Huntsville gazette., 1885-02-14
xLvlITH CONGRESS.
In the. Senate on the 4th the most Inn
portant action taken was the passage of the

In the Senate on the 4th the most i'm
portant action taken was the passage Of the
inter State commerce bill-the Cullom meas
ure-whch provides for railway commission
consisting Of nine members The bill was
passed by a large majority. The bill in;refer-
ence to trade dollars and the proposed sus-
pension Of the coinage of standard silver dol
lars was next considered. Mr.. Morrill, made
quite a lengthy speech upon the question.
No further action was taken... In the
House an hour was wasted in the vain en-
deavor to call up private bills by in
there was objection. Discussion of the
river and harbor appropriation bill
was resumed, but very little progress was
Complained Of, and the egeos Galyeaton Hsrbor reo
appropriation was again made a special OBJ
ject of attack. Anevening session was or
dered, but nothing was done, no quorum be-
Ing present.
In the Senate on the 9Th Mr.. Sherman in
troduced q resolution, which was referred. to
provide for striking medals to commemo-
rate the completion of Washington monu-
ment Other resolutions introduced called for
statement Of amounts due the Government
from the Union Pacific Railroad, and
In reference to courts martial The bill for
the redemption OF trade dollars and q suS-
pension Of the coinage of the standard sill
ver dollar was discussed. The bill author
izing the construction of bridge across
the Mississippi River at Memphis was
passed.. In the House the objection"
amendment to the rules was presented,
and after discussion adopted. The change
enables individual members to call up bills
each day. Mr.. Dockery's resolution in
reference to the employment of deputy
marshals at the polls at the last election
and the amounts paid was reported and
adopted. The river and harbor bill was
taken up, but very little of general import
ance was accomplished before adjournment.
In the Senate on the 9Th a resolution was
offered calling for information as to the
plans for defending our harbors in case Of q
Palmer addressed the Senate in a lengthy
speech upon the woman suffrage cOnstltu-
tonal amendment, which was taken up by
consent. He expressed himself as being
strongly in favor Of giving the ballot to
woman, and pictured the many Dement'S
that would be derived were such an amend
Inent to be submitted to and adopted by the
States The consular and. diplomatic and
the pension fees bills were passed. d..... In
the House the continuation of the session
of the day before was devoted to the
river and Harbor bill, and the refuge
harbor scheme at Sandy Bay, Mass,
| was voted down. Nothing else of general
| interest was accomplished until the regular
| session. The resolution of thanks to COM
| mander Schley and others of the Greely re-
| lief expedition was reported. adversely.
| Consideration of the river and harbor Dill
| was resumed, and long and somewhat
| acrimonious debate wins indulged in, but
| nothing conclusive was reached, and the Dill
| went over.
In the Senate on the 7th a joint resolu-
tion was passed, accepting the trophies of
General Grant as presents to the Govern
| ment. The bill authorizing retired list for
privates and non commissioned officers
who served thirty years or more, was
passed. An amendment to one OF the
private pension bills was agreed to, pro-
viding that all soldiers, widows or minor
children, who by the exising law are or may
| become entitled to S. per month, snail IN fu-
| ture receive Sl2., The District of Columbia
! appropriation bill was passed; also the DiI
| restoring Fenedore Ten Eyck to his rank in
| the army and placing him on the retired
| list. t..... In the II ouse Mr. Reagan made an
| unsuccessful attempt to tase tne ihte,
| State commerce bill from the speaker
| table for the purpose of moving non con
currence in the Senate amendments. Inc
bill appropriatng S20, 600 for the relief OF the
ST. Louis, was passed. Consideration OF the
river and harbor bill was proceeded with.
The amendment to increase the amount Ior
the New Orleans harbOr was lost.
In the Senate on the 9th bills were
passed increasing the appropriation for
public buildings at Quincy, ILL.,, to S2OO,OOO.
and at Peoria to S245,UOO. The amendments
of the Senate committee to the House bill
to prevent unlawful inclosure of the
public lands were concurred in. Mr. Beck
spoke on the anti silver coming bill
Messrs. Morgan and Morrill, incidentally took
part in the debate. The pension appropria-
ton bill was taken up, and the result of
test vote taken prevents the tacking on of
Legislative amendments to appropriation
bills..... In the House during the continual
ton of Saturdays session consideration OF
the river and harbor bill was resumed. An
amendment appropriating S25o,oOo for the
Improvement OF Ncksburg harbor was
voted down. Mr. Springer wanted to strike
out the Galveston .harbot ten, bit Mr..
Willis explained that the committee had
modified that clause, and the motion was
withdrawn. The Post office appropriation
bill was taken-up and discussed at length.
Without action the bill went over.