Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-01-08
IN SENATE AND HOUSE.
Detailed Reports of the Days Work of
the Two Bodies.

called to order at noon. The Chair pre-
sented letter from the Postmaster Gene
raj transmitting the report of the COM
mission appointed to investigate the rail-
way mail service. A number of petitions
were presented asking for appropriations
to pay rebates provided by law, and a pc
tition was presented from the American
artists in Rome asking for a repeal of the
duties on works of art.
The Secretary of the Interior transmit
ted, in obedience to the direction of the
Senate, the correspondence on file in his
department relating to the transfer of the
land grant of the New Orleans, Baton
Rouge and Vicksburg Rrailroad Company,
to the New Orleans and Pacific Rrailroad
Company.
The following bills were introduced:
By Mr.. Call-For the improvement of the
channels of rivers and harbors in the
State Of Florida, including Key West and
st. Johns river.
By Mr.. Gibson-To establish a navy
yard and depot of supplies on the Missis-
sippi river, at or near Algiers.
A resolution was presented by Mr.. Mil
Ter, OF California. calling upon the Secre-
tary of the Treasury for information in
regard to difficulties in the execution of
the Chinese emigration restriction laws.
At the conclusion of the morning hour
the Senate took up as unfinished business,
in committee of the whole, the considera-
ton of the new rules, most of which were
rapidly disposed of, and then at 3:15
O'Clock the Senate went into executive
session, and shortly after adjourned.
IN THE HOUSE.
In the House to-day, after the reading
of the journal, Mr.. Reed, of Maine, offered
the following resolution, which was
adopted
WHEREAS, it has been alleged that
circulars have been distributed in some
of the departments asking contributions
for political purposes in violation of the
18th section of the civil service law:
ReSOtCed, That the heads of the depart
ments i'll which such distribution, if any,
has taken place, be requested to inform
the House of the facts connected with
such distribution.
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.
Mr.. Randall, of Pennsylvania, under
instructions from the Committee on Rules,
offered a resolution adopting for 20 days
the rules of the FOrty-seventh Congress
as the rules of the present Congress. The
resolution was adopted.
Mr.. Cox, of North Carolina, asked leave
to offer a resolution directing the Com
mittee on Accounts to inquire whether
the number of employees should be ln-
creased or diminished. 1t was objected to.
Under the call of States the following
bills, etc, were introduced and referred:
By Mr.. Nichols, of Georgia-FOr the
erection Of public building in Savannah,
Ga.
By Mr.. Eaton, of ofConneaticut-Re
fishing the Court of Alabama Claims.
By Mr.. Herbert, of Alabama-Repeal-
ing the law requiring the publication of
notice before making final proof in home
stead entries.
BY Mr.. Townshend, of Illinois-A resO-
luton 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.
BY Mr.. Thomas, of Understanding
pensions to 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,
bers providing for retaliatory measures
against the foreign countries which pro-
hibit or discriminate against impOrtations
of products of the United States.
BY Mr.. Browne, of 1ndiana-To prohibit
the mailing Of letters or circulars con-
cerning lotteries, or newspapers, perlodi-
calls or other publications containing lot
lery advertisements, and to provide pen
atty for violation of this act. The ques-
tion of the reference of this bill gave rise
to some little discussion, Mr.. Browne con-
tending that it should 90 to the Committee
on Judiciary and the Speaker holding that
under the rules it must be referred to the
Committee on Post Offices and Post Roads.
1t was finally referred to the latter COM
mittee.
By Mr.. Weller, of Iowa, for the relief of
the soldiers and sailors Of the late war,
and to restore to them equal rights in
money payment with holders of govern
ment bonds. 1t provides for the issue of
$500, 100000 in Treasury notes with which
to pay to soldiers and sailors the differ
ence in value between the money paid to
them and gold, together with per cent.
interest thereon; also providing that
banking associations shall, every four
months, pay tax of 1 per cent. on the
average of deposits received during the
previous four months.
BY Mr.. White, of Kentucky-To abolish
the internal revenue tax on tobacco.
BY Mr.. Wills, of Kentucky-To extend
the time for the 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 appoint
ment of Messrs. Singleton, of Mississippi,
Wilson, of West Virginia, and Phelps,
of New Jersey, as regents of the Smith
sOnian Institute.
Mr.. Converse, of Ohio, offered
a resolution which was adopted,
calling on the Secretary of the Treasury
for information concerning under valua-
ton, false classification, and other irregu-
lar practices in the importation of woods