Morning journal and courier., 1884-01-09
Forty-Eighth ConEress--.First Session.

WAsH1NGToN, Jan. s.
 SENArE.-Mr. Hale offered 8 resolution, which was agreed to, directing the Secretary of the Navy to inform the Senate what was the original cost of all vessels in the Naval register and the total expense of repairs on them since their construction.
 At the expiration of the morning hour the consideration of the proposed new rules was resumed The question was the adoption of rule IT relating to amendments to appropria- tion bills. which proposes to send matters re- lating to the expenditures of the District to the Committee on the District of Columbia.
 MT. Beck repeated his objection that this was the beginning of raid upon the Appro- priation committee which would finally end in the extsrmination of that committee. In the course of his remarks Mir. Beck criticised the system which prevails in the Treasury department and allows the Secretary to keep one set of books which he can make to balance
 Mr. Edmunds thought it would be injurious to the public interests to send appropria- tions to the various committees. Such a practice would largely increase the sum Of the annual appropriations.
 Mir. Sherman, while concurrlng in the view that appropriation bills should be kept within the control of the Appropriations com mittee, said an exception should be made in the case of the District of Columbia. The taxpayers of the District paid half the amount of the expenditures and the District committee would undoubtedly attend better to the wants of the District than the Con- mittee on Appropriations.
 MT. Plumb offered an amendment to refer all appropriation bills to committee having charge of the business to which they refer. Mir. Hale moved to strike out the words 'sending appropriation bills relating to the District of Columbia to the District commit tee"
 The debate was suspended to allow of the presentation of executive documents. Among thoss presented was one submitting communication from the Governor of Illi- nois relating to the cession of the Hennepln canal to the United States. The President approved the grant subject to the consideration of the Senate. Another transmitted the report of the Mississippi river commissions invited the early attention of Congress to the construction of the work recommended by the commission aud recom- mended an immediate appropriation of $1 ,OOO GOO to push the work without delay. At 3:3O D. m the Senate went into execu- tive session and adjourned at 3: 45 p. m. dOUSE.-0Ts Dlu&AAAu, OA SAbo from the Committee on Postoffces and Post Roads, reported resolution of ln- quiry directing the secretary to report vheth- CT and which land grant railroads have trans. ferred their telegraph franchise to other cor porations; adopted.
 Mr. Money, from the same committee re- ported a resolution introduced by Mir. Rob- inson, of New York, directing the Postmas- ter General to inquire into and report upon the alleged tampering with the United States mails at the New York postofice by E. O'Brien whereby he was enabled 10 entrap certain individuals recently held in Liver pool adopted.
 The call of the States for the introduction of bills and joint resolutions for reference interrupted by adjournment yesterday was re- l stunned
 MT. Cex, of New York, introduced resolu- tion calling upon the President for correspon- dence relating to the condition and treatment in Russia of Hebrews and especially Hebrew citizens of the United States; referred. MT. Young, of Tennessee, introduced bill to re-establish the National board Of health. MT. Sumner, of Wisconsin, constitution al amendment enabling the President to veto portions of an appropriation bill, but giving Congress power to enact the clause by ma jority vote.
 MT. Behuts, of Washington Territory, Pa, I, a bill for the admission of Washington Ter ritory as State.
 There were introduced to-day 614 bills, making ], 1884 for the two days and 3,207 for the session
 At4 D. m. the House adjourned.