The semi-weekly miner., 1885-02-11
CONGR ESSIONAL.
HOUSE..

HOUSE.
Il WASHINGTON, Feb. Z. - Reagan
asked unanimous consent to TAX
from the speakers table the intel
state commerce bill with the senat,
amendments thereto for the purpose
of non-concurring in these amend
ments, but O'Neill (Pa.) objected.
| At five o'clock the house went into
committee of the whole on the river
and harbor bill. Townshend moved
that the committee rise. He wished
to move that the house adjourn ,!hav.
ing been advised it was the Intention
of the friends of the river and harbor
bill to continue this legislative day
throughout Monday and this would
crowd out regular appropriation bills.
The motion was lost and the house
took recess until Monday.
SENATE.
The chair laid before the senate a
new set of credentials of Wm.- M
Evarts. senator elect from New YORK.
Read and filed. =,
Sherman, from the committee on
library reported the joint resolu lion
which passed, accepting the offer
made the government by VIM. III.
Vanderbilt and Mrs. Grant, ofswords,
medals, bronze, paintings and other
articles of value presented to Gen. U.
S Grant. by various governments of
the world, as tokens Of appreciation
of his illustrious character as soldier
and statesman. The resolution ex-
press the thanks of congress to Mr..
Vanderbilt and Mr. Grant and pro-
ides that the articles be placed In
charge of the librarian of congress.
The secretary of war. however, is to
receive them for safe keeping until a
proper repo itory may be provided
for them in the congressional library.
VanWyck moved an amendment
to one of the private pension bills
providing for all soldiers, widows or
minor children who by existing law
NAV bee me entitled to $8 per month
shall in future receive $12.
VanWyck explained that the pen
sion was the same as that which the
Senate put in the Mexican bill.
There seemed to be no other chance,
Van Wyck said, to get justice done to
a large number of deserving people
who were now getting a pittance of
So. Blair thought the amendment
would defeat the Mexican pensioners
VanWyck: 1t was already sut-
stantially defeated. Neither the
Mexican soldiers nor any others can
receive anything from the House be-
fore the 4th of March.
Wyck's amendment was
agreed to-yeas, 81; nays, II.
Mitchell moved to add to the bill q
further provision, as follows: q.
First,-Tha in considering cases of
parents, it shall be suf-
ficient to show such parents are with
out other means Of comfortable sup
port than their own manuel labor or
from persons not legally |
bound for their support.
Second,-That proof that appli-
cant was regularly mustered into the
service shall be presumptive evidence
Of soundness at the time, but subject
to refutal.
Third,-That no person shall be en-
titled to more than one pension at
time unless specially decla,ed by con-
gress.
These amendments were agreed to,
yeas, 80, nays, 16. Senator Miller,
IN. ", from commit q on 'agri-
culture, to-day fAvoratly reported a
bill to provide that the agricultural
be an executive depart
ment under the supervision of q Sec
retary of agriculture. The compen-
,ation of the secretary snail be the
same as secretary OF other executive
An assistant secretary
Of agriculture shall be appointed at
The same salary received by assistant
secretary of the interior. A chief clerk
1t an an annual salary If $2,5OO be
appointed The bill fu ther provides
for the lreation of divisions Of yett r.
mary surgery, science and forestry in
the department.
Senator Morgan to-day reported
from ,mmittee on foreign
bill introduced by him a
few days ago to construct and MAIN
tain telegraph or cable line between
the Pacific coas. Of the United States
and the Asiatic coast, with an
providing the line must
be completed in ten years.