the States over private prop
erty within their borders. There was no
doubt that under the constitutional power
to regulate commerce Congress had the
right to control the transportation of dis
eased cattle from one State to another.
1t had also been diffcult to devise meas
ure by which the cooperation of the
States could be secured to stamp out the
disease of pleuro-pneumonia. The COM
mittee believed that the proposition sub
mitted was the best which could be
framed. 1t directed the Commissioner
of Agriculture by proper investigation to
locate the disease, to notify the State
authorities OF the fact that it exists. and
to invite the cooperation of the State and
request it to pay one-half the expense of
eradicating it. The bill was discussed bv
Messrs. Belford, Hatch of Missouri. and
Wilson of Iowa. The committee rose
without concluding the discussion, and
the House adjourned.