Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-02-24
THE DAY IN CONGRESS.
THE DIES MONIES RIVER LAND
BILL PASSED IN THE SENATE.

Foreign Mails Across the Isthmus-An
Appropriation for a Public Build
Ing at Macon, Ga, and the Enlarge
m-nt of the Richmond Custom House
The Sundry Civil Bill.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 23.-In the Senate,
the DesMoines river land titles bill was
taken up. Mr.. Lapham's speech was
concluded, and the bill was psssed-yeas
81, nays "a. 1t restores to the public do
main lands improperly certified by the
Interior Department to the State OF Iowa.
Consideration of the post Office appropria-
/ tlop bill was then resumed. On recommen-
dation OF the Senate committee, the House
provision requiring the Secretary of the
| Treasury to bid in competition with private
parties for the manufacture of postage STAN 3,
ana the House provision for an extra l0-cent
rate on letters intended for special expedition
IN delivery, were stricken out.
Mr.. MaXey, by erection of the Committee
on FOst Offices and Post Roads. offered an
amendment to extend in favor Of third-cass
post offices the privilege given the Postmaster
General TO lease suitable premises for the ac-
commodatIOn OF first and second class Offices.
Voted down on point of order.
Mr.. Frye offered an amendment appropri-
atlng $1,000 for the transportation OF foreign
mails, inc uding the transit across the 18TH
mus of Panama, and authorizing the Post
I
responsible bidder for the carriage of such
mails at not to exceed 50 cents nautical mile
on trip each way actually Travelled between
terminal points, but prov ding that such mails
shall be carried on American steamships. and
that the aggregate of such contracts shall not
exceed one-hslf the sum appropriated by the
amendment.
Mr.. Bayard made a point of order that
tryes amendment was general legislation.
After long discussion, in which Bayard, Beck
anu Vest opposed this amendment, and Frye,
L .ssAN Ia tarV Haf a I.
IN order, and was then agreed TO, yeas 30, nays
Is. number Of other amendments were
voted down on the point of order that they
embodied general legislation.
On motion of Senator Brown the Senate re-
talned the House provision permitting news
paper articles to be marked without Increase
OF postage. The bill was then read the third
time ana passed without division. 1t now goes
% the House for concurrence or non concur
renee in the Senate amendments.
Mr.. Mitchell sad he would tomorrow call
dar.
The Senate then went into executive session
and when the doors were reOpened adjourned.
IN THE HOUSE.
Mr.. Randall. Chairman of the Committee
on Appropriations, reported the sundry civil
approprla ion bill, and it was referred to the
| committee of the whole, Mr.. Bland, of Mis-
souri,. reserving all points of order.
On motion OF Mr.. BlOunt, of Georgia, the
| senate bill was passed for the erection OF
public building at Macon, Ca, at an ultimate
/ cost of $l25,OOO.
On motion of 6. D. Wise of Virginia. the
senate bill was passed apprOpriating 100000
Tor the enlargement of the custom house at
Richmond. Va.
The Senate amendments were concurred IN
| to the House bill forfeiting the Texas Pacific
| land grant.
| The Senate amendments were cOncurred in
| to the House bill prohibiting the Importation
4 of contract labor.
| On motion of Mr. Randall the House then
| went into committee of the whole on the naval
| appropriation bill, and Mr.. Long concluded
| his speech in support of the proposition to in
| crease the navy. \ general discussion of the
| second section Of the bill then took place. and
| was participated in by Messrs. Dorsheimer,
| Hewitt. Cannon, Holman, TOwnshend, His
| cock, Reed, Thomas, kcifer. Curtin, McAdOO,
| Eaton, Kelley. and Ellis Thomas, of Illinois,
! then raised the point of order against this
section, that II changed an existing law, and
| was not in the interest of economy. The
| Chair sustained this point of order, and
/ the section was stricken from the bill. Mr..
| IalbOtt, of Maryland, offered an amendment
! approprating Sl,7S0,000 for the completion or
| steel cruiser of not less than 5000 nor more
| than go tons displacement. and the arma-
| ment therefor authorized by act of Congress
| approved Aug. s. 1882. Adopted. On motion
| of Mr.. Randall the amendment was amended
| by adding a prOvisO that the Secretary of the
| Navy shall approve of the construction of SAID
vessel
Mr.. Thomas offered an amendment appro-
priating S22o4,000 for the completion of the
Puritan. Terror, MOnaduOck. Amphitrite and
Miautonomah, provided their completion shall
bc recommended by the Secretary of the Navy.
Lost by a vote of 81 to 95.
On motion, the BOutelle amendment was
adopted providing for the return of the Alert
with the thanks of this government to the
government of Great Britain; for the transfer
Of the Bear to the Treasury Department to be
used a revenue cutter in Alaskan waters,
aud for the use of the Thetis as surveying
vessel for the navy. The committee then
rose and reported the bill to the House. The
action of the committee in adopting TalbOtts
amendment was ratified by The House, yeas
Ill, nays 80. The bill was passed, and at 8 80
p. m. the House took a recess until O'Clock,
the evening session to be for the consideration
~ business relating to the District of COum
bia.
At its evening session the House passed
few bills of but little Importance, even loca.-
ly, and at 1850 p. M. adjourned.
PROVISIONS OF THE SUNDRY CIVIL BILL.
The surdry civil appropriation bill report
ad TO the House to-day provides for an ap
preparation of $22, ,20O,l77. being a reduction
below the estimates of $40. l26,235. 1t contains
the clause authorizing the Secretary to sus
pend the coinage of the silver dollar at his
discretion. The Secretary of War is author
lied to sell several OF the government arse
mails, among them that at Augusta, Ga.
Among the items for the completion and
pair Of public buildings are the following:
At Greensboro, y. c., $1,000; Lynchburg, Va.
$4,000; Montgomery, Ala. $1,000. The bill
recommends an appropriation uf S2l3402 for
light houses, beacOns and fog signals, Of
iron light ship for winter quarters at Shoal.
Va; $4,000 for light hous- on Bush Bluff,
near Norfolk, Va. 5000 for continuing the
light house at Mosquito Inlet, Fla; $4,000 for
establishing a light at AnClOte Keys, Fla.
The President is authorized IN case ef
threatened or actual epidemic Of cholera or
| yellow fever to use the uneXpended balance
of the sum reapprOprlated therefor July Z,
1884, together with the additional sum Of $780,,
OO0, the same to be Immediately avaI able in
aid of State and local boards or otherwise IN
preventing and suppressing the spread Of
these diseases.
AN EXTRA SESSION OF THE SENATE.
1t is expected that the Senate will be con-
v-ned IN special session almost Immediately
after the adjournment of the present Con
Eress, and that su' time as will not be con-
rumed in consideration Of appointments will
be devoted to the discussion Of pending trea-
les.
FOR FLORIDA AND SOUTH CAROLINA.
The following items are among the appro-
priatiOns in the sundry civil bill: For pro.
tecting the site of the light house at Hunting
Island, $500 For continuing the light house
at Mosquito Inlet, S3O.00O. For establishing
light at AnclOte Keys, Fla $4,000. FOrrange
lights to guide into the ApalachicOla river,
Fla, 5000.
MIR. BLOUNT's QUICK WORK.
By dint OF deXterous work Mr.. BlOunt got
through in the House to-day the Senate dill
appropriating $l25,OOO for a Federal building
at Macon, Ga.
CONFIRMED.
The Senate confirmed to-day the nomina-
tiOn of Asa Rogers to be Collector OF Internal
Revenue for the District Of Virginia.
PUBLIC BUILDING AT HUNTSVILLE.
The House Committee on Public Buildings
to-day decided to favorably report the bill
previ ing to- an appropriation of 500. 900 for
a public building at Huntsville, Alabama
INDIANS IN WASHINGTON.