St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1885-12-11
LABOR OF THE SENATOR'S.
The Day Spent in the Introduction
of Bills.

OF
WASHINGTON, Dec. 10.-In the senate
to-day Mr.. Edmunds introduced a bill to
provide for the establishment of postal
telegraph. Mr.. Edmunds said it was the
same bill that he had introduced at the last
session of congress. He hoped the commit
tee would now take the earliest opportun-
itY to report on it. Mr.. Salisbury said the
committee on postoffices and post roads
had at the last session given the subject
careful attention and examination, and had
reported the bill as early as was prac-
ticable. Mr.. Edmunds disclaimed any re-
Election on the committee. The subject
was most important one, and needed con-
siderable examination. A resolution offered
by Mr.. Morrill, was agreed to. directing the
payment from the contingent fund of the
senate of the actual and necessary expenses
Of the senate committee appointed to attend
the funeral of Gen. Grant. Mr.. McPher-
son presented joint resolution Of the leg
islature of New Jersey, recommending a
congressional inquiry into the fitness of a
portion of the territory of Alaska for the
purpose of penal colony for long term or
life term convicts. Mr.. Dolph introduced
bill to repeal the law of last session pro-
viding for the settlement of claims of Off
GERS and enlisted men of the army for loss
of private property destroyed in the military
service of the United States. This is the
law to which the president calls attention
in his message as indefinite in its terms" "
and as to which he says: IF it is to re-
main on the statute books it needs amend
ment." In the discussion which followed
Messrs. Cockrell, Hawley, Logan and
Plumb took part, the general view being
that the law was in no way ambiguous.
The bill was referred to the committee on
military affairs.
OTHER BILLS.
Among the bills introduced and appro-
priately referred were the following:
By Mr.. Platt-To relieve commercial tray
elers from license taxes. Ut makes it mis-
demeanor for any officer of a state or mu-
nicipal corporation to interfere in any way
with commercial traveller selling goods in a
state in which he or the merchants he repre-
sents is not citizen.
By Mr.. Wilson of Iowa-To promote peace
among nations. ct authorizes the president
to enter into negotiations with other govern
mentS with view to the formation of an in
ternational tribunal for the arbitration of
any difficulties that may occur among nations,
and requests him to invite other nations to
send delegates to proposed international
peace convention to be held in Washington at
such time as he may fix, and appropriates
$780, 900 for this purpose.)
By Mr.. George-To establish agricultural
experiment stations in connection with the
agricultural colleges in the several states.
By Mr.. Plumb-To open to homestead set
tlement certain portions of the Indian Terri
tory. CThis is the Oklahoma bill of the last
congress.)
By Mr.. Call-To investigate the issue of
fraudulent land warrants and to protect
soldiers and sailors of the United States from
loss therefrom. ct puts the enforcement of
its provisions in the hands of the secretary
of the interior.)
By Mr.. Plumb-To make an additional
article of war. Qt provides that any officers
serving with troops, or any soldier not on
furlough who CANDLES, or any officer of the
army whether or not serving with troops, also
by gambling, who shall win money from an
inferior officer, shall be court-martialed. and
that any post-trader who permits gambling
in his establishment shall have his appoint
ment revoked, and makes it the duty of every
commanding officer to enforce theSprovisions
of the act.)
On motion of Mr.. Allison, the senate went
into executive session, and when the doors
were reopened the senate adjourned until
Monday next.