The Middlebury register and Addison County journal. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1883-1885, 1884-02-01
SUMMARY OF CONGRESS-



tives, one making all public roads and high
ways post routes, and another to enable the
courts of the United States in cnses where
patents have been obtained by fraud to annul
the patent ON the application of the attorney
general. Several petitions were presented
praying for an investigation as to divorce
legislation in the different States, and to ar
range for the collection of divorce statist les
Mr.. Anthony's resolution relating to re-
str1ctlons by foreign countries on the impor-
tatlon of American meats was discussed.
After being amended in two or three points,
the resolution was agreed to- 1t instructs
the committee on foreign relations TO in
quire and report what legislation is
needed to protect our interests against
governments which have prohibited or
restrained the importation of meats from
the United States, and also TO report wha
determinations are made against exports
from the United States by the tariff laws of
the principal countries of Europe an |
America, especially France, Germany, Mexi-
co and Brazil, and what legislation is needed
:. "A bill introduced by Mr.. Hale provides
that no discrimination shall be made in the
medical service of the United States against
any regular school of Medicine Several
petitions asking for the opening up of the
Oklahoma lands lands to settlement were re-
ported adversely
Mr.. Sherman offered long resolution pro-
viding for an investigation by the committee
ON privileges and elections into the recent po-
itlcal disturbances and tragedies at Dan
vile, Va, and in Copiah county, Miss. The
resolution went over until the next day, on
motion of Mr. Cockrel, of Missouri. who
suggested that Mr.. Sherman might in the
meantime d more recitals to it. Mr..
Sewell from the committee on military af-
fairs reported favorably the bills for the re
lief of Fitz-John Porter. Mr.. Harrison, in
MIR. Logan's absence, said there would be a
minority report. -. A resolution bv Mr.
npl on hn oft Al
for information about the compensation
for special attorneys employee in the star
route cases. the reasonableness of
such compensation, and his reasons for pay
ing the same. was agreed to. IA bill per-
hitting Lieutenant L. X. Reynolds, of the
the decoration of the royal and imperial
order of Francis Joseph, in recognition of
his heroic conduct i'll rescuing the crew of an
Austrian bark, was attacked by Mr.
Plumb, who said that the man who
carries a commission of the United
States in his pocket ought to be sat
isfed with it, Messrs Morgan, Bayard and
Hoar defended the bill, and 1T Passed Mr.
Buffers resolution providing that each Sena-
tor, not chairman of committee, shall
have clerk, or secretary, at a salary of
$1,000 a year, to be paid out of the contingent
fund of the Senate, was agreed to by vote
OF thirty to thirteen. Mr.. Merrill reintro-
duced his bill of the last Congress providing
for the setting apart of the net proceeds of
the sales of public lands, and sum equal to
half the amount paid into the treasury year
ly by the subsidized Pacific railroa Is as an
educational fund to be apportioned among
the States and Territories.
The Joint resolution tor the relief of Lieu
tenant Greedy was passed. As passed the
resolution authorizes the President to spend
as much money as he deems necessary.
An amendment was adopted providing
WI hn
petition shall be volunteers. Mr.. Sher-
man introduced his bill of the Forty
seventh Congress for the preservation
of the woods and forests of the national do
main adjacent to the sources of the naviga-
bic rivers and their afiiuents in the United
States. Mr.. Miller of New York intro
duced bill authorizing the Pres lent to pay
back to China the balance of the Chinese
indemnity fund. the specific claims having
all been satisfied. In executive session
there was an acrimonious debate between
Messrs. Edmunds and Butler while consider
ing the nomination of Emory Speer for
United States district attorney for the north
ern district of Georgia.
Mr.. Hoar called up his bill providing for
the performance of the duties OF the Pres-
dent in case of the removal, death, resigna-
ton, or inability of the President and Vice
President 1t was real three times and
rassed. In the contingency named, it vests
the presidential duties first in the secretary
OF state; II there be none, or if he be under
or otherwise ineligible then in
the secl etary of the treasury, and in case of
the inelgibllity of that officer, then in the
secretary of war, and SO on success lively in
the Encouragement, poatma >ter-general,
secretary of the navy and secre, airy of the in
terror. ltprOvldeS whenever any such officer
is thus intrusted with the president al duties
If Congress shall not be within twenty DAYS
of assembling, he shall forthwith issue
alan l..
days The bill is only to apply to the officers
named, if they have been appointed by and
with the advice and consent of the Senate.
=. Mr.. Blair introduced n bill to provide for
the free circulation of newspapers and
other periodical publications within the
State where they are published. 1t provides
Tor the amendme 1t of the postoflce appro-
priation act of March, 1879, so as to allow one
copy of each publication of the second class
to 90 through the mails free to each actual
Mr. Bayard, from the com
mlttee ON finance, reported favOrablv the bill
for the issue of circulating notes
to the national banking associations
House.
Bills introduced: Hy Mr.. Anderson-To
provide for the adjustment of land grants
made to AID IN the con truction of railroads.
Also-To reduce the lifetime of a patent to
live years. BY Mr.. Cutcheon-To improve
the civil service by relieving legislative olli-
GERS from performing executive functions
BY NJ. Burns-To encourage education and
provide national series of text books within
the jurisdiction Of Congress. BY Mr.. Cox
For the employment of double postal cards
and postal envelopes BY Mr.. Wood-To au-
thorize the governor of ca h State to apr oint
to eStabi IN a system of inter-
national commerce and decide the practical
b.llty of establishing a bureau of interna
lonal commerce. The House, by vote of
/. ~. L I. l.. I
Cox, of New York, to repeal the ''iron-cladn
oath, administered to SOM of the members
OF Congress &c. Upon motion Of Mr. Holman,
the House suspende the rules and pas>el a
resolution, by vote of 26l TO Is, dee airing
that the forieitable grants of land for rail
roa purposes ought to he forleite and the
lands restored to the public domain: that all
laws under which public lands may he ac-
luired 10y SPECTATORS ought to be repeale
and the remaining public lands be held sub
Jet to homestead entries only, and that the
committeee ON public lands be instructed to
bring, IN bills to accomplish the oh. Gets men