Arizona weekly citizen., 1884-02-16
OUT W sHI8GTON LETTER.
Animatsl .-, ssion in the Senate -Peti- tious by the ushsl in Favor of ib"I-
 ishiua .ae Liquor TrafiO-Ete.
Corsespcndeucs of the CITIZEN.
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Cor.espondelcs of the CITIZEN.
 WAsHiEGToS, Feb. 6, 1881.
 Though congressional proceedings of the week were dIsiointed. the work done was oi an unusually interesting and sig nifcant character. The death and obse- quiss of representative Mackcy, Of South Carolina caused two adjourn meats and necessarily displaced the reg ular order of business. Then, carefully outlined prognostications of political happenings turned surprisingly upon their authorities, again proving that uotaing is SO certain to occur as the Un- expected In tue first place, the Sher- man resolutions for an stigation oi the Mississippi and Virginia massacres passed the sena.e without arOusIug the partisan debate that was anticipated. An animated discussion was called forth, however. while the senate was consider ing the bill for the relief of the Greedy arctic expedition party, the point being on the adyisability of leaving the amount to be expended to the judgment of the Secretary Of the Navy. Senators MoPherson and Salisbury attacked Sec retary Chandler, declaring he was inter ested Tn the bill. and Senator Hale de- tended him. indignantly denying the accusation.
 Prohibition petitions were another feature ot the senate proceedings. Nearly @ bushei of these petitions to aboli "a the uquor traffic in the District of Columbia were offered on Thursday. Every Senator bad a roll neatly done up and tied, containing names obt0ined Tn bis state, and ono after another they presented them.
 In the house, the introduction of a resolution for the appointment of com- mlttee Of inquiry, to hear the evidence m the charges of corruption, made by eX- Speaker Keller against cores sqOudentS, brought Mr. Kalter Co his feet in a viO- lent attack upon representatives of the press. Gen. BOyntOn, who sat lB the press gallery during Mir. keiter's speech. was the direct target of denunclatIOn, ssud the scene caused considerable x citement. The war against umearned land grants has fairly begun. The house has passed two resembling bills, applying to land grants to Mississippi and Alabama. When Chairman Cobb of the committes on public lands, arose to report these bills, stating briefly that the lands. which it was proposed to for feit, had not been earned by the com panies, he was subjected to a cross fire .H f interests at stake. The republican side Ci the chamber was nearly deserted in tho acE.ety Co hear or take part in the running debate going on around Mr. Cobb. wl-ia in the rear of the seats, were number of senators from states in crested iu his or other bills, the pre- -e1ta+iCn of which was expected. Jus ticc Fields 0s the supreme court was conspicuous figure in the crowd. The first regular speech ln opposition to the bill was by hlr. Van Eaton, of Alissis- -ippi: and his colleagues NessrS. Bark dale and Singleton followed him. IL is ulderto1d the next grsnt tO be for s.itaI will be the Oregon and California, and then the uuearnel portion of the Northern Pacific. In the discussion among m Dbars of fine house upon the
 
 a-Euualt fl1t southern members do not need secretaries is frequently advanced. Mucl of the correspond of congress ueu reiatc5 t0 pensions, subject in which the constituents Ot southern mem 1 bers are mos interested, and therefore 1t is thought a proposition tO provide | members with clerks at public expense | could not Co through the house, as Tf.Hr than tLree-suurths of tha democrats | womb vote agalnst it.
 EridGy ended the discussion in the | House on tie Fitz John Porter relief l bill. I- passeH that body by majority | vote o1 one iFiudTal and six. During | the debate, enbmie5 of the measure had | suggested that Southern members had | nOsriglt to aci in inc matter. but when | a vote was reached ex-Confederate Con- gressmen raised their votes in favor of | the re.nstatement of General Porter | Among the last speakers who advocated | the bill were dessrs. WcifOrd, Phelps, | and Curtin, the latter the ex-war- | Governor of Pennsy .vania, closing the | debate with @ circle of applauding mem l hers around him. The galleries were | crowded, attentive, and seemed to be ID | sympathy with General Porter, | who, as heretofore during the discussion | Cf his case sat iu the gallery.
 The tariE contest opened in the House | Monday preceded by a preliminary l sEirmisb over free wool; tbe Ohio dele | gation having been instructed by the | Legislature ot that State to use strong | efforts towards 8 restoration of the duty | on that article. The introduction of MT. | tariff bill followed this dis sentioD.