The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1884-02-14
THE FORTY-EIGHTR CONGRESS-
SENATE.


(Callfornla), from the committee OF
foreign relations, reported the senat,
bill prepared as an amendment to tn,
anti-ChineSe act, and had it placed OF
the calendar. Its provisions have
been published.
The Senate bill appropriating S777,
$50 for the completion of the capito
terraces and Stairways connected
Herewith passed.
The following bills were reported
! 1aVorably, with amendments, and
placed on the calendar:
Senator Miller. from the committee
on agrlculture-Bill providing for the
suppression and eXtirpiration OF
p!euro pneumonia and other conta-
glouS diseases among domestic ami
mails.
By Senator Logan-To increase the
| efficiency of the army.
The chair laid before the Senate a
resolution, by Senator Butter, request
ing the president to transmit to the
senate the record of the proceeding of
the frotlus court of inquiry. Agreed
to.
Senator Frye offered a resolution.
which was agreed to, asking the sec.
reGary OF the interior to report to the
senate whether or not the act of
congress donating swamp lands to
the state of Louisiana, in Pinto Caddo
parish, was included.
The chair laid before the Senate the
unfinished business of Yesterday,
being the Mexican land grant title
bill. This was debated at great
length and several amendments pro-
posed and rejected.
The amendment offered by Senator
Coke was agreed to, explaining from
the limitation act in regard to three
years within which all claims have to
be presented Of all minors, married
women and persons non compos-
mentiS.
Without action the Senate went
into an executive session and ad-
jOurned.
HOUSE.
Mr.. Lewis offered a resolution, re-
ferring to the court of claims for in
Vestigation and report all claims for
cotton seized by Union authorities
during the war. Referred.
On motion of Mr.. Matson, 2 resoIu-
ton was adopted calling on the secre-
tary OF the interior for copies of all
orders and correspondence relating to
irregular practices on the part of at
torneys practicing before the pension
office, together with copies of all Off
clal charges against such attorneys,
and copies OF circulars used by them
which were deemed deceptive in char
acter.
The following bills were introduced
and referred: Mr.. Thomas, bill au-
thorizing the purchase of snug har-
borS for disabled seamen Mr.. Curtin,
bill for the establishment of branch
home for disabled volunteers in one
of the Western states.
Mr.. Gibson offered a resolution
directing the committee on expendi-
lures of the department of justice to
examine into the occasion of unusual
expenditures by the department of
Justice in West Virginia. The reso-
luton was referred.
The Belmont committee on foreign
affairs, reported in favor of a resoiu.
ton requesting the president to trans
NIT to the House complete copies of |
all correspondence between this gov
eminent and that of Great Britain |
the extradition of alleged |
fugitives from justice that has taken |
place since the date of the presidents |
to congress December 90, |
1876, announcing that suspended ex-
tradition under the treaty of 1912 had |
been resumed +; and that such CORE |
Spondence be accompanied by projects |
Of any new eXtradition stipulations |
which may have been submitted by |
either government to the other since |
the said suspension in 1876, of opera
ton under the articles of the extradi- |
ton treaty of 1912. The resolution |
was adopted.
Mr.. Clement, from the same COM
mittee, reported a resolution calling |
on the secretary of state for informa-
ton as to how many and which of the
foreign ministers, consuls or agents of |
the United States to any foreign coun-
try have been absent from their post |
OF duty since the LIST day of January,
1882, the length of such absence, and
also whether their salary has been
paid during that time. Adopted.
House went into committee of the
with Mr.. Cobb in the chair,
on consideration of the pleuro pneu-
monia bill.
Mr.. Latham strongly opposed the
bill, as endangering one of the most
vast industries of the country. in
which Texas is especially interested.
His opposition was not inspired by
any apprehension that there exists to-
day within his state single case of
pleuro pneumonia. Why had not the
seen fit to restrict the /
operation of the bill to the states in
which the plague exists? There
We're in this measure evils and dan
gers infinitely worse than the cattle
plague. He criticised the seriatim
provisions of the bill, and especially
that section which provides for the
division OF the expense eradicating
the disease between the United States
and the state in which the disease
exists. The United States had no
right to state the amount to be paid
by any state, in case of refusal to
lay the embargo upon shipment and
expectation of its cattle. 1t was pro-
posed to appropriate $250,0OO for the
purpose of carrying out the pro visions
Of the bill, but he predicted that
$3.50, 600 would he found not to be per
feet change when compared with the
vast sums that would be needed.
There has been no more of a mag
nificent plan conceived to unlock the
vaults of the treasury and disgorge
the public funds than this one.
Mr.. Reagan took similar ground in
opposition to the measure and argued
that many of its provisions were I'M
He fully sympathized
with the purpose of the bill, but
thought the measure, as reported,
would create an evil even greater than
5he proposed remedy.
Mr.. Hunt argued against the bill on
grounds, &C Intending
hat it gave the federal government
powers expressly reserved to states.
Mr.. Eaton considered the pending
dill the most mischievous one pre-
'ented to Congress during the present
session. Mischievous, because in
utter violation of the constitution.
and took from states their powers and
rights.
Mr.. Anderson spoke in support of
the measure. A terrible disease
was threatening one of the greatest
Industries of the country and Congress
had the power on the ground of pro-
tecting the general public rights of |
to stamp it out, and yet the
position to do so was met with the |
old, old argument of state sovereignty |
and state rights. while the whole |
animal industry was in danger of |
being annihilated. 1t was commended
that Congress had no power to step
over state line and graduate diseases,
no such obj ction was made however,
when the Mississippi river levee bill