The National tribune., 1885-02-26
XLVIIIth CONGRESS.
The Foreign Labor Bill Passes the
Scnate---ApprOpriation Bills. :

| under discussion.
THURSDAY. Feb 19-In the Senate Mr. Van
| Wyck called up the Texas Pacific Forfeiture
Bill, which was passed after considerable dis
cussion.
In the House Mr. Holman introduced Joint
resolution requesting the President to open ne
gotiations with the Government of the French
! Republic. with view OF negotiating n new
! convention with that Government for the cs-
! Enlistment of another French and American
| Claims Commission, which shall have ample
/ jurisdiction to reopen examine and finally de-
! ternine all claims which were fled before the
| late Commission, under the convention of Jan.
| 10, 1880 between the Governments OF the
! United States and the French Republic.
The River and Harbor Bill was then taken
! up and discussed for some time, when the
! Naval Appropriation Bill became the subject OF
| debate.
Mr. Curtin offered an amendment (which
was adopted to the latter bill, which appro-
PIRATES $4,000 for the purpose of testing Amer-
can armor made of American material
FRIDAY, Feb 20.-In the Senate Mr.. Miller
On. Y J. from the Committee on Agriculture
reported favorably, without amendment, the
HOnse bill for the protection Of forests on the
public domain.
The Des Mones River Bill was taken up,
and Mr.. Lapham resumed his remaks and oc
cupied the time till O'Clock. discussing amend
ments proposed by him. At that hour Mr.
Lapham still having the floor the matter went
over.
After some debate the Senate-yeas 81, nays
22-voted to take up the Anti-Coinage Silver
Bill, which was followed by motion by Mr..
Hale, to take up the Agricultural Appropria-
ton Bill, and the motion was agreed to by a
uird poce vote. So the consideration of the lat
ter bill was entered upon.
The BILL after some debate was passed sub
stantially as it came from the Senate commit
tee, the principal change being in the item for
the cultivation of sorghum, which on motion
of Mr.. Plumb, was increased from $4,000 to
$4,000.
The POST Office Appropriation Bill was then
taken up.
There was debate on the Senate amendment
reducing the amount for clerks in Post-Otfic
from $5,300.000 to So, 10000, but the amend
ment was adhered to.
A section of the BILL as it came from the
House, provided that letters shall be.charged
at the rate of two cents an ounce instead of
two cents a half ounce; drop letters where
there is no free delivery one cent an ounce,
and newspapers in bulk to regular subscribers
one cent pound, but sample copies at one cent
per four ounces.
After considerable discussion as to the opera
ton of the Senate rule the Senate disagreed
to the committee amendments by vote of Is
yeas to 33 nays, so far as that amendment re-
lated to letter postage, leaving the newspaper
provision yet to be acted Oh.
In the House a bill was passed appropriating
$4,000 for the erection of public building at
Clarksburg w. Va. and another for building
at Reading, Pa. to cost $4,000.
The House then went into Committee OF the
Whole on the Naval Appropriation Bill. which
was discussed until the recess; after which the
House passed 90 pension bills and at 8 o'clock
adjourned.
This was the last evening of the present Con-
gress which will be devoted to the consideration
of pension business reported by the Committee
on Invalid Pensions. During this Congress
this committee (of which Representative G. C.
Matson is chairman has reported to the House.
adversely and favorably 1,223 cases, which is
about equal to the number of bills reported to
any three preceding Congresses. The reports
during the Forty seventh Congress numbered
about 400. OF the 1928 bills reported to this
Congress, 66S, ell of which were favorably re-
ported, were passed by the House.
SATURDAY Feb 21.-The Senate held brief
session, which was devoted to consideration OF
the Post Office Appropriation Bill. The Senate
retained in the bill contrary to the recon-
mendation of the Appropriation Committed the
legislative provisions inserted by the House of
Representatives fixing the postage on newspa-
pers sent from the Office of publication to regu-
lar subscribers at one cent pound, but cut out
the discrimination against sample copies, max
-
newspapers sent from the Office of publication,
whether sample copies or otherwise.
The House did not transact any business, adj
journng Immediately on the conclusion of the
addresses in connection with the dedication OF
the Washington Monument.
MONDAY, Feb. 23.-In the Senate the Des
Mones Settlers Title Bill was passed-yeas 81,
nays "a.
Consideration of the Post OfficeAppropriation
Bill was then resumed. Some debate arose on
the committees proposed amendment striking
out the House provision that would require the
Secretary Of the Treasury to bid in competition
with private parties for the manufacture of
postage stamps, stamped envelopes and postal
cards. Mr.. German opposed the proposition to
strike out. He thought it necessary for the
Government to have authority to bid for the
work in order to protect itself against combina-
lions by private manufacturers
On the question coming to vote the pro-
vision was struck out, as recommended by the
Senate cOnmittee-yeaS 81; nays, 90.
On motion of Mr.. Brown, the Senate retained
the House provision permitting newspaper
articles to be marked without increase of
postage.
The bill was then read third time and
passed without division. 1t now goes to the
House of Representatives for concurrence or
non concurrence in the Senate amendments.
In the House Mr.. Lefevre offered a resolution
the importation Of American products and in
struct!ng the Committee on Foreign Affairs to
inquire into and report whether the interests
of the United States do not require the adop-
ton of like discrimination on articles imported
from the German Empire.
Senate amendments were concurred in to
House bill FORGETTING the Texas Pacific land
grant. Senate amendments were also con-
Cured in to House bill prohibiting the impor-
tatiOn of contract labor.
The Naval Appropriation Bill was then
taken up. Mr.. Talbot offered an amendment
(which was adOpted) appropriating 81, 600
for the completion of steel cruiser of not less
than 5000 nor more than 5000 tons dsplacc-
ment and the armament therefor authorized
by act of Congress approved Aug g. 1882.
The bill was passed after the adoption of
some minor amendments.
AT the evening session bill doubling the
rate of license of the liquor dealers Of the Dis
trict was passed.
Thomas Everly, Secretary of McLaughlin's
Squadron, o. V. l., Holmesville O., desires the
names and addresses Of all comrades, as he is
preparing Il record OF the squadron.
James NJ. Thomas Co. Il, It'll Ohio Cav,
Caldwell, Kan sends sketch of the history
OF his regiment. lie thinks it did more raid
ing than any other regiment, its record show
ing upward OF 100 battles and-skirmishes.
n. Finegan, Com. Serg't, Co. ID, LIST Ohio Cav,
Newark. Ohio writes a long sketch of the part
taken by his regiment in the Stones River cam
paign. The Colonel of the regiment, Minor
Millillen, a most gallant and cstimablc officer
and gentleman was K iIlnd in this hotfla