The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-01-16
THE HOUSE.
Several Important Bills introduced and Re
ferred-River improvement.

ferred-River Improvement.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 15.-In the House, Mr..
Morrison, from the ways and means committee,
reported back the resolution requesting the Sec
rotary of the Treasury to furnish the House with
copies of the letters of collectors of internal rev.
enue relative to s1spendng the collection of
taxes on whisky listed during September, Octo-
Der, November, and December, 1880; also, to in
form the House whether the time for collecting
the tax due on whisky listed during October
1880, in the Allegheny district, of Pennsylvania,
has been suspended, and if so, on what author
ity. Adopted.
MIR. Cobb, chairman of the committee on pub
lie lands reported the bill declaring forfeited GER
tain grants of lands made to certain States to aid
in the construction of railroads. Referred to
committee of the whole.
Mr.. Bayne, from the committee military af
fairs, reported the bill authorizing the President
to appoint and retire Alfred Pleasanton as major
general. Placed ON the private calendar.
Mr.. Steele. from the same committee, submit
ted the views of the minority on the Fitz John
Porter bill Ordered printed
MP. King, chairman of the committee on Mis-
siSsippi evees reported the bill to close the gaps
of the levees on the Mississippi river and for the
improvement of navigation. 1t appropriates
81, 600, Geo, to be expended in accordance with
the recommendation of the Mississippi River
Commission, Referred to committee of the
whole.
postofices and post roads, reported bill making
all public roads and highways post routes Placed
on the private calendar
Mr.. Lyman, from the committee on military
affairs, reported resolution calling upon the
Secretary of War to name the rank and regi-
ment or corps of every officer in the army borne
on the sick report and unable to perform full
duty from July l. 1876, to Dec 81, 1888, or
those recommended to be retired for the same
period. Adopted.
Mr.. Mills offered resolution directing the
committee on judiciary to report whether the
President, with the consent of the Senate can ne
gotiate treaties with foreign governments by
which the duties levied by Congress can be
changed or abrogated. Adopted.
Mr.. Green offered a resolution authorizing the
committee ON public health to inquire into the
truth of the allegations of authorizations in food
and if such practices are found to exist to sug
gest Legislation necessary to correct the wrong,
and giving the committee authority to employ
chemical and medical experts. Referred.
Mr.. Mills from the committee ON ways and
means reported as a substitute to resolutions of
fered by Messrs. Hewitt and Belmont, resolu-
| ton requesting the President to furnish the
House all information in his possession concern
ing the differentiation, false classification and
other irregular practices in the Importation Of
foreign goods up to Jan. l. 1884 Adopted.
Mr.. Townsend introduced a bill authorizing
the President, during the recess Of Congress- to
prohibit any imports injurious to public health
from those countries, which, on the same
grounds, prohibit the importation of American
! goods. Referred
Mr. Curtin offered a resolution requesting the
President to furnish copies of correspondence in
regard to the reported arrest in Russian Poland
of Reinhardt Wagner, a citizen of the United
States. Adopted
MIR Cox of New York, chairman of the com
mittee on naval affairs, reported back the resou-
ton calling upon the Secretary of the Navy for
information whether any officer of the navy had
received gift or present from any prince or
foreign state without the consent of Congress;
also, whether United States officers or. sailors
rendered service to the British navy in the re-
cent bombardment of Alexandria. Mr. Cox said
he had investigated the resolutions and found
there was no basis for them His colleague
fMr. Roinson) was advised that one of the Of
fieers of the navy had boosted of receiving pres
ents from other governments. 1t was within
his own knowledge that one officer had received
a very valuable present from the government
of Sweden and Norway.
Mr.. Robinson of New York, said it was charged
that our naval officers made themselves con
spicuous and obsequious in aiding England, and
hoped there would be no objection to the resolu-
tiOns. Adopted
Mr.. Springer offered a resolution calling upon
the Postmaster general for copies of the CORE
spondence between the Department of Justice
and Postoffee Department touching the prose-
cution Of persons charged with fraud in
necton with the starroute service; also an
itemized statement of the expenditures of the
Postofice Department from March 4, 1881, to
January l, 1884, in the investigation of said
fraud.
Mr. Hiscock objected to present consideration
Referred
MIR Kelley offered resolution directing the
committee on rivers and harbors to inquire into