Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1884-04-18
CONGRESSIONAL
TUESDAY. APRIL 8.

/ TUESDAY, APRIL 8.
Senate The following bills passed:
To authorize the construction of a
bridge over the Rio Grande, between
Eagle Pass, Texas and Piedras Negras,
Mexico, and bridge over the same
river between Laredo, Texas ard Neuvo
Laredo, Mexico. The chair laid before
the senate bill to provide for a uniform
system of bankruptcy throughout the
United States. Sen. Hale stated that
Hoar, who introduced the bill, did
not wish to press it at this
time, when he (Hale) would
therefore move to take up instead the
naval appropriation bill. A long debate
then followed on the naval appropria-
ton bill, but no vote was reached.
| House - The FIRST bill taken up was
one to authorize the appointment of
commission by the president to 1un and
mark boundary lines between portion
of the Indian territory and the state of
| Texas in connection with similar COM
mission to be appointed by the state of
| Texas. After a debate the committee
rose and the bill passed, yeas 13S, nays
67.
| The next bill passed was one declar-
ing that the supreme court in every
territory shall consist of chief jus
| tice and three associate justices and
providing that every territory shall
be divided into four judicial districts
and district court shall be held in
each by one of the justices of the su-
preme court. A bill requiring gov
ernors of territories to be resident of
territory to which he is appointed at
least two years preceding his APPOINT
ment, was opposed by Mr.. Kasson on
the ground that it changed the plan
by which the United States held control
of the territories. Mr.. Maginnis strong
ly advocated the passage of the bill.
There was a growing indisposition to
admit new states on account of the
jealousy of the old states. and this meas
ure was only intended to mitigate one
of the ends of most infamous system of
colonial government the world ever
saw. Mr.. Eaton raised the constitution
al objection that the bill would limit the
right of presidential appointment
Upon this question long debate follow
ed and the house adjourned without ac-
ton.
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 9.
Sendte-The Senate resumed the con-
Sideration of the naval appropriation
bill, and Mr.. Vest continued his remarks.
He was followed by Messrs. Mcpherson,
Hale. Beck and Edmurds.
HouSe-Mr. Hopkins of Pennsylvania,
offered the following preamble and res
olutions, which were referred to the
committee on commerce:
WHEREAS 1t is charged chat the present system
of transporting live stock by railroad companies
engaged in inter state commerce is barbarouS
and destructive; that 10 per cent. of the animals
perish in consequence of this treatment, and the
flesh of the remainder Is unfit for human food,
and
WHEREAS, 1t is charged that the flesh of ami
mails SO treated, including that of dead and dying
is sold the people, and cannot when dressed be
distinguished from sound meats and is source
of many and various diseases; and
WHEREAS, 1t appears by the report of the com
missioner of agriculture to this house, January
21st 1875 that the loss by shrinkage alone in the
weight of animals caused by this system of trans
portation amounted to the immense sum of eight
millions of dollars on the business of 1870 and
must now be nearly or quite sixteen millions per
annum; and
WHEREAS, 1t has been charged that said rail
roals by this system of favoritsm, gives to
small number of persons known as the association
of eveners, bonus gift of almost fifteen
dollars on every car load of beef cattle shipped
from the west to the east and said sum not being
in part the actual legitimate cost of ransporta-
ton, but on the contrary collected by the trans
porters and paid over to the so-called owners as
mere gratuity. and,
WHEREAS, The losses and charges above con
stitute in the aggregate the enormous tax on a
necessary article of food when must be borne by
the producer and consumer alike and diminishing
the just profits of the meat growers in the west
and placing meat food in many instances be-
yond the reach of poor men in the east, and
WHEREAS, 1t is charged that the act of congress
requiIin ing railroad companies to unload stock in
transit every S hours is habitualy violated there
FORE be it
ReSOlred, That the committee on commerce be
instructed to inquire whether these evils do i'll
fact exist, and to what extent they may be RENE
died by law, with power to send for persons and
papers, and with directions to report at any time
by bill or otherwise
The house then took up the bill for a
public building at Keokuk Iowa and
after six tedious votes by teIlers, tie hill
was laid aside, with favorable recon-
mendatior.
The next bill was one appropriating
| 100000 for the erection of a public
building at at Waco, Texas. This was
bitterly opposed by Mr. Warner, on the
grounds that the population and bust
ness of that city did not Justify the large
appropriation called for; and especially
expressed his disapprobation of linking
these bills together like sausages. There
might be some good meat, but there was
plenty of bad.
An amendment reducing the appro-
priation was lost and then the bill was
acted upon farorably. The committee
then rose and reported the Keokuk and
| Waco bills to the house. Without &C
| ton the house took recess until to-
morrow a II o'clock.
FCJDAY, APRIL 10.
| Sendte-The senate, after the morn
| ing hour took ND the naval appropria-
ton bill, but diGurned without coming
to vote.
House-The house continued its strug-
/ frla iat ttnnJ fpt. hlifl h.,
| ings in committee of the whole. until
late in the evening and several of these
bills were passed.
SATURDAY, APRIL 12.
Sendte-T The senate was not in session
| to-day.
House = Mr.. Thompson moved to re-
scind the order under which the house
has been considering public buildings
bill adopted Monday last. He contended
| that the order was general or stand
ing order, and liable, therefore, to repeal;
while on the other hand it was main
| tanned it was special order, which ex-
| pired by its own limitation only. The
speaker was clearly of opinion. the
motion was not privileged one, but As
| it was new question he preferred to
! submit its decision to the house. which
! ~ W dc
not privileged.
| Public business then suspended, and
the house proceeded to the consideration
of resolutions expressive of regret at
the death of the late Thomas Fl. Hern-
don, of Alabama. After eulogies by
Messrs. Jones (Alal, Forney. Horr,
Dowd, Culberson (Tex.l, Henderson,
| Herbert, Shelley. and Oates, the house,
as a mark of respect to the memory of
the deceased, adjourned.
MONDAY, APRIL IA.
! SeHdte-The senate was presided over
to-day by Sen. Ingalls, Bills were in
troduced as follows: Sen. Slater intro
duced bill to forfeit unearned lands
granted to the Northern Pacific r. r.
Co, and restore the same for settlement
| He said he would ask it to lie on the
table until Thursday, when he would
call it up for reference. A message was
received from the house announc ing
the passage of the resolution in memor-
lam of the late Representative Herndon,
of Alabama. Sen. Pugh said he would,
Friday next, call up resolutions for ac-
ton. The senate then resumed consid-
Grafton of the senate bill the pending
question being an amendment proposed
by the senate committee to provide for
the construction of new cruisers. Sen.
Bayard again obie >ted to the engrafting