St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1885-01-17
TOPICS OF THE DAY.
News from Everywhere.
CONGRESSIONAL PROCEEDINGS.

In the Senate on the DIN MI. daWley In
PRODUCED bill to establish international
copyright. Consideration of the Oregon Cen
trail land grant bill was resumed. Mr.. Nor
gan offered an amendment similar to the one
in the Atlantic Il Pacific forfeiture bill, pro-
viding method of judicial proceedings fGI
the ascertainment of rights of any parties
claiming under the grant. Messrs Slater and
.DOlph opposed the amendment, which, after
q lengthy discussion, was lost by a vote OF
% TO u.s.. The bill was then passed without
division Mr.. Morgan gave notice of q mo-
flon to reconsider......I In the House bill
was passed approprating $4,000 for the re
committee of the whole, Mr.. Rogers fof Ar
kansas) in the chair, the pension bill was
taken up. 1t appropriates $59,976 600.
alleged swindling schemes of pension c lain
agents. During the debate several Ohio
fnembers had lively spat, but finally the
committee rose and the bill was passed.
In the Senate on the 7th Mr.. Plumb pre-
scented q. petition from Oklahoma settlers,
claiming, that the land they occupy has
long since been bought from the Indians by
the Government, and protesting against be-
ing removed. Mr.. Dawes said that the COM
I1nittee had already reported that in
the present condition of the titles these
and the Senate had adopted the report.
Mr.. Morrill, made speech on his resolution
declaring that reciprocity treaties with ma
fiops of interior population and resources
should be regarded with disfayor. When the
Interstate commerce bill was reached Mr..
Rayard suggested that as a similar measure
GKas before the House the matter should be
Laid .asdet until some decision was reached
an the House."....In the House almost the
entire day was consumed by discus
sion of the inter-St commerce bill. An
amendment was adopted giving United
states Courts; power to issue writs of man.
damus compelling railroads to forward
1reight; also another amendment providing
1Aat no case brought under the act in any
$state Court ofcompetent Jurisdiction shall
be removed to any United States Court. The
matter then went over.
IN the Senate on the Sth Mr.. Allison in
PRODUCED. bill in relation to the fees of PEN
sion claim agents and attorneys. A general
discussion followed, in which several par
Slclpated, and it finally drifted into a criti-
clsmaof the appropriation and conference
committees of the Senate. The action of the
House was also criticised, and the debate
turned into Wrangie as to which branch of
Congress had the stronger backbone. The
bill was finally referred. Mr.. Hawley offered
a resolution requesting the President to
furnish the statements recently filed in the
N8r. Department by,General Sherman con-
corning the Confederate Government during
the late war. In the House the inter State
commerce bill was taken up. Mr.. O'Neill (of
TennsylEan1a) onered as q substitute the bill
providing for a commission. Lost A motion
70 Tecommit was. also lost. The bill was then
passed BY vote of 15sto rs. Mr. Randall re-
portedia new bill, making an appropriation
Ior'the navy. The Alabama contested cleo
ton case of Craig vs.. Shelley was decided by
the seating of Craig, Republican.
IN.the Senate on the 9th abilI was passed
transferring one of the. &reely relief vessels
for service in Alaska waters, and to use the
otherlfor IA surveying vessel. When con-
siderati0n of the interest commerce bill
was resumed, MIR. Garland called up the
House bill on the same subject in order to
move to Fecommitthe Senate bill, with all its
amendments to the House bill, to the COM
mittee on railroads for further consideration
Mr.. Cnllom preferred to have the bill de-
hated in the Senate instead of in the COM
mittee. After further debate, participated in
by .MessCs. Dawes, BayaEd, Cullom, Har-
TlS0n, ingalls,, Slater, MaEeE8and Jones (of
EIorfda9s the motion to recomnlit was lost by
. vote of Is to "a. Mr.. WILSON'S amendment
in relation to determinations against Iocali-
ties anu individuals was added to the bill
Mr. Vance offered an amendment making it
unlawful for railroads to charge small ship
Pending further action the Senate adjourned
until the 18th. 49,. In the House, by d vote of
81 to so, THAT body. refused to postpone
private business to take up the naval bill.
Resolutions in favor of the passage of the
Lowell bankruptcy bill were reported from
the Philadelphia Board of Trade. A number
OF private bills were passed. AN evening
session was held for the constderati on Of
pension bills.
PERSONAL AND POLITICAL.
IT is officially announced that the Prince
Of Wales will not ask Parliament to grant
"a allowance to his eldest sen upon his