The National tribune., 1884-02-07
DOINGS OF CONGRESS.
TIE Fitz-JOhn Porter Bill Passes The
House---penSiOn Measures.

Ia the Senate. on Wednesday, the 30th ult.,
Mr.. Blair N. H. presented petition signed
bvabout 4 600 citizens Of the District Of Colum-
bia. and otherpeiitions signed by large numbers
of citizens OF the Territories of Washington,
Dakota. and Idaho, all praying for the enact
ment by Congress Of law prohibiting the
manufacture or sale Of alcoholic liquors in The
District and Territories.
The Senate then took up and debated the
conference report on the Greedy relief eKpedi-
ton, Withdrawing the volunteer" clause.
Mr.. Hale Me- recommended concurrence in
The report: Messrs. Sherman t0.), Salisbury
fDol aud ingalls, Kan favored non-concur-
renee Without result, at ! O'Clock, the Chair
announced that lhc hour had arrived for Sena-
tors 10 attend the funeral obsequies of Repre-
sentative Mackey, and the Senators in a body
leIf the chamber FOR that purpose.
THURSDAYS PROCEEDINGS.
In the Senate on Thursday, among the bills
introduced Was one by Nr Blair n. H. foI
pensioning dependent soldiers. IL provide:
that any officer, soldier, or sailor who served
three months during any war Of the United
States and who is now dependent in whole OF
IN part upon others for his support. shall be en-
titled 10 a pension of s. month, they having
been hoaorabiy discharged from the service
Dependent widows Of officers. soldiers, or sailors
are pensioned at the rate OF si2 a month, and
dependent mothers al the rate Of $ a month
or ff the mother is dead the dependent father
receives the pension. The benefits of the bill
are extended 10 the participants in future war;
after the lapse OF twenty years from the date O.
their discharge The bin interferes in no way
with the right Of pension for disability
The resolution Offered Oh Wednesday by Mr.
Plat Conn was then taken up and agreed to
directing an investigation by the Senate Com
mittee on Post-0hices and Post-Reads into the
cost of telegTaPhic correspondence, and how
such cost has been affected by contracts be
tween the Western Union and other companies
and by large stock dividends.
TIE Senate then resumed consideration Of
the question of agreeing 10 the report Of tht
committee Of conference on the bill providing
for the Greedy relief expedition. The rep0r
recommends that the Senate recede from it
amendment requiring that only persons VIII,
volunteer for the service shall be detailed TO
the expedition.
After considerable debate. the Senate refused
by vote Of p to p. to agree to the report 0
the conference committee, and resolved TO in
sist on its amendment, and ask the House 0
Representative for further conference, and
appointed a committee for the purpose of con
ferTing with such similar committee as th'
House might appoint
The Senate then adjourned until Monday.
MONDAYS PROCEEDINGS.
in the Senste. on Monday, Mr.. Hoar Mass.
from the Committee on Privileges and Elec
tions reported a resolution authorizing tha
committee to work by subcommittee, which
may sit wherever they may find it necessary in
making the investigation under the Sherman
resolutions. The resolution was agreed to-
Mr. Garland Ark, from the Committee OF
the Judiciary. reported adversely the bin 70
the appointment OF stenographers in the Unite,
States Circuit and District Courts The BIZ
was accordingly, on the suggestion of Mr. Gar
land. indefinitely postponed.
Petitions from cz-soldiers Of the Union army
PRAYING for the enactment Of various laws 70
the benefit Of soldiers Of the late war, were pre-
scented by Messrs. Logan, Pendleton, Frye
Harrison and I3apham.
Mr. Logan also presented protest Of citizen
against the passage Of the proposed bill for th
relief OF Fitz-J0hn Porter.
Among the bills fav0rably reported wer
ihose 10 establish uniform system Of bank
Tupbcy. 10 establish bureau Of labor statistic:
aud to fix the hours of labor in Goycrnmen
workshops at eight hours.
The senate passed the joint resolution apprC
priating $4,000 fof the relief Of the Kanss
City, Fort Scott aud Gulf Railroad Company a
compensation for services rendered, the Ian
grants intended TO cover such services net hay
ing been ayaiied OF by the company.
TUESDAYS PROCEEDINGS.
jill TIE -ci1AE- bh J1E5ld9s MI EJlicDn IL
PRODUCED bill providing for branch Soldier
Homo in one Of the States Of Arkansas. COX
rado, Kansas, Iowa. Minnesota, Missouri
Nebraska. Ii was referred 10 the COMMITTEE
on Military Affairs.
A-. Sherman called up the bin recently il
trodueed by him To suspend the operation
the section Of the Revised Statutes relating
guano islands
DEBATE followed. participated in by Messr
Sherman and Ransom IL favor, and Saulsbur,
Mcpherson and Conger against the bill. II
opponents grounded their opposition upon I'll
need OF aHDrding the farmers Of the Unite
States the advantages Of cheap guano-tho!
III favor contcnding that these gnancs,
themselves. were not adapted for our lands.
After debate the Senate passed the bill FL
Their suspending for Eve years section 5574
the Revised Statutes relating to the guar
islands
B0use.
WEDNESDAYS PROCEEDINGS.
In the House on "Wednesday the Goth nj