Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-01-09
XLFIIITH CONGRESS.
WASHINGTON, January 8, 1885.

SENATE.
Among the bills introduced in the
Senate was one by Mr.. Allison relating
to the fees of pension claim agents and
attorneys. He said he did not wish to
be responsible for all its provisions, but
they were the identical provisions found
in the pension bill recently passed by
the House of Representatives 1t was
legislation, he said, and repealed all
legislative provisions in the pension ap-
preparation bill of last year. There was
now great complaint that that legisla-
ton of last year was hasty and unjust to
the soldiers of the country, and it had
been indirectly charged that the Senate
was responsible for that legislation.
The fact was that the legislation of
last year came from the House on The
regular pension bill. Under the rules
of the Senate there was no possibility
of having well-considered legislation on
the appropriation bill, because amend
mentS could not be offered nor debate
had with respect to it. He introduced
TO the Committee on Pensions, so that
it may be carefully considered in COM
mittec and in the Senate.
A long debate followed upon the gen.
eral subject of ENGRAVING legislative
provisions upon appropriation bills.
The bill introduced by Mr.. Allison
was then referred to the Committee on
Pensions.
Mr.. Hawley offered resolution
which. on the suggestion Of Mr.. Harris,
lies over one day-requesting the Pre-
sident, if not incompatible with public
interest. to communicate to the Senate
the historical statement concerning the
public policy of the Executive Depart
ment of the Confederate States during
the late war, reported to have been late
ly filed in the War Department by Gen
eral Sherman.
Mr.. Lapham. pursuant to notice given
some days since. then addressed the
Senate on the subject of commercial
treaties. On the conclusion of Mr.. Lap
hams remarks. Mr.. Morrill,, in moving
to refer to the Finance Committee the
resolution offered by himself, relating
to reciprocity treaties, and to which his
remarks of yesterday were directed,
took occasion to say that he supposed
the Committee on Finance would soon
be rendered altogether unnecessary by
reason of the action Of the State De
partment. the Secretary of the Trca-
sury. and the Committee on Foreign
Relations.
Mr.. Morgan remarked that he had no
doubt Mr.. Morrill, would like to have
his bantling in his own charge for nurs-
ing. but before reference to the Commit
tee on Finance he (Alr. Morgan) desired
To be heard on the resolution. He
therefore moved to postpone the refer
ence till tomorrow. to which Mr.. Nor
rill agreed. and reference was accord
ingly postponed.
At 2:4j Z. NJ. on motion Of Mr..
Miller. of California. the Senate went
into executive session. Mr.. Miller re-
marking that he made the motion lin
accord with notice already given"
The doors were re0pened at 5:25 y.
NJ, when the Senate adjourned.
House of Representatives.
The House resumed consideration of
the Interstate commerce bill, the pend
ing question being an amendment offered
by Mr.. Hammond. of Georgia, to an
amendment offered by Mr.. Perkins, of
Kansas, providing for commissiOn)
providing that the commissioners shall
not be appointed until the 9Th Of March,
1885. This amendment was agreed to
yeas, II nays. II.
Mr.. Pcrkins'S amendment as amend
cd was lost--yeaS, 90; nays, 1874.
Mr.. Randall, Of Pennsylvania, from
the Committee on Appropriations, re-
ported bill making additional appro-
priatiOns for the naval service for the
fiscal year ending June so, 1885. The
Committee of the Whole, Mr.. Randall
gave notice, will call it up for consider
alton tomorrow morning.
MIR. O'Neill, of Pennsylvania, offered
as a substitute for the Interstate COM
merce bill proposition for the appoint
ment Of five commissioners, and defining
their duties. Lost--yeas, IS; nays,
1873.
Mr.. Hepburn, of Iowa, moved to re-
commit the bill, with instructions. to
the Committee on Commerce, to report
back the commission bill. Lost--yeas,
90; nays. 1872.
The bill was then passed--yeas, ISIS;
nays, IS.
This" said Mr.. Reagan. when the
result was announced, is fitting cele-
bration for the eighth'day Of January"
The House then proceeded to the con-
sideration Of the Alabama contested
election case of Craig VS.. Shelly. The
resolutions which unseat Shelly Dem
ocrap and declare Craig (Rcpublican
TO have been elected were adopted with
out debate or division, and Mr.. Craig
appeared at the bar of the House and
took the oath Of office.
A contest then arose between Mr..
Townshend. Of Illinois, with the Mexi-
can pension bill, Mr.. Singleton. Of
with the congressional Ii
brary bill, and Mr.. Stockslager, Of In
diana. with the special order relative to
public building measures, each pressing
hi, fayorite proposition for precedence
in consideration.
Mr. Stoekslagcr proved successful in
the struggl,-his motion to go into Com
,nittee Of the Whole being carried by a
vote of yeas 10; nays, 1872; but tn
fight was not yet over, for motion to