The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1885-12-12
THE NATIONAL LEGISLATURE.
First Session of the 49th Congress.

|
First Session of the 49th Congress.
The first session of the Forty ninth Con
gress opened at noon on Monday. In the
Senate Mr.. Sherman, of Ohio, was elected
President pro tempore and took the oath Of
Office The Democrats voted for Mr.. Harris,
of Tennessee. The credentials of Messrs.
Logan and Blair, Senators elect from Illinois
and New Hampshire respectively, were pre-
| scented and those gentlemen were sworn in.
Resolutions were adopted directing the Sec
rotary to inform the House of Representatives
and the President of the election of the Pres
ident pro tempore. The usual committee was
also appointed to wait upon the President, in
conjunction with Il similar committee of the
House, and inform him that Congress was
ready to receive any communication he might
be ready to make. A recess was then taken
| On reassembling, a communication was re.
! ceived from the House announcing its Organl-
cation, etc Mr. Voorhees, then offered reso
lutions in regard to the death of Vice Presi-
dent Hendricks, which were laid on the table
to be called up at future day. The Senate
then, in respect to the memory Of the Vice
President, adjourned until noon Tuesday.
In the House, John &. Carlisle, of Ken
lucky, was reelected Speaker, the Republi-
cans voting for Thomas B. Reed, of Maine.
| MT. CdrllSle, On tthluS IHc CHdlF; maui Il
speech acknowledging the honor conferred
upon him, and calling attention to the i'm
portance of the session just beginning. The
other officers of the House were then elected,
as nominated by the Democratic caucus.
! The Clerk was directed to inform the Senate
that the House was organized, and a commit
tee was appointed to wait upon the President
! together with the similar committee of the
! Senate. After the drawing of seats had been
| finished, Mr.. Holman, of Indiana, announced
the death of Vice President Hendricks, and
the House then, as a mark of respect, ad-
journed.
In the United States Senate on Tuesday the
first message of President Cleveland was re-
ceived and read. A memorial was presented
from the Legislature of New Hampshire set
ting forth that twenty millions of acres of the
lands of the United States are held by non
resident aliens, and asking Congressional leg
islation that may secure exclusively to the
American people the public lands of the
United States and prevent their sale to per-
sons other than citizens and those intending
to become such. Bills were introduced by
Mr.. Hoar, to regulate the Presidential sue
cession, 10 establish Court of Appeals, and
to establish uniform system of bankruptcy :;
by Mr.. Edmunds, to regulate the Electoral
count and to amend the act in relation to
poygamy in the territories; by Mr.. Beck, to
authorize the payment of customs duties IN
in legal tender notes by Mr.. Ingalls,, to re-
move the limitation in the payment fpension
arrears; by Mr.. Voorhees,, for the admission
of Idaho as q State; by Mr.. Coke, for the al
lotment of lands in severalty to the Indians !;
by Mr.. Dolph, to repeal the presumption,
timber culture and desert land laws and ad-
hitting Washington Territory as State by
Mr.. Teller, TO establish a Board of Education
and aid in the support of the common schools;
by Mr.. Plumb, to prevent the acquisition OF
real property by aliens by Mr.. MITCHELL of
Penna., to retire the trade dollar, and by
Mr.. Teller, directing the cancellation of the
one and two dollar United States notes. The
latter bill was laid on the table for the pres
ent, at its authors request Mr. Cameron,
of Penna., offered resolution, which was
read and referred to the Committee on Fl
nance, declaring against the eXpedency of
any further reduction of the tariff. Mr..
Plumb, by request, introduced joint resotu
ton proposing a constitutional amendment
for the suppression of the manufacture and
sale of liquor. The Senate at this point sd
journed.
In the House the Presidents message was
read, and the Speaker appointed the Com
!
kansas, as chairman. Mr.. Hopkins, of Hi
nois, announced the death of his predecessor,
Reuben Elwood, and the House, as mark of
respect adjourned.
WEDNESDAY.
In the Senate on Wednesday a number of
bills were introduced, some of no special
/ importance. Mr.. Blair introduced resolutions
proposing woman suffrage and prohibition
! amendments to the Constitution, aud Mr..
! Gibson introduced resolution giving notice
of the termination of the treaty with the
Hawaiian Islands Mr. Hale offered a reso-
luton, which was agreed to, directing the
Postmaster General to furnish list of the
postmasters removed and appointed in Maine,
where S. S. Brown, of that State, has been
instrumental in procuring such removals and
appointments. Mr.. Vest offered resolution,
which was agreed to, requesting the President
to transmit the correspondence with the Coy
ernments of Italy and Austria in relation to
the appointment of Minister Kelley. A reso-
luton, offered by Mr.. Morrill,, was also agreed
to, requesting the President, to transmit to
the Senate any information or documents re-
ceived from our Consul General at Paris, or
from our special agent sent to financial cen
tres of Europe, in respect to the establishment
of such an international ratio Of gold and sill
yer coinage as would permit of the coinage
of both metals at the minis of those countries
and our own.
In the House the whole day was taken up
with discussion of change of rules.
THURSDAY.
In the United States Senate on Thur day,
Mr.. Edmunds introduced bill for the estaE
lishment of postal telegraph. Gen. M. c.
Meigs was elected member of the board OF
regents of the Smithsonian Institution.
Among the bills introduced was one to relieve
commercial travellers from license tax, and
another to promote peace among the nations.
After a brief executive session the Senate
in session, having adjourned over from We'd
nesday to Saturday.