Morris tribune., 1884-07-09
CONGRESSIONAL.
What the House and Senate Are
Doing.
Resolutions Adopted, Bills Proposed
and Passed or Rejected-Other
Things Done and Undone
Various Items.

Resolutions Adopted, Bills Proposed
and Passed or Rejected-Other
Things DOne and Undone
Various Items.
WASHINGTON CITY, June 28.-In the
senate, Saturday favorable report was
made on the bill to pension the widow of Gen.
j. B. Steedman The general deficiency bill
was passed, with an item authorizing the
payment of 1000 to Charles H. Reed for de-
Tending Charles j. Guiteau. After the river
and harbor bill had been considered for some
time, Mcmillan gave notice that on Mon
day he would move to limit debate for five
minutes for each senator.
In the house the debate precipitated Friday
and which promised to be lively one, was
brought to close by Cox, of New York,
moving to lay the whole matter on the table,
and the house went into committee of the
whole on the eight-hour bill. The provision
giving government employees cause of action
for arrears of wages withheld by being
| obliged to work ten hours instead Of eight
was amended so as to apply only to the future
instead of the past
WASHINGTON CITY, June 30.-In the sen
ate, bills were reported to forfeit the I'M
earned land grant of the Northern Pacific
road, and for the erection of public build
ing at Akron, Ohio. An adverse re-
port was made on the bill to grant
public lands to the survivors of the
Mountain Meadow massacre. Cameron
called up resolution to discharge the finance
committee from further consideration of the
bill for the retirement and coinage of trade
dollars, but it was voted down. The river
and harbor bill was taken up, and several
amendments were disposed of. A house joint
resolution was passed continuing the present
appropriations for five days from June 80.
In the house of representatives, King intro
duced bill appropriating 100000 to pre-
vent the introduction of cholera into the
United States. The conference reports on the
bills authorizing bridge at St. Paul and the
disposition of useless military reservations
were agreed to. The committee on elections
made report that John S. Wise is entitled
to retain his seat as epresentative-at-large
from Virginia. An interesting debate took
place on the fortifcation bill in committee of
the whole.
WASHINGTON CITY, July lin the senate,
bills we passed to provide for a branch of the
Soldiers home west of the Mississippi; for
the relief of soldiers improperly charged with
desertion, and to grant pension of $50
month to the widow of Gen. James B. Steed-
man. 1t was agreed to refer to the committee
on finance resolutions for the redemption of
10000, 900 trade dollars, and for an investiga-
ton into the condition of the banks in New
York. The river and halbor bill led to pro-
longed debate, but was finally passed as it
came from the house, appropriatlng S13, ,5S4,-
ZOO Only the sundry civil and fortifcation
bills remain to be completed.
In the house of representatives the confer
ence committee on the naval appropriation
bill announced its inability to agree, objec-
tion being made to the items for the new
cruisers and to continue work on the mont
ors. The house voted to insist on its
disagreement on both of these ques-
tions, and new conferrees were appointed.
The conference committee on the post office
appropriation bill reported failure to agree
on the items for railway mail clerks and for
compensation to land-grant roads, but the
house voted to recede and accept the senate's
decision.
WASHINGTON CITY, July 2.-President
Arthur sent a message to the house
vetoing the bill for the relief of Fitz
John Porter. 1t was listened to with marked
attention and was received with clapping of
hands on the Republican SIDE Mr.. Slocum
asked that a vote be at once taken on the
question, "Shall the bill pass the veto of the
president Notwithstanding? ana it was so
ordered. The vote resulted-yeas, 1853; nays,
rs, over the two-thirds required to pass the
bill over the veto. The announcement of the
vote was received with clapping of hands,
cheers, and yells of derision on the Demo-
cratic side. Mr.. Herbert, as climax to the
victory, moved to adjourn. The Democrats
shouted aye and cheered again, which caused
the Republicans to resist, and after division
the yeas and nays were ordered on the mo-
tion, and it was agreed to-yeas, 129; nays,
81. The Democrats voted solidly for the bill,
and were supported by the following fifteen
Republicans: Messrs. Bayne, Belford, Bur-
leigh, Jeffords, Kean, Laird, Long, Lyman,
Phelps, Poland, Ranney, Ray New York,
Ray, Rockwell and Smith Pennsylvania.
WASHINGTON CITY, July 3.-The senate,
by a vote of 81 to 81, failed to pass the Fitz
John Porter bill over the presidents Veto
The anti Chinese bill was passed by 43 to IL.
A resolution was adopted for an inquiry into
the capacity of the steel-producing
works in the United States and the tools in
the navy-yards to furnish outfits for new
vessels or guns for sea-coast defenses. The
bill to forfeit unea1ned lands granted to the
Atlantic & Pacific railroad was passed, with
amendment to refer to the courts the question
of title after forfeiture.
In the house of representatives, the select
committee made report that William H.
English was not guilty of breach of privi-
lege, while minority declare that he lobbied
on the floor in the interest of his son. The
house refused to concur in the senate amend
ments to the fortifcation appropriation bill,
and appointed new conferrees. An attempt
to pass the Mexican pension bill was followed
by the loss of quorum, and a recess was
taken.
WASHINGTON CITY, July 4.-The senate |
passed bills to pension the widow of Gen.
Ord, to increase the allowance to Mrs. Frank |
P. Blair, and to authorize the retirement of |
Gen. AveriQ with the rank of colonel The |
conferees on the deficiency appropriation |
bill were reappointed, as the senate insisted |
on it's amendments. A recess to o'clock was |
ordered, at which time action on the postal |
telegraph bill was postponed for the session. +
The house of representatives resumed con-
sideration of the Mexican pension bill, and as
a quorum was not present a call Of the house |
was ordered. A motion to recede from disa-
greement to the amendments made by the |
senate to the general deficiency appropriation
bill was lost, and the conferrees were reap
pointed. The conference report on the river
and harbor appropriation was agreed to. A |
recess to 0 p. m. was taken, and at midnight
on the Mexican pension bill was
still in progress, but at 1890 an adjournment
was moved and carried.
The Panama Canal.
WASHINGTON CRY, July 2.-Lieut. Brown,
of the navy, has made q report to the secr.e