Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-01-13
IN SENATE AND HOUSE.
Mr.. Curtin Demands that None but Good
Men Shall be Made COnsuls.

WASHINGTON, Jan. 12.-Mr. Van Wyck from
the Committee on Public Lands reported
favorably with amendments the House bill to
prevent unlawful occupancy of public lands.
The principal amendment proposed is to
authorize the President to use civil and mill
tary force to remove and destroy illegal
fences.
The Chair laid formally before the Senate
the unfinished legislative business, being the
lnter-s state commerce bill, but this yielded to
a motion for consideration of executive busi-
ness. The naval bill just passed by the House
was first. however, laid before the Senate and
referred to the Committee on Appropriations.
A joint resolution, providing Tor meeting
OF both Houses in joint convention, on Feb.
before the Senate and referred to the Com
mIttee on Privileges and Elections.
The Senate then, at 2:O5 O'Clock, went into
executive session, and when at 4:30 O'Clock
the doors were reOpened, adjourned.
IN THE HOUSE.
In the House to-day the Speaker announced
the appointment Of Mr.. Perkins, of Kansas, as
member of the Committee on Rivers and
Harbors, In place of Mr.. Robinson. OF Ohio,
resigned.
Under the call of States the following were
introduced and appropriately referred:
BY Mr.. McComas, Of Maryland-Tender-
Ing the thanks of Congress to Commanders
Schley and Coffin, and Lieut.. MOrey, and the
officers and men under their command, for the
rescue of Lieut.. Greely and his surviving
comrades.
By Mr.. George, of Oregon-To authorize
the transfer of one of the vessels of the Greely
relief expedition to the Treasury Department
for reyenue cutter, and the retention of the
other two for use in the navy.
BY Mr.. Rogers, of New YOrk-TO provide
for the better protection of the Northern and
Northwestern frontier, and to facilitate COM
merce and diminish the expenses of exchange
between the States. 1t provides for the issue
State New n Of . MOI
cent bonds for the purpose OF widening the
Eric canal so as to admit the passage of yes
seis OF war rs feet wide and 100 feet long, and
merchant vessels of 600 tons burden.
By Mr.. McAdoO, of New Jersey-A resOlu-
tion calling on the Postmaster General for his
opinion as to whether the S-hour law applies
to letter carriers.
The House then proceeded to consideration
of business relating to the District of COlum-
bia.
GOOD MEN NEEDED FOR CONSULs.
At 3:l5 O'Clock the House completed the Dis
trict of Columbia business and went into
committee of the whole on the consular and
ulplOmatlc Appropriation bill. In debating
the motion to increase the appropriation for
Consulate in China, Mr.. Ryan of Kansas,
called attention to the fact that line of
steamers was now running between Shanghai
and Han kOw under the American flag which
mad been placed under our flag Immediately
after the breaking out Of the present trouble
between France and China The ouestion
cance, or whether the House could or should
take action. The matter went no further than
this.
Mr. Curtin, of Pennsylvania, made brief
speech on the Importance of increasing our
foreign commerce, especially with the coun-
tries OF South America, and advocated the
strengthening and improving Of the consular
service of the United States. He would not
appoint as COnsuls worn out politicians but
would select the bes1 men in the country,
after civil service examination, and would
not appoint any man who could not speak the
language of the country to which he was ac-
credited.
point of order was made against the par
agraph appropriating $4,000 to meet the nee
essary expenses attendant on the execution
OF the neutrality acts and the point was sus-
tanned by the chair.
Mr.. Cannon, of Illinois, appealed from the
decision, and being of the opinion that he had
been unfairly treated by the Chair, raised the
point OF no quorum on the vote to sustain the
Chairs decision. call of the roll disclosed
the presence of 1856 members, less than a quo
rum. That fact having been reported to the
House. the House, at 40 O'Clock adjourned