The Mineral argus., 1884-04-03
CONGRESSIONAL PROCEEDINGS.

A resolution was offered in the senate for a
constitutional amendment making the presl-
dental term six years, ana the president NELL
lirible to reelection. A bill was introduced 10
establish forest reservation at the mead waters
of the Missouri river, and the head waters OF
CIark's Fork. Columbia river in Montana. The
bill for the relief of Gen. Porter was DEBATED,
MI. Sewell of New Jersey speaking IN favor OF
it. aud Mr.. Wilson of Iowa against It,
The whole of Wednesday in the house was
given to the consideration of the postohlce Dlll,
and another day will probably be taken up with
it The republicans made a bitter hght against
the reductions proposed In the bnl, ana IN the
course of the day they resorted TO hllDusterlng,
but were finally overpowered by democratic
members.
Mr.. Davis of Illinois made the first success
full fight aga inst the appropriation committees
bill in providing for the postal service. Dur
ing the last session of congress the salaries OF
the pOstmasters in nine of the largest cltles OF
the country were raised, but the present bnl
cuts them down to $4,000 each. Davis
made a motion to retain the salaries of these
postmasters as they are now. Hewas support
ed by Bingham of Il Pennsylvania and Horn OF
Michigan, but was opposed by Holman of In
diana and Townsend of Illinois. His amend
ment was carried by a considerable majority
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's
raging among the cattle in the west. Senators
Cullom, Plumb, Warner, Miller and others
urged haste in the matter, as there was a need
of immediate relief to prevent the spread of
the plague; but the extreme state rights
men insisted upon ventilating their
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 were 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 a great deal or time to the
discussion of a bill to grant a pension to Sep
temia r. Meikleham, the only surviving grand
hid 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
grandfather's country through its
representatives, for aid. 1t was only recently
that a 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 a 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 t, 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
waived by tins action. The appropriation for
star route service provoked a long debate, in
volving the intermidable star route scandals.
Er. Hoar offered a resolution calling on the
secretary of the interior to report 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
the reasons why they have not been disposed
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-
| hCIS51y lIOLu inc JuulCldTy COulDllttoe, ana IN
definitely in 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
of the appropriation was increased from $25,-
600 to $4,000, and the resolution was adopted
30 to IA.
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 50 treasury notes; au-
thorizing the payment of $4,000 to Mrs. Meik-
leham, Jefferson's granddaughter. A special
deficiency bill, appropriating $1,697,00 was
passed.
Mr.. White introduced the house a bill to ap-
propriate $979.91 to James Healey for carrying
the mail.
On motion of Mr.. Strait, resolutions of the
chamber of 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 140 citizens of Minnesota was
presented by Mr.. Washburn for a constitution
al amendment to prohibit Acknowledgement of
United States citizens on account of sex. 1t
was referred to the committee on judiciary.