The Middlebury register and Addison County journal. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1883-1885, 1884-04-11
SUMMARY OF CONGRESS-
Scnate.


A bill was reported favorably 10 establish
national forest reservation on the head
waters of the Missouri. Bills were intro
duced making an appropriation to pay the
expenses of a commission to explore Alaska,
and to allow drawbacks on imported ma
terials used in the manufacture of tobacco,
snuff and cigars exported . Mr. Platt spoke
III farpr of his bill to or
game the patent office into a depart
ment
Mr. Hall from the committee on appropra-
tions, reported the naval appropriation bill
with stlndry amendments. The bill intro
duced by Mr. Edmunds and reported favora-
ably from the committee on naval affairs, for
the relief of the Jeanette survivors, was
passed. 1t provides for the compensation of
the survivors for losses incurred 10y them on
the expedition. The names and and
amounts are as follows George w.
Melville, chief engineer, $1,000; John
w. Danenhower, lieutenant, $1,000; Ray
mond l.. Newcomb, naturalist, 5000; John
Cole, acting boatswan, 5000; w. X. c. MIN
derman, seaman, 5000; and the remaining
survivors $500 each. The bill further pro-
vides for the payment to the widow, child or
other legal representative of each deceased
member of the expedition any arrears Of pay
due the deceased member and one years adj
ditional pay
The bill to increase the efficiency of the
general land office, giving the commissioners
salary of 5000, and his assistant $1,000,
Mr. Mor'll's bill providing for the inn
provement of the coinage was passed &c. The
Blair educational bill was further discussed.
A bill to provide for the creation of a silk
culture bureau was introduced by Mr..
Call. e. Mr. Mcpherson introduced a bill to
amend the patent laws. -. The Blair educa-
tional bill was discussed without action. Mr..
Pendleton opposed it on constitutional
grounds. Mr. Williams spoke in favor of
the bill
A joint resolution was introduced by Mr..
Finerty rendering the thanks of Congress to
Minister Sargent Bills were introduced for
the construction of a merchant ship of new
design; to equalize the taxation of domestic
and foreign insurance companies; approprl-
ating 100000 for the relief of sufferers by
the Mississippi floods and authorizing the APP
polntmont OF a Missouri river commission
THE. Trade Dollar bill was further
considered.
The House passed the bill providing for the
retirement of the trade dollars and their
recoinage into silver dollars, after striking
out the fourth section, which provided that
the trade dollars recoined into standard sill
yer dollars should be deducted from the
amount of bullion required to be coined by
the reconciliation act. The vote on the pas
sage Of the bill was 19S to 46, and that
on the rejection of the fourth section was 13l
to WIS. The committee on commerce re
ported the bill providing for the inspection of
live stock and hog products intended for ex-
port, and prohibiting the importation of
adulterated food and liquors. An adverse
report was presented on the bill providing for
commission on the alcoholic liquor traffic 81.
The bill authorizing the secretary of the
treasury to invest the lawful money deposited
i'll the treasury i'll trust by the national bank
ing associations for the retirement of their
circulating notes was reported favorably....
The committee appointed to investigate the
charges made by Representative Keifcr
against General II. V. Boynton, the cores
pendent, submitted report, accompanied by
this resolution: THAT the charges against
ID. V. Boynton are not sustained by the evil
dence and that there is no ground for any
action by the House, The resolution was
laid over for future action.
Consideration of the Indian appropriation
bill was entered upon. The bill calls for So
341 ,Gj3, as against s., $50 $50 for the current
year Mr.. Throckmorton offered an amend
ment abolishing the five Indian inspectors,
and providing that their places shall be taken
message was received from the President re-
commencing an appropriation of 100000 for
the protection of the levees of the lower Mis-.
sissippi.
A joint resolution was passed authorizing
the secretary of war to loan flags and bunting
to the mayor of Richmond, Va, TO be used at
fair to be held in that city in aid of home
for disabled Confederate soldiers Mr.
1hrockmortons motion to amend the Indian
appropriation BILL so as to abolish the five
Indian inspectors and have their duties per-
formed by army officers, was carried 81 to 81