Daily Kennebec journal., 1884-04-01
FORTY-ElGR1n CONGRENS.
First s-CSsiOn.
sen ATE.
WAsnINGroN. Marf

WASHINGTON, March 81.
Mr.. Plat called up for the purpose of max
ing some remarks on it. his bill providing
for the organization of the patent Office into
separate departments He added many con-
siderations to those showing the necessity for
the reorganization of the patent office, for an
increase in its working force or larger accom-
modations for the transaction of business. To
illustrate the over crowded condition of the
business at present, he said that if man in
vented new machine relating to agriculture
il would take eight months before the ap-
plication could be passed upon. He attached
no blame to the patent Office employees or to
the department of the interior, but insisted
that the inventors of the country were EMIT
led to better treatment than it was possible
to give. They had contributed more than
any other class Of men to the wealth, pros
perity and progress of the country. The
patent Office was the only depot of the gov
ernment that absolutely paid its own way,
and instead of continuing the practice of
small appropriation, cramped quarters, and
tine defective system that threw discourage
ment in their way, it should be large and lib
eral appropriations, ample working room and
a sufficient staff of experts to dispose prompt
ly and judiciously of all applications that
may be sent in.
On the conclusion of Mr.. Platt's remarks
the Senate went into executive session, and
when the doors reopened, adjourned.
HOUSE.
In the House this morning, Mr.. Beach of
New York. from the committee on public
health, reported back resolution directing
that the committee investigate the question
of the adulteration OF food and drugs.
Mr.. Browne of Indiana thought that the
adulteration of food should be regulated by
States.
Mr.. Cox of New York called attention to
the fact that while before the war but 500
bills would be presented to Congress in a
year. At this session 1000 had been already
introduced. Congress was taking in every
thing. Congress had no right to be perpet-
ually interfering with local matters, and he
objected to microscopic bills brought in for
the purpose of getting the surplus out of the
treasury. He moved to lay the resolution on
the table.
The motion was lost-yeas ia, NAYS 1874,
and then on motion of Mr. Cox the resolution
was recommitted-yeas III. nays ll6.
The following bills and resolutions were
introduced:
BY Mr.. Fineriy of Illinois, joint resoIu-
tion declaring ''that the thanks of Congres.
are due and are hereby accorded to u. S.
Minister Sargent for the faithful and digni.
fed manner in which he had discharged the
duties of his Office while representing this
| republic while at the court of the German
Empire"
BY MIR. Kasson, bill to repeat the internal
revenue tax on tobacco and the distillation OF
apples and peaches.
BY Mr.. Nichols of Georgia, resolution
reciting the fact that for several days the city
of Cincinnati had been menaced by a mol
of vigilance committees and ku klux organ
izations, which have subverted the law of the
land and disturbed public tranquility in re-
peated efforts to lynch certain persons con-
| fined in Jail in Cincinnati charged with crime
| resulting in the loss of many lives and thu
destruction Of much property, and requesting
the Sherman committee to inquire into the
| circumstances connected with these outrages
and report by bill or otherwise.
BY Mr.. King of Louisiana, appropriatinl
| s400. 900 for the relief of the sufferers from
the Mississippi floods.
The bill retiring the trade dollar was theT
| taken up.
Mr., Bland of Missouri took the floor Il
opposition to the bill, and especially to thu
section which provides that trade dollars re
ceived at coinage mints shall be regarded a
silver bullion, and at bullion value shall b.
deducted from the amount of bullion requires
to be purchased and coined by the act of Feb
20, 1873.
Messrs. Miller of Texas and Lacey o
Michigan supported the bill, the latter saying
however that he would vote against it if tn
fourth section, which provides that the trad
dollar shall be deducted from the month";
coinage of the silver, we're stricken out.
Without action the matter went over,
Robert Smalls Of South Carolina appeared
at the bar of the House and took the oath o
Office as representative TO succeed Z. w
| Mackey.
! Adjourned