The sun. [volume] (Morris, Stevens County, Minn.) 1882-1895, 1884-03-20
CONGRESSIONAL MATTERS.

An attempt was made in the senate ON the
I4th. to sesure an appropriation for the sup
preston of the foot and mouth disease that is
raging among the cattle in the west Senators
Cullom, Plumb Warner, Miller and others
urged haste in the matter, as there was O need
of Immediate relief to prevent the spread of
the plague; but the extreme state rights
views. The most vigorous opposition they re-
ceived was from one of their own number,
Senator Garland of Arkansas, who took radical
grounds in favor of the powers of congress and
is recognized as one of the ablest lawyers in
the senate, his remarks created some surprise,
as Garland said there wero no constitutional
objections raised when money was appropriated
for the Mississippi river floods and the yellow
fever sufferers, but the shoe is on the North
western foot this time.
The house devoted great deal of time to the
discussion OF . bill to grant pension to Sep
temia H. Meiklcham, the only surviving grand
child of the author of the declaration of indie
pendence. She sat in a front seat in the men,
bers' gallery and was an attentive listener to
the discussion. Though in comparative want,
She has made no appeal to her
country s% through it's
that member Of the committee on pensions
heard of her existence, and without consulta-
ton or request from her, introduced the bill
for relief. After a long debate, the enacting
clause was stricken out by over two thirds
vote which is the same thing as defeating the
bill
The clause in the p. O. Appropriation bill fix
ing the compensation of railroads was discussed
at length, Saturday, the 18th, and finally amend
ed ON motion of Mr. Holman, by including the
Northern Pacific and Union Pacific companies
in the proviso limiting the compensation paid
for mail transportation to land grant roads to
so per cent of that allowed to other roads, and
providing that no right now existing in favor
of those roads shall be deemed impaired or
star route service provoked a long debate, in
volving the intermidable star route scandals
Mr.. Hoar offered resOlutio. calling on the
secretary Of the interior to rep srt to the SEN
ate the names Of the parties who have pension
applications pending more than two years and
show the condition of such applications and
of. Mr.. Hoar said inquiries were very numer-
GUS from all parts of the country as to pension
cases undlsposed Of No tragedy could be put
on the stage which ought to move
the feelings of right minded men,
especially American legislators, more than the
stories which come to us day after day, week
after week, month after month and year after
year, of the hopes deferred, of the poverty
sorrow and agony of the men who suffered
wounds and privations and gave up their
strength and health for their country, and the
widows and orphans of those who have given
up their lives for it. Mr. Hoar found no fault
with the pension Office, but something should
be done to help forward pension cases.
The bill for additional associate justices for
the Dakota supreme court was reported ad-
verseiy from the judiciary committee and in
definitely i'll the Senate postponed The joint
resolution making an appropriation for the ex-
tirpation of the foot and mouth disease among
cattle was debated at great length. The amount
600 to So, 600, and the resolution was adopted
20 to H.
Bills were introduced on Monday, the 18th,
in the house requiring all land grant railroads
to furnish the secretary of the treasury full
and true quarterly statements under oath, of
earnings and indebtedness; granting home
steads to soldiers of the late war; permitting
the five civilized Indian tribes of Indian Terri
tory to organize national banks; suspending
for two years silver dollar coinage, and prohlb-
iting the issue of 81 and 80 treasury notes; au-
thorizing the payment of $50, 600 to Mrs Meik-
leham, Jeffersons granddaughter. A special
deficiency bill, appropriating 81, 697,0O was
passed.
Mr.. White introduced in the house a bill to ap-
propriate 1919 81 to James Healey for carrying
the mail.
On motion of Mr.. Strait, resolutions of the
chamber of commerce of St Paul in relation to
the free navigation of the Congo river were re-
ferred to the committee on foreign affairs
A petition Of 40 citizens of Minnesota was
presented by Mr.. Washburn for constitution
al amendment to prohibit Acknowledgement of
United States citizens on account of sex 1t
was referred to the committee on judiciary