Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-01-09
IN THE SENATE AND HOUSE.
Detailed Report of the Days Work in
the Two Bodies.

Detailed Report of the Days Work in
the Two Bodies.
WASHINGTON, Jan. Sin the Senate,
this morning, petitions were presented by
Senator Miller, of New York, asking for
a reduction of city postage to l cent, and
for the passage Of a national bankruptcy
law.
n resolution Of Mr.. Hale was agreed to,
calling on the Secretary Of the Navy to
furnish informatlhn of the original
cost OF all vessels whose names are
found on the naval register for 1888,
under the various bureaus Of the govern
ment, and the total expense for all repairs
on the same vessels under the same bu-
reaus or otherwise.
Petitions were presented by Messrs.
Vest and Bayard from merchants and
manufacturers asking the confirmation
of the treaty with Mexico.
MIR. Van Wyck presented a preamble
and resolutions setting forth that it is as
serted by the New Orleans and Pacific
Railroad Company that as the Attorney
General has decided in favor of said COM
pany as to lands claimed by them, and
that the Secretary of the Interior has felt
constrained to act upon said opinion, it
session, determine the questions involved
in the claims of said company for the
lands, the Secretary of the Interior sus-
pend action as to issuing certificate on
patents for said lands. The Senate then
resumed consideration of the new lules.
Considerable debate arose upon the pro-
posed rule which relates to the approDri-
alton bills. 1t provides that the appropri-
alton bill for the expenses OF the District
of Columbia shall be referred to the Sen
ate committee having in charge the in
terests of that District. From this ques-
tion the debate Widcned into a general
question of divided responsibility and.the
dangers to be apprehended from taking
money matters out of the hands of the
Appropriations Committee. Mr.. Hale
said that the natural desire Of the COM
mittee was to have power to appropriate
money. He thought that if the various
committees were clothed with the power
of deciding on the amount of money which
should be devoted to their special depart
ments there would apt to be Il scramble
for appropriations. Mr.. Hale moved to
strike out from the proposed rule the
clause which had caused the discussion.
a communication was received from the
Secretary of the Treasury transmitting
copies of vouchers audited by the First
Auditor on account of expenses in the
Department Of Justice since March j.
1881, with the names of the special and
assistant attorneys and detectives en-
plOyed, and also one from the Secretary Of
War, transmitting a list of the officers of
the army on detached service, including
those on sick leave. Messages from the
President were laid before the Senate
relative to the Illinois and Michigan
Canal and the work of the Mississippi
River Commission. Without reaching a
vote on Mr.. Hale's resolution to strike
ont flesaG IN sV,k.
sion and soon afterward adjourned.
IN THE HOUSE.
In the House this morning. on motion of
MIR. Randall, of Pennsylvania, a resolu-
tiOn was adopted directing the Committee
on Accounts to designate the committees
which shall be allowed clerks.
Mr.. Hunt, of Louisiana, introduced a
joint resolution for the immediate appro-
priation Of 81, 100000 i'll accordance with
the urgent request of the Mississippi Ri
yer Commission. 1t was referred.
Mr.. Bingham, of Pennsylvania, from
the Committee on Post Offices and Post
Roads, reported back the resolution call
ing on the Secretary of the Interior to re-
port to the House whether any railroad
company which has been aided bv the
government has granted or attempted to
grant to any other corporation or tele-
graph company any right to operate lines
VI NNACEA dllH OGiOA- AuE " Sdiu IdllIOdu
company so as to prevent the company
from performing its duty to the govern
ment and the public. Itwas adopted
Mr.. Money, of Mississippi, from the
same committee, reported back the reso-
luton calling on the Postmaster General
for information as to whether a British
spy named O'Brien has been allowed to
tamper with the American mails in New
York. 1t was adopted.
Under the call Of States n OuDbor of
bills and resolutions were introduced and
referred, among them the following:
BY Mr.. Robinson, of New York-A reso-
luton calling on the Secretary of State
for information as to whether our Minis
ters obey the law OF March 9th, 1867.
This law forbids United States Ministers
10 foreign counties from appearing in pub
lie in court dress, and requiring them to
wear the ordinary apparel of American
citizens.
BY Mr.. Beach, Of New York-Proposing
the following amendments to the Constitu-
tiOn: First, uniform laws on the subject
OF marriage and divorce; second, giving
the President the power to veto one or
more items iii an appropriation bill; third.
creating statutes of limitation to ali
claims against the United States; fourth.
credit money. property of the United
States, not to be loaned or given to private
corporations; NTH, prohibiting the grant
ing OF exclusive privileges and forbiding
Legislation on appropriation bills; also. a
bill to repeal section 2771 of the Revised
Statutes. This bill will allow foreign
vessels to ascend our rivers and unload.
AT present they must unload at ports of
entry. The existing law is a serious re-
striction on commerce.
BY Mr.. Bingham and Mr.. Randall. of
Pennsylyania-Eaeh one bill rendering
the thanks of Congress. and conferring
additional rank upon Chief Engineer
George W. Melville, of the Jeanette.
Commander Belongs vessel.
By Mr.. Mackey, Of South Carolina-For
the erection OF public building at Beau
fort. 5. c.
By Mr.. Pierce, of Tennessee-To enable
tobacco planters to sell tobacco raised
by them free from internal revenue; also
to admit sugar and salt free of duty,
BY Mr. Warner, of Tennessee-Abolish-l
ing the dnty on bibles.
BY Mr.. Young, of Tennessee