The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-03-18
THE HOVSE.
A Number of Bills Introduced and Referred
to Committees.

A Number of Bills Introduced and Referred
to Committees.
| WASHINGTON, March 17.-AIr, Henley intro
duced resolution authorizing an investigation
into the circumstances attendant upon making
lease by the United States to the Alaska Com
mereial Company; also, as to the duties of that
company to the United States under the lease,
and the power of Congress to terminate it. Re
! ferred
Bills were introduced and referred:
By Mr.. Belford: Requiring all land grant or
subsidy railroads to furnish the Secretary of the
Treasury full-time quarterly statements, under
oath, of their earnings and indebtedness
By Messrs. Wood and Calkins: Granting
homesteads to soldiers of the late war:
By Mr. Hatch, of Wisconsin (by request): A
resolution authorizing the Commissioner of Ag-
riculture to investigate and report upon the IN
| fuence and extent of speculative transactions in
cotton, corn and other products Of industry
| By Mr.. Buckner: Permitting the citizens of
the five civilized nations Of the Indian Territory,
having organized governments to organize
banks under the provisions Of the national bank
ing act
| By Mr. Hewitt, of New York: To suspend for
| two years the coinage of the silver dollar. and
making it unlawful for the Secretary of the
Treasury TO issue treasury notes of the denomill
atons of 81 and 81. This is the bill recommend
| ed by the New York Chamber of Commerce.
By Mr. Green: Requiring star-route contract
ors to be residents of the State in which the
route is located.
By Mr. Follett: To admit free of duty articles
intended for exhibition at the Cincinnati Indus
| trial Exposition.
By Mr. Springer: Calling on the Postmaster
general for copies of further correspondence be-
tween the Department of Justice and Postofice
! Department i'll relation to the star-route frauds.
By Mr.. Robinson, of New York: Authorizing
| the Secretary of the Treasury to pay $50 600 to
Mrs. Septimia Randolph Meikleham, grandchild
of jefferson.
Mr.. Oats from the committee on the revision
| OF laws, moved to suspend the rules and pass a
bill amending section Sl9 of the Revised Statutes
and to regulate the standing aside OF jurors.
The section is amended by the incorporation
/ OF the following provision:
And the United States in such cases Capital of
fenses) and in other whatever. shall also in
conformity with the practice in any State have the
right in that State to stand jurors aside and show
cause of disqualification or challenge until the yenire
be gone through with
The motion was opposed by Messrs. Calkins
Bisbee, Bayne and Reed on the ground that the
bill would emasculate the power of the United
States to secure the punishment of persons
charged with political otfenses in Southern
States. 1t was supported by Messrs. Oates, Ben
nett, and Dibble, who asserted the measure was
intended to secure fair and impartial trials, and
was in the interest of the liberty Of citizens.
The motion was lOst-yeas, 1873; nays, 81; not
the necessary two thirds in the affirmative.
Mr.. Randall, under instruction from the com
mittee on appropriations. moved to suspend the
rules and pass the special deficiency bill, appro-
priating 81. 679, 900.
After half hours debate confined to the con
sderatiOn of sums which should be granted the
families of deceased congressman, the motion
was agreed to-1G7 to 10.
Mr. Springer moved to suspend the rules and
adopt resolution requesting the Attolney-gen-
eIal to cause to be made such Investigations, by
the examiners of the department. as may be de
sired by the committee on expenditures of the
Department of Justice provided such eXamina-
tlons shall not interfere with the current bust
ness of the department, and the examiners,
when thus engaged, be paid out of the contin
gent fund Of the House Agreed TO-
Mr.. Singleton, under instructions from the
committee on library moved to suspend the
rules and adopt the resolution making the Senate
bill for the construction of building for the ae-
commodation of the congressional library the
special order for April g.
The motion was opposed by Messrs Holman
Regan and Townshend, on the ground that the
bill contemplated the purchase of site east of
the Capitol at large cost, and Mr.. Regan init
mated there was a Job in it.
Messrs Singleton. Nutting and Woodward
presented the pressing needs of the library and
contended the proper time for discussing the
propriety of the site would be when the bill was
under consideration. The motion was agreed
to. yeas, $50; nays, 81.
Mr. Buchanan, from the committee on naval
affairs, reported a resolution approprating out
of the contingent fund $1,000 to enable that
committee to prosecute the investigation pre-
viously ordered concerning the loss of the
Jeanette. Adopted. Adjourned.