The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1885-01-06

WASHINGTON CtTY, Jan G-The first
thing introduced under the call of states
in the house Monday was pre-
ambIe and resolution by Herbert, of
Alabama rociting that it appears that the
president has appointed Hon. John A. kas-
sor and Henry $, Sanford delegates
on the part of the United States
to an international African congress to be
held in Berlin, and that such an alliance at
this conference seems to import is de
parture from the traditions of this nation,
and requesting the president if not incompat-
ible with the public service, to state tho
reasons that impelled him to appoint dele
gates to said conference; whether there was
any limitation placed upon their authority as
delegates; whether such limitation, if any,
was made known to the conference; whether
the president has any information tending
to show whether the proposed new state is
to be a republic or a monarchy, or whethor
in his opinion the participation of the United
States in such a conference would not estop
them from opposing an attempt to form a
state on the American continent. Referred
to committee on foreign affairs.
Hopkins, of Pennsylvania, introduced a
general bill for the construction of public
buildings. 1t appropriates S5,000,000, to
bo expended by a commission com
posed of the secretaries of the
| treasury and interior, and the
postmaster and attorney general is such
places as they may designate. Referred to
committee on public buildings and grounds,
Quite a large number Of bills for the set
| tlement of private Gains, granting pensions.
Al, !
| ferred to appropriate committees. ss7
| On motion OF Cassidy, the rules were sus-
pended and the senate bill passed, appropri.
ating $4,000 for the erection Of a public
| building at Carson City
| IIiscock moved to suspend the rules and
| pass the bill ahoishing the internal revenue
tax on tobacco, cigars, snuff, cigarettes and
| cheroots; the special tax on dealers in to-
| bacco, and tir5t on liquors distilled wholly
| from fruit. Mills demanded a second. The
motion was seconded-s6 to 75 Hiscock's
motion was then put and lost--yeas, n;
nays l2S.
| English introduced a bill to provide for
the issuo OF 81, So andS5 silver certificates
and Cox, of New York, one authorizing the
Bartholdi statue to be used as a light house;
also creating the Office of assistant chief
signal officer with the rank and pay of q
colonel of infantry. THE purpose is to pro-
vide position for Lieut.. Greely1
! When the senate assembled the chair pre-,
sented the credentials of Justice s. Morrill,
reelected senator from Vermont.
Among the petitions presented was one by
Sherman from the Society of Friends, pray
| ing that provision be made in the pending
| Spanish treaty for settlement by arbitra-
tion of any difference that may. arise be
tween Spain and the United States 1t wa.
referred.
Among the bills introduced and referred
were the following: By Beck TO create a
revenue commission. It provides for tht
| formation of commission to be composed
of the secretary of the treasury, ex-ofhcers
five members of the house of Representatives
and three senators, to examine and report t
congress on or before the second Mon
day in December, 1885, what changes c
| notifications ought TO be made in the exist
ing tariff and internal revenue laws.l B
Voorhees-To repeal the statute of imitH
| tions on the allowance of pension arrears
| and to regulate tho proof in pension cases.
The senate then proceeded to the cnnsiderf
tion Of bills on the calendar.
The Interstate commerce bill came NJ
and Wilson addressed the senate.
The Con. Grant Relief Fund.
IT-----r<--aoN Cry, Jan. 6.-Gen Sne