The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-01-13
THE HOUSE.
Routine Business-A Proposed Appropriation
for the New York Canals.

THE HOUSE.
| Routine Business-A Proposed Approximation
| for the New York Canals.
WASHINGTON Jan. 1.-The, Speaker an
nonnced the appointment of Mr.: Perkins. OF
Kansas as a member of. the committee on rivers
and harbors, in place of Mr. Robinson, of Ohio,
resigned.
On. motion Of Mr. Davis, of Illinois, bill was
passed appropriating $4,000 for erection of a
building for the use of the appraiser at Chicago.
| On motion of Mr.. Rowell, a. bill was passed
| authorizing the, BLOOMINGTON National Bank to
| change its name to the First National Bank of
| Bloomington, Ill.
| On motion of Mr.. Henderson, of Iowa, Joint
Senate bill was passed authorizing the Chicago,
ST. PauI&.Sts Louis Railroad Company to con.
| struct bridges across the Mississippi-one within
| Minnesota, and one between Minnesota and Wis
| consin.-
| The following bills were introduced and refer
| red:
BY Mr.. Rosecrans: For establishment of a
| branch soldiers home in California.
| By Mr.. Holman: Appropriating $75, 900 for
| erection of public building at Madison, Ind.
BY Mr.. Browne of Indiana: Referring to the
| present controversy between the United, States
1 and Venezuela regarding the award in 1868
By Mr. Boutelle: To settle the claims of any
| State for expenses incurred in defense of the
| United States.
! By Mr.. McComass rendering the thanks of
Congress to Commanders Schley and Coffin, and
| Lieut. Emery, and the officers and men of their
commands, forthe rescue Of Lieut. Greedy and
/ his surviving. comrades.
BY Mr. Fielder: Levyiug duty of so per cent.
ad valorem on pearl buttons
By Mr. Georges Authorizing the transfer of
one;of the vessels of the Greedy relief expedi,
| ton to, the Treasury Department for arevenue
cutter, and retention of the other two for use in
| the navy.
BY Nr: Rogers. of New York: To provide for
! the better protection of the Northern and North
1 western frontier, and to facilitate commerce and
| diminish the expenses Of exchange between the
| States. 1t authorizes tire Treasury to issue
to- the comptroller of. the State of New York,
| on the credit of the United States,
couponor registered bonds to the amount OF
81, 100000, redeemable after ten years and pay
able at the end of the fifth year, and bearing i'm
terest at 3 per cent, provided that, before de-
| livery OF said bonds; the Legislature of New
/ York shall have given pledge for the State to
commence, without delay, the enlargement of
i the aqueductS and one tier Of locks of the Erie
and Oswego canals to sufficient capacity to pass
| vessels twenty -fve feet wide and one hundred
feet in length and merchant vessels of six
/ hundred tons burden propelled by steam. All
| war vessels of the United States, and all mu-
nitions of war;. or stores or supplies for the use
i of the general government shall be allowed to
| pass through the canals free Of charge The
/ work shall be done under the supervision of the
chief engineers. of the United States on whose
! report. every three months the Secretary
| Of the Treasury shall issue bonds in amount
equal 20, the. cost of the work that shall be
! properly done.
Postmaster general for his opinion whether the
| eight hour law applies to: letter carriers.
i The House then proceeded to consider the
| business relating to the District of Columbia,
/ A bill was passed authorizing the judge of the
Supreme Court Of the District of Columbia to
| appoint competent lawyer to prepare a crimi-
| nal code for the District The report which ac-
/ companies this bill says; 1.-The laws of England
/ prior to July 4, ZIG. and the laws of Maryland
as. they existed on. Feb 81 1901, constitute the
body OF the laws for the punishment of crime in
this District There is no penalty for incest:
| adultery escapes with the slight penalty of 400
| pounds of tobacco, while for blasphemy the law
| provides boring Through the tongue with hot
iron arson in the day time and arson at night
are mot differently punished 1t was long
| doubted whether the appalling crime of Guiteau
could be tired and punished in this District"
i Several other bills of local interest were pre-
| sented. This completed the District business
| and the House went into committee of the
| whole. with Mr.. Wilson in tire. chair on the
consular and diplomatic appropriation bill.
/ Mr. Hit moved to restore TO the $50. 500 class
| the consrllship at Hankow China, which, in
| the bill, had been placed in the 81 500 class
| In advocating this amendment, Mr.. Ryan
called attention to the fact that line, of steam
ers was ROW running between Shanghai and
Hank0w under the American flag
l. In response, Mr. Burnes intimated that the
steamers were sailed under the American flag
not because Americans owned or We're inter-
ested in them, but for the purpose of protection
during the French and Chinese war.
| Mr.. Reed inquired how foreigners could sail
vessels under the American flag under our
statutes.
/ Mr.. Burnes replied that he could not answer
for the truth of the assertion, but the statement
| mad gone the rounds of the press that vessels
| Were sailed under the American flag for protec
/ ton or interests not our own.
| Mr.. Ryan said he would assumeth the transfer
| of these vessels to tine American flag had
been made in good faith until he should have
some better evidence to the contrary than the
newspapers.
Mr.. Randall asked whether the transfer had
not taken place Immediately after the breakipg
cut of the. war between France and China.
Mr.. Ryan could see in that circumstance no
evidence of bad faith
Mr.. Curtin made a. brief speech on, the impor-
| tanee of increasing our foreign commerce, es-
pecially with the countries of South America,
and advocated the strengthening and improving
of the consular service of the United States,
He would not appoint consuls worn-out poll
tcians. but would select tho best men IN the
country, after civil service examination, and
would not appoint any who could net speak the
language OF the country to which Ithsy were
accredited.
DIR. Hits motion was lost--yeas. 48. nays 67.
A point of order WAS made against the para
graph approprating $l2 900 to meet the expenses
attendant on the execution of the neutrality
acts, and the point was sustained by the Chair
DIR. Cannon appealed from the decision, and
being Of opinioG shat hs had been unfavorably
treated by the Chair, raised thg point of no
quorum on tlbe vote to sustain the Chairs de-
cisioa. it WIS found that q quorum WAS not
present AdjDnrned