Morning journal and courier., 1884-03-08

MT. Dolph delivered speech in support of the bill for the improvement of the Colum bia river, Oregon.
 Mir. Dawes reported bill from the select committee to investigate the condition of the Sioux Indians to divide portion of theiE reservation in Dakota into separate reservs- tions and to secure the relinquishment of the Indian title to the remainder.
 After short debate the bill amending section 673 of the revised statutes relating to a quorum of the United States Supre court was passed. It fixes the quorum at 5 instead of and prohibits the judges from sitting on the trial of cases they have tried in courts below.
 There was & long debate on the bill to pay the heirs of Maurice Greevot. of New Orleans, $9OO seized by General Banks during the military occupation of that city. A motion to indefinitely postpone was voted down and the bill passed.
 MT. Plumb reported favorsbly with amendment the House bill ferfejting the Texas Pacific land grant. He said the minority of the committee would present an adverse report.
 At 5:35 the Senate adjourned until Mon- day.
 HoUsE-Under the demand for the regular order, the Speaker proceeded to call the committee for reports of . private character dA0 Q O1 Dl1lB WcES RAhOou OPOA tu0 appropriate calendars. Among the bills re- ported was one granting 8 pension to the widow of Gen. Francis P. Blair.
 The Speaker announced the unfinished business to be the further consideration of the bill authorizing the retirement of Alfred Pleasanton with the rank of colonel and the pending question to be the decision of the point of order raised against the motion made by Mir. Steele, of Indiana tos recommit the bill with instructions to the Committee on Military Affairs to report back bill re- tiring with the rank of colonel all soldiers who became totally disabled in the late war. The Speaker sustained the point of order on the fground that the effect of the motion would be to change a private into 8 public bill. Mir. Steele then moved to recommit the bill without instructions. This motion was carried; yeas 122, nays 115. Mr. Brown, of Indiana, immediately introduced bill grant, ing Alfred Pleasanton 8 pension of $1OO 8 Objection was made to it's present and it was referred to the Com- mittee on Invalid Pensions.
 The House then went into committee on the private calendar and considered five pri- vate bills, which were ordered to be reported favorably.
 The committee then rose and the House passed bills for the relief of Louisa Brady nett from $75 to $100 per month; also bill for the relief of John D. Monheith, John B Davis, John Taylor and son and of Benjamin D. Latten.
 controversy arose over bill for the re- lief of Sidney Henderson, the Committee of the Whole having on motion of Mir. Dibrell, so amended the bill, which provided the of the claim to the quartermaster's department for investigation, as to appro- priate $2, 300 for the payment of the claim. Without questioning the merits of the claim it was contended by the opposition that this was dangerous departure from precedent The amendment was finally agreed to.
 Pending vote on the passage of the bill the House took recess until 7:30 o'clock.
 At the night session of the House eighteen pension bills were passed, including one pensioniug the widow of General Fitzpatrick, of New Jersey, at the rate of $50 month. At $50 the House adjourned.