The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1885-02-27
CONGRESSIONAL.
SENATE.


luton authorizing the President 10 return
the steamer Alert to the British Govern
ment, with thanks for her presentation.
The bill TO repeal the Presumption and
Timber Culture laws, after some amend
ment, was passed by 20 To 10.
Feb. I3.-The bill prohibiting the impor-
taiion OF foreign contract labor was taken
up and discussed in the Senate. Messrs.
Ilawley and Mcpherson opposed the meas
IRE. Mr.. Blair defended 1t on the ground
that the working classes in this country
s she be protected against competition:
fae to the class of people which the bill
w01d exclude. Mr.. ingalls, said that it
would soon be necessary to decide whether
every one OH the face of the earth has n
right to come to the United States and do
rs he pleased to the detriment Of those al
ready here. Mr.. Hawley disapproyed Of
the contract system, but did not like the
bill. Mr.. Bayart also thought the measure
Objectionable. No action was taken.
FEB. H.-In the Senate the Appropria-
ton Committee reported the Agricultural
bill. The Indian bill was considered at
strike out from the House bill section Of
general legislation providing for the sale of
portion of the Omaha reservation caused
| considerable discussion. 1t was opposed by
Messrs. Van Wyck, Henderson, and Cock
rell, and supported by Mr.. Dawes and 9TH
ers. Debate took wide range and includ-
ed the question Of paying claims for dam
ages caused by Indian depredatiOns propOs-
ed as general legislation In another section
of the House bill. Mr.. Plumb, while dis
cussing the latter question, urged the adop-
ment for dealing with these claims. Final
ly, after long discussion, the Committees
amendment striking out the House section
relating to the sale Of part of the Omaha
reservation was agreed to.
FEB. l0.--A memorial was laid before the
Senate from the Legislature Of Arizona
urging that certain coal-fields in the White
Mountain Indian Reservation be segregated
from the reservation and the rights of the
discoveries thereof be recognized. The
Post Office Appropriation bill was then pro-
ceeded with. The section of the bill au-
thorizing the President to negotiate with
in the Oklahoma lands were stricken out,
and the bill passed substantially as reported
from the Senate Committee.
FEB. FIN the Senate, bills were passed
authorizing the sale of part of the Winnie
bago reservation In Nebraska, and for the
construction Of bridge across the Great
Kanawha river. A favorable report was
made Oh the House bill to permit the build
ing of horse railroad over Rock Island, TO
connect with the Iowa shore.
HOUSE.
FEB. l2.-The House in considering the
Postof1ice Appropriation bill, struck out the
clause requiring fast mail trains reaching
Chicago curing the night to start westward
within an hour. The amount required for
inland mail transportation was fixed at $ a.
Ole, 000, with an amendment giving $2C6,7
for special facilities on the trunk lines.
Bills were passed limiting to $3.50, 600 the
cost OF q public building at Erie, and pro-
viding for the erection Of 500, 900 struct-
IRE at Detroit.
Fen. 13.-On motion of Mr. Payson the
House concurred in the Senate amen ments
TO the House bill to prevent the unlawful
occupation Of public lands. The House
went into Committee of the Whole on the
Post-Ofiice Appropriation bill. Mr.. Hot
man moved to strike out the paragraph al
lowing additional compensation to Ameri-
can steamships for carrying the ocean mails
and to insert an amendment appropriating
$42i ,0C0 for the transportation of all foreign
mails. After long discussion, In which
the proposition contained In tho paragraph
was bitterly attacked, MI. HOlman's motion
to strike out the paragraph was agreed to,
as well as the amendment which he offered,
which was slightly modified. Another
amendment was adopted making the post
age OH drop letters two cents per ounce.
FEB. H-Consideratio Of the River and
Harbor bill being resumed In the House,
Mr.. Turner, of Georgia, raised n point of
order against. the Hennepn Canal para
graph, contendng that the Committee on
Rivers and IIarbors had infringcd upon the
Jurisdiction of the Committee on Railways
and Canals. Decision on the point of order
was reserved by the Chair. The Post. Office
Appropriation bill was passed. The Legis-
lative bill was taken up, and after dispOs-
ing of forty pages of that measure out OF
10S. the House adjourned.
FEB. 18--In the House yesterday the SEN
ate's amendments 10 the Army Appropria-
ton bill were nOn-concurred I'm and q con-
ference committee was appointed. Mr..
Slocum's motion to suspend the rules and
pass the bill placing Gen. Grant on the re-
tired list was lost by vote of 15S yeas to
los nays, the necessary two-thirds not being
obtained. A bill appropriating 300, 900 for
the erection in Washington of u building
for the army medical library was passed.
FEB. 1.-THE House passed the Legisla-
tive Appropriation bill. Mr. Dorshemer
introduced bill to regulate the coinage,
providing for the issue of circulating notes
redeemable i'm silver dollars of $50 grains.
A bill was passed for the erection Of pub
lie building at Wichita, Kansas, at q cost Of
$4,000.
The average length of human life Is