Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1884-01-22
F0RTYBIGnTn CON6RESS.
First Session.


WASHINGTON. Jan. 81.
In the Senate this morning the chair an
nouuced that the now rules would go into
operation today.
the House of Representatives, one making
ali public roads and highways post routes,
and another to enable the court of the United
States in cases where patents have been OBJ
tanned BY fraud, to aRnul patents.
By Mr. Hale, from the Portland Me,
board of trade. praying for such legislation
| - may check the rapid decline OF the Amer
lean Merchant marine.
Mr.. Van WICK presented = resolution pro-
vidine shat any further debate on the Next
can treaty be had with open doors.
Objections were made to its reception, and
the chair ruled it to be out of order to pre-
sent such resolution in open Senate.
Mr.. Van wyck appealed from the decision
| of the chair and the Senate resolved to close
/ the doors at once in order to discuss the sp-
peal, 90 at p. NJ. they were closed.
Petitions were also presented and appro-
priately referred, as follows:
By Mr.. Dawes. from many educational in
situations and citizens of Massachusetts,
praying for appropriations for the establish
of schools in Alaska.
By Mr. Cockrell, from the ex.soldiers OF
Union army PRESIDENT in Missouri, praying
that all ex-prisoners of the war be pensio ned.
By Mr.. Logan, from a number OF ex-sol-
diers. praying for the passage of bill for
the equalization of bounties.
The ruling of the ct air was sustained In
the secret session. Objection was then made
to the immediate consideration of the resoiu-
ton even in secret session and it went over
for one day under the rule. The doors were
| then reopened.
fol
BY Mr. Edmunds, to amend the act grant
| ing aid for the construction of q railroad and
telegraph line from the Mississippi river to
the Pacific ocean and to secure to the gov
eminent the use of the same for postal, mill
tary and other purposes, approved July l,
| 1862 and bills amendatory thereof, one of
which provides for the settlement of claims
of the United States, and to secure to the
| United States the Indebtedness of the COM
panies to them.
Mr.. Gibson submitted the following, which
lies on the table to be hereafter called:
| Resolved, That the committee on foreign
relations be Instructed to ascertain and re-
port to the Senate what discrimination, if any,
have been made by foreign governments
against the people Of the United States by
allowing draw hackers favor of their own ex-
ports that come in competition with ours in
open markets of the world or by subsidies or
| special bounties in favor of their steamship
lines, or that impose export duties upon COM
merce largely consumed in the United States
| or that prohibit or restrain the importation of
the products of the United States by unusual
laws and regulations by higher rates on
American vessels. or by special reciprocity
treaty or otherwise, and also the force and
effect of the most favored national clause as
found in the commercial or reciprocity trea-
| ties with such recommendations as commerce
may deem necessary and proper.
The following resolution was offered by
Mr.. Sherman and agreed to:
'That the secretary of the treasury be
directed to transmit to the Senate copies of
the official reports from treasury agents and
collectors tending to show fraudulent under
valuation or classification of wool imported
into the United States, and such further in
formation ia the treasury department as may
enable Congress to provide guards against
such frauds"
Mr.. Morgan offered the following which
was agreed to:
'fThat the committee on foreign relations
be instructed to enquire into the subject of
settlements and trading posts now
being made and established in the Valley of
Congo river in Africa and report as to any
action may be properly taken or executive in
furtherence of our commerce in that quarter.
The Senate went into executive session
and afterwards adjourned.
HOUSE.
| Under the call of the States the following
bills, etc., were introduced and referred:
By Mr.. Dunn of Arkansas, requiring the
secretary of the interior to ascertain what
railroad companies are indebted to the gov
ernment for the cost of surveying lands
granted to them by the United States, and to
give notice to such companies that he is
ready to deliver patent for the land to
which the companies would be entitled, if
that cost were paid within two months from
the date Of notice, and if the costs are not
paid proceedings shall be instituted against
such companies.
BY Mr.. Finerty of Illinois, to confer brevet
promotion upon army officers particularly
distinguished by heroic conduct in Indian
warfare.
By Mr.. Wood of Indiana, to authorize the
government of each State to appoint Com
missioners to establish system of interua-
tional commerce and to decide the practical
bility of establishing a bureau of interna-
tional commerce; to reduce the life time of
| patent to five years; also to amend the
rules SO ~ to require ex-members of Con.
gress, before being entitled to the privileges
of the floor, to obtain an order from the
Speaker, which order shall be issued upon
an ex member declaring upon his honor that
he is not interested directly or indirectly in
any corporation or person having pecuniary
interests in the defeat or passage of meas
ure before Congress or committees, and
pledging that while the House is in session, he
will not communicate with any member re-
specting any claim which may effect the vel
fare of any company or corporation, or per-
son having an interest in the legislation. In
case of the violation of this pledge, the COM
mittee on rules shall declare the ex-member
fo-ever deprived of the privileges of the
floor; to regulate the United States COM
merce through . national court of arbitra.
ton, requiring all sailing vessels to provide
themselves with signal lights to improve the
civil service by relieving legislative officers
from performing executive functions to en-
courage education, and provide q national
series Of text books within the jurisdiction of
Congress.
By Mr. wilkins of Ohio, TO provide for the
issue of circulating notes to national bank.
ing associations.
By Mr.. Taylor of Ohio, repeating all limi-
tations a. to the time within which meritous
applications for pensions may be filed.
| By Mr. Warner of Tenn bv reouest IN