The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1884-01-08

WASHINGTON. January :, 1884.

The Senate was called TO order Mt noon.
The Chair presented letter from the
Postmaster-Generai transmitting the re-
port OF the commission appointed TO In
vestigate the railway mall service.
A number Of petitions were presented
asking for appropriations to pay tobacco
rebate provided by law, and petition
from American artists in Rome asking
for repeal Of the duties on works Of art.
At the conclusion OF the morning hour
the Senate took up, as unfinished business
in Committee OF the Whole, the considers.
ton Of the new rules, most OF which were
rapidly disposed Of, and then, at 3:15 r.
NJ. the Senate went into executive ses-
sion, and shortly after adjourned.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
After the reading OF the Journal Mr..
Reed. OF Maine, offered the following reso-
luton, which was adopted:
sWhereas 1t has been alleged that circu-
lars have been distributed in some Of the
departments asking contributions for po-
litical purposes, I'm violation OF the 18th
section OF the civil-servlce law,
" ReSolred. That heads OF departments in
which such distribution, II any, has taken
place, be requested to inform the House OF
Inc facts connected Herewith"
Mr.. Townshend, OF Illinois, offered a
resolution, which was adopted, requesting
the President to furnish the House with
information relating to the exclusion OF
American hog products from Germany and
France.
MIR. Randall, OF Pennsylvania, under in
structions from the Committee on Rules,
offered a resolution adopting for twenty
DAYS the rules OF the Forty-seyenth Con-
gress rs the rules OF the present Congress.
Adopted.
Mr.. Cox. OF North Carolina, asked leave
10 offer a resolution directing the Commit
tee on Accounts to inquire whether the
number Of employees should be increased
or diminished. Objected to.
Under the call OF States the fol-
lowing bills, ETC., were introduced and
referred:
Bv Mr.. Eaton, of Connecticut: Re-estab-
fishing the Court OF Alabama claims.
By Mr.. Herbert. Of Alabama: Repeating
the law requiring the publication OF notice
before making firal proof in homestead
entries.
Bv Mr.. Townshend, Of Illinois: a res
olution requesting the President TO invite
the cooperation of the Governments OF
American nations in securing the estab-
lishment of free commercial intercourse
among those nations, and an American
customs union. Also proposing consti-
tutional amendment providing for the
election of senators by the people.
Bv Mr.. Thomas, of Illinois: Granting
pensions 10 all United States soldiers and
sailors in the late war who served thirty
days or were in any engagement therein,
and to the widows Of all soldiers deceased.
Bills were introduced by several men,
beers providing for retaliatory measures
against foreign countries which prohibit
or discriminate against the importations OF
products Of the United States.
Bv Mr.. Browne, of Indiana: TO pro-
hibit the mailing OF letters or circulars
concerning lotteries or newspapers. peri
odicals. or other publications containing
lottery advertisements, and to provide a
penalty for the violation OF this act. The
question of reference OF this bill gave rise
to some little discussion, Mr.. Browne con-
tending that it should 60 to the Committee
on Judiciary. and the Speaker holding that
under the rules it must be referred to the
Committee on Post-Otlice and Post-soads.
/, was finally referred to the latter COIN
mittee. !
Bv Mr.. Weller. of Iowa: For the relief
of soldiers and sailors OF the late war, and
to restore to them equal rights in money!
payment with the holders OF Government
bonds. II provides for the issue OF $780,
COG. 900 in Treasury notes with which to
nav to the soldiers and sailors the differ
ence in value between money paid to them
and gold, together with per cent. interest
thereon. Also, providing that banking as
sociations shall every four months pay a
tax of per cent. on the average OF dc
posts received during the previous four
months.
By Mr.. White, OF Kentucky: To abolish
the interna-revenue tax on tobacco.
By Mr.. Willis, Of Kentucky: To extend
the time for payment OF the tax on distilled
spirits now in warehouses.
At 4:15 O'Clock the call was suspended.
but will be continued tomorrow. There
were go bills introduced to-day.
The Speaker announced the appointment
of Messrs. Singleton OF Mississippi, Will
son of West Virginia, and Phelps of New
jersey, as regents OF the Smithsonian lnsti-
tuition.
Mr.. Converse, OF Ohio. offered resolu-
ton, which was adopted, calling on the
Secretary Of the Treasury for information
the under-valuation. false
and other irregularities IN
the importation of woods and woollen
goods.