The Warner weekly sun. (Warner, Brown Co., Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1885, 1885-02-13
PROCEEDINGS OF CONGRESS-.

SENATE-TLe Pacific railroad bill was consid-
cred and then the interstate bills
came up. The senate, by a vote of % to 80, de-
clined to strike from the house bill the clause
relating to equal facilities and accommodations
Of passengers. Mr.. Mcmillan spoke against Inc
house, or Reagan, bill.
MR.. M'MILLAN
said the Reagan bill would very seriously AFFECT
the interests of the Mississippi valley. The
people Of that region wanted TO Get their COM
modities to the seaboard, either eastward or
Westward, aud If the Reagan bill became a law
the railroads would be obliged to regulate their
charges for through freights according to rates
for local freights. Very soon there would be a
transcontinental line through the British terri
tory, the Canadian Pacific, over which the United
States would have no control. In view OF TINS
fact, with the Reagan bill adopted by both
houses Of congress aud signed by the president,
the West would find itself at irretrievable dis
advantage.
The senate judiciary committee Yesterday re-
ported favorably the Poland bill, which provides
that appeals from the supreme courts OF tho
District of Columbia and territories to the
United States supreme court shall only be
allowed in cases where the matter in dispute
exceeds IS. 900 exclusive of costs. Exception Is
made in cases involving the validity OF patents,
cOpyrights, or of any treaty or statute of or an-
thOrity exercised under laws OF the United
States.
House OF REPRESENTATIVES, Bills were intro
duced to maintain the purity of the ballot box
AMI extend the benefits of the signal service
to farmers. A resolution making a change In
the rules was discussed and Mr.. Townshend
offered an amendment whose design was to
favor the Mexican pension bill. This led to
filibustering, which continued till long past mid
night.
Monday morning the bill introduced by
Representative Holman to-day to protect the
purity Of the ballot provides it shall be unlaw-
full for any person to give any of his property,
real or personal, to be used directly or indirectly
in securing a vote or appointment for any office
under the government; a violation OF this to be
punished by a fine not exceeding $500 and i'm
prisOnment not exceeding one year. The bill
further provides; Every person hereafter
elected or appointed to NIL any office in the
United States shall take and subscribe to the
following oath: l do solemnly swear Tor aftirm)
that / have not directly or indirectly given,
promised advanced or paid any money, or given
or conveyed any other article Of value to any
person or persons to assist, aid or procure my
selection or appointment
SENATE.-Mr. Cullom moved to amend the
house bin by substituting for it the senate, or
commission bill. Agreed to-yeas 35, nays 18.
The Democrats voting in the affirmative were
Messrs. Colquitt, Hampton, Jonas, McPher-
son, Morgan and Pugh. The only republicans
who voted in the negative were Messrs Ed
munds and Van Wyck. The discussion lasted
v VI VAN NoSAoA III NINNbAN NSsAO lLiO
following nominations were received: Gus
tavus A. Wetter, register Of the land office.
Yankton, Oak. +. p. Champlin, receiver Of
public moneys, Rapid City, Oak. Joshua r
Smith, Mississippi, consul at Ascension, Para
quay. Observation-Disclosures A. Spencer,
Sheboygan Falls, Wis. Sylvester w. Osborne,
Darlington, Wis. Miss Elite L. Peet, Upton,
Iowa; Daniel B. Johns, Groton, Oak. !; John T..
Yeo, Dillon, Mont. Hattie Dennison, Vancou-
yer, Washington Territory.
HoUsE,-The bill regulating the forms Of
bills of lading and duties and liabilities of
shipowners passed. The river and har-
Dor bill was debated at much length.
The Eads Galveston scheme was given damag-
ing blows by Reed of Maine, Price of Wiscon-
sin, and Washburn OF Minnesota. Mr.. WASH
burns speech was specially effective against
this clause of the bill. He said he was in fav-
or of liberal river and harbor appropriations.
Even the bill produced by the first session Of
the Forty seventh congress, which was de-
nounced as being largely to improve trout
streams and macadamiZe dry runs, were not too
large for the jEst needs of the country.
Minnesota was especially interested in
liberal appropriations for river and har-
Dor improvements. 81 tuated at the head of
the two great water arms of the country.
She wanted to see both improved. To exnen.
dlture on these MINES ota owes IN measure,
her rapid growth Besides cheap water
freights, she had en- joyed the cheap railroad
transit that accomp anies the Improvement of
water WAYS, and W ould continue in the future
unless neutralized by such unnatural legisla-
ton as that of the Reagan bill, which declares
that railroads sha II be foreclosed from compe-
tition with water ways.
SENATE-The interstate Oullom)
bill was considered and finally passed-43t to IL.
As passed by the senate the bill is slbstap-
tally as prepared by Senator Cullom, and
goes back to the house as an amendment
to the Reagan bill. The chances of an
agreement between the two houses are not
by any means encouraging. The Reagan
bill was passed by more than q two thirds vote,
but many members voted for it because they
preferred to take that to getting nothing. The
principal point of difference between the two
measures is that the senate bill provides for
nine commissioners, to whom is given full
power to regulate all matters provided for,
while the Reagan bill refers all contro-
verted points TO the courts, and i'm
poses heavy penalties for the violation of it's
provisions. Whether a majority of the house
will insist upon this feature of the Reagan bill
justify the belief that this feature viii be in
sisted upon. The prospects, therefore, for an
agreement IN conference are far more encour-
aging.
The bill to retire trade dollars and suspend
the coinage of standard silver dollars was de-
bated-
EoUsE-There was an extended discussion
81 the river and harbor bill but no notes were
taken.
Mr.. Van wyck offered the following resolution.
which was agreed to:
Resolved. That the secretary Of the interior
inform the senate what amOuuts were dine the