Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-02-19
ILVIIITH CONGRESS-.
WAsHINGToN, Feb. Is, 1885.

Inc senate met AT IL CLOCK. 40
quorum present. At ll:20 the Chair
announced quorum. The Journal
was read, and the morning business
proceeded with.
At ll:25 A. NJ. on motion Of Mr..
IIoar, the Senate went into executive
session. In twenty minutes the doors
were re0pened and legislative business
resumed.
Mr.. Van WICK submitted a joint
resolution prohibiting the Florida Rail-
way and Navigation Company from SELL
ing the lands granted in aid Of railway
construction in that State. At Mr..
Van Wyck's request the resolution was
laid over for the present.
At o'clock Mr.. Lapham's remarks
were interrupted by the regular order,
which was the snti-fOreign contract
labor bill.
Mr.. Butler, of South Carolina. moved
an amendment, the salient features of
which were that aliens or foreign per-
sons coming to the United States under
prearranged agreement to labor here
shall be punished by a fine not to cx-
coed 81 900 or Imprisonment not to ex-
coed twelve months, and the persons
employing such alien or foreign labor
for such purpose shall be punished by
a fine not to exceed $4,000 or impris-
onment not to exceed two years. 1t
was rejected-yeas, II; nays, 3G.
An amendment offered by Mr.. Plumb
was agreed to excepting professional
artists from the provisions of the bill.
Mr.. Morgan wished to include d" arti-
sans - also, but the Senate did not
agree 10 his amendment.
Mr.. Lspham offered an amendment
providing that the whole penalty re-
covered shall be paid into the United
States Treasury. instead Of, as by the
bill. permitting one half Of the penalty
to go to the person who may first bring
suit. This amendment was agreed to.
Notwithstanding energetic attempts by
Mr.. Blair to explain that it would
seriously impair the efficacy of the bill.
Mr.. Blair then offered all amendment
making it the duty Of the United States
district-attoney Of the proper district
to prosecute at the expense of the
United States every case of violation oil
the act. Agreed to--ycas, 40; nays,
Is. The bill was then reported to the
Senate and passed-yeas, so; nays, Q.
The credentials of the reelection of
Mr.. Vance, of North Carolina, were
presented by Mr.. Ransom, of that State.
They were read and filed.
The Senate at $40 went into eXecu-
tive session.
The Senate remained in executive
session until Cos p. NJ, when the doors
were re0pened and an adjournment was
taken.
House Of Representative.
The House met at 10 o'clock in con-
tinuation of yesterdays session.
The conference report on the District
appropriation bill was agreed to.
The House then went into Committee
of the Whole (Mr. Hammond in the
chair on the riyer-and-harbor bill.
Pending the vote on the amendment
to the bill providing that the Board
should examine the proposed improve
mcnt of the Galveston harbor and re-
port to the Secretary of War, the COM
mittec rose. and at 1880 the House adj
| jouIned.
At II O'Clock the session of to-day
began with prayer by Rev. j. j. Bull
lock, former chaplain of the Senate.
The House proceeded to the consld-
Grafton Of business under the special
rule.
On motion Of Mr.. Dibrcll, Senate
bill passed for the erection Of public
building at Chattanooga, Tenn, at the
ultimate cost of 100000.
MIR. JefIords called up Senate bill for
the erection Of public building at
| Nicksburg, Miss, but it was objected
/ to.
On motion Of Mr.. Dibble, of South
/ Carolina, Senate bill was passed au-
/ thorizing the Secretary of War to adj
! lust and settle the accounts for arms be-
/ tween the State of South Carolina and
/ the Government of the United States.
TN motion Of Mr.. Greene, Of North
Carolina. the Senate bill was passed APP
propriating $50, ZOO for the purchase OF
n wharf for the use Of the Government
at Wilmington. \. {.
Mr.. Clardy, from the Committee OF
Commerce. reported back the bill to
authorize the registration of certain
steamships as vessels of the United
States. Placed ON the House calendar.
Mr. Elliott. of Pennsylvania, from
the Committee on Elections, submitted
a report ON the Missouri contested
election case of Mclean as. Broadhead,
accompanied lay resolution confirm
ing The right of the sitting member (Mr
Broadhead) to the seat. 1t was laio
over for future action.
The morning hour having bceh dis
pensed with. Mr.. Ilutchins. Of New
York. moved that the House go int
Committee of the Whole on the naya
appropriation bill. ..
This was antagonized by MIR. Willis
who said that it had been the under
standing yesterday that this mornin!
should he devoted to the consideration
of the riyer-and-harbor bill. 1t hac
not beer lc fault of the comrT tex
having charge of that bill that so mucl
time had been wasted to-day.
Mr.. IIutchins's motion was lost
yeas. l02; nays, 1919; and the Hous
at 2:30 i. II. went into Committee o
the Wholc-Mr. Hammond, of Georgia
in the chaiI---on the river-and-harbo
bill. The pending amendment, wh'c'
was offered AS a substitute for the Ell
tire paragraph relative to Galveston
haibor, was adopted. 1t appropriate
$500 .0O0 FOR the improvement OF Gal
weston harbor. and directs the liarbo
Board TO proceed at once to examln
the plans, specifications. and estimate
for the Improvement. and report to IN
Secretary Of War for his approval.
Mr.. Holman offered an amendmen
prohibiting the expenditure OF any o
this appropriation until the Galveston