Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-01-15

Iht bS<sksr IAld befoN tAs Houss 3
message from the President On the sane
subject.
M. Randall then introduced bill,
which was immediately passed, appro-
priating el.500 for the compensation
and expenses Of the messengers.
Nofs.-The missing certificates are
duplicates required to be sent by mail.
Their non-receipt will not affect the
counting Of the electoral vote, as the
certificates have already been received
from Oregon and Iowa by the messen-
ger, but the law under which the Secre-
tsry Of State has acted is mandatory.l
Mr.. Mills, OF Texas, introduced q
bill to create revenue commission,
which was referred. This Is similar
TO the bill introduced in the Senate by
Mr.. Beck on the 5th instant.l
Mr.. Weller, Of Iowa, introduced a
bill to refund the bonded debt Of the
United States at p per cent. interest,
10 reduce taxation on circulating bank
note currency, and 10 secure such cur
rcncy against unnecessary disturbance
and fluctuation by applying national
revenues economically to the payment
of the public debt. Referred.
Mr.. Thompson, Of Kentucky, asked
the unanimous consent for the passage
of bill amending the Pacific railroad
acts SO as to provide for the construc-
ton Of q road from Sioux City, Iowa,
to a point on the Union Pacific railroad
west of the one-hundredth meridian.
Mr.. Reagan, of Texas, objected.
Under the special order the House
proceeded to the consideration of the
business reported from the Committee
on Foreign Affairs. The first bill con-
sidered was the Senate French spolia-
tion-elaim bill.
Mr.. Cox, of North Carolina, sketched
the history Of the origin of these claims,
snd maintained that the Importance OF
the case and justice to the claimants de-
yolved upon Congress the duty Of pro-
viding tribunal competent to secure
settlement of the vexed question. In
years gone by forty-three favorable re-
ports had been made by congressional
committees upholding the validity of
these claims, and these reports had been
submitted after careful study by such
men as Daniel Webster, Caleb Gushing,
and Charles Sumner.
Mr.. Jones, of Wisconsin, presented
an argument in opposition to the bill.
Mr.. Rice, of Massachusetts, gave an
interesting history of the claims, and
argued in support Of the bill as a mat
ter Of justice and equity.
Mr.. Broadhead, Of Missouri. argued
in the same line; while Messrs. Cox
of New York, Holman, and Blount OPP
posed the measure. After further dis
cussion by Mcssrs. Hunt Of Louisiana,
Phelps of New Jersey, and Milliken Of
Maine in favor of the bill, Mr.. Warner,
of Ohio, moved that it be committed to
the Committee on Claims. Rejected.
The bill was then passed-yeas, Isl {;
nays, II. 1t refers the claims to the
Court of Claims for examination and
report to Congress.
Mr.. Wait, Of Connecticut, then called
up the Chinese indemnity-fund bill, and
after short explanation by him the
bill was passed.
On motion of Mr.. Randall. Of Penn
sylyanis, the Senate amendment to the
bill for the payment Of messengers sent
for the certificates of the electoral votes
of Oregon and Iowa was concurred in.
The House at 5 o'clock adjourned.
A Democratic caucus was announced
to take place tomorrow at 4P. NJ.