Huntsville gazette., 1885-02-21
xLVHTH CONGRESS.

In the Senate on the 11th the army ap-
prop ration bill was reported The bill was
passed providing permanent reservations
| for the Indians of Northern Montana At
| about II m. the Senators proceeded to the
| Hall OF the House to take part in the
counting Of the electoral vote. After
| the return to the Senate chamber there
| was a long discussion on the closing sen
| tence of Mr.. Edmunds' declaration Of the
result OF the electoral count, he having
| stated that it was "a declaration only as a
public statement In the presence OF the two
| houses of Congress of the contents of the ma
pers opened and read on this occasion and
not as possessing any authority in law to
declare any legal conclusion whatever"
! Mr. Ingalls, offered a resolution dissent
ing, and Mr.. Hoar offered a resolution de-
clarlng that the Constitution and laws have
been duly executed and that no further
| declaration is necessary. Both went over
The bill to repeal the pre- -emption and
tmber-culture laws was debated. In the
House great crowd assembled to witness
the counting of the electoral vote Before
the hour arrived but little was done. The
| senate entered few moments before twelve
| m and Mr. Edmunds called the assembly
to order. stating the object that brought
the two houses together. The certificates
were read one by one. When the
| last State had been called and the compu-
tation made, Mr.. Edmunds announced that
Grover Cleveland had received for President
2l9 votes and Thos. A. Hendricks for Vice
| PRESIDENT the same number, and both were
! elected. The usual resolutions were offered
ana tnen the House proceeded, after the SEN
| ators retired, with consideration of the Post
office appropriation bill and made consider
able progress.
In the Senate on the 10Th the bill to for
felt the Texas Pacific land grant was restored
to it's place on the special order. Messrs
Sherman, Hawley and Ransom were ap-
pointed committee TO make the necessary
arrangements for the coming Inauguration
| A long debate ensued on the bill repeating
| the pre- -emption and timber culture laws.
Mr. Van Wyck offered joint resolution to
\ be referred to the Committee on Public
Lands, to protect the Government against
sales of lands under special grants
while certain measures are pending
An amendment was offered In reference
to conflicting claims, and giving the In
terror Department in the Unted
States courts jurisdiction therein, and the
bill was finally passed The army appropri-
alton bill was also passed, with amend
ments... In the House the chaplain invoked
divine protection over him who had been
elected President; The Senate amendment to
the consular and diplomatic and pension ap-
preparation bills were non -concurred1n Con-
| sideraton of the Post office appropriation
bill was resumed. Mr. Skinner's amend
ment in reference to extending the letter.
carrier service to places OF 10000 inhabit-
A ants was ruled out The appropriation for
the star route service and the railway postal
clerks were each increased 100000. An
amendment reducing newspaper postage
| was agreed TO.
L IN the Senate on the 135h the army ap.
y preparation bill was reported. The Texas Pa.
enc land forfeiture bill was discussed by Mr.
van "yck, but it was crowded out of its place
III 1ne special orders to take up the bill to pre-
l aent the importation of foreign cotract labor;
ana ON this measure there was a long
ana animated discussion Mr. Ingalls, was
opposed to the system on the ground that
we had our own toiing millions to look af
ter. Other senators spoke. and pending fur
! ther action the Senate adjourned. The
, House accomplished but little business.
Much valuable time was wasted in points of
ORDER and appealing from the Speaker pro
tenn The Post office appropriation bill was
again taken up In committee of the whole
ana progress made. There was warm dis
cussion on the paragraph relating to COM
, pensation to ocean steamship companies for
oa!Iylhg the mails An evening session to
y consider pension bills was held.
In the Senate on the Nth a memorial
was presented from the Pennsylvania Legis-
lature asking that the State be reimbursed
| for money spent in defense of the United
States. The Indian appropriation bill was
taken up and there was a long discussion
on the claims pending for depredatons by
Indians. Some of the Senators maintained
that these claims should be paid out Of
the general treasury if there was no
money left OF the special fund. lin the
house the river and harbOr bill was dis
eussed for short time Mr.. Turner (of
Georgia), on a point of order, wanted the
Hennepin canal clause stricken out, claim
ing that it belonged to the Committee on
Railways and Canals, and had no place in
the river and harbor bill Messrs Hender-
son (of IllinOis) and Murphy argued that it
came properly under rivers and harbOrs
| The Speaker pro tenn reserved his decision
| for some other time. After voting down the
| amendment to increase the compensation to
| ocean shipscompanie5f for carrying the
| mails, and the adoption of other amend
ments increasing certain appropriations, the
| Post office bill was passed. No other busi-
ness of importance was disposed of before
| adjornedment.
In the Senate on the 10th about the only
really important and conclusive action
| taken was the passage of the Indian ap-
| preparation bill. There was a lengthy dis
| cussion upon the action of the Senate
| committee in striking out certain amend
ments, which under the rules OF that
| body, on account OF their legislative
value, are not entitled to be placed on an
appropriation b,ll.......In the House, al
ter consideration of the legislative appro-
pratiOn bill, Mr.. Slocum reported the bill for
ton was made to suspend the rules and pass
the same. long debate ensued. Mr..
Slocum enumerated the eminent services OF
, | General Grant and the reasons why the
measure should be passed. General Rose
Grams was quite severe upon the hero of
ADpomattox, and announced his OppOSl-
| tion TO the proposition to place him on
, the retired list. Messrs. Horr and Thomas
NRepuohcans) opposed the bill because
they considered it a trap set to catch the ex-
. ecutlve and embarrass him. They were in ia
| VOr or retiring General Grant, but wanted the
second bill offered in the senate substituted
The motion to suspend the rules was finally
lost. Little other business of general inter-
est was transacted.