The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1886-09-08
SUMMARY OF CONGRESS-
Senate Sessions.

18Th DAY.-Mr. Vance's bill to repeal the
Civil Service law was, on motion OF MIR.
Hawley (Conn.), indefinitely postponed
yeas, 80; nays, g.. Among the bills
passed was one introduced by Mr.: Frye, of
Maine, for the encouragement Of the Ameri-
can merchant marine and to promote
postal and commercial relations with foreign
countries. It provides for the payment Of
fifty cents mile for carrying the foreign
mails Of the United States. Mr.. Logan's
amended bill to increase the efficiency of the
army was also passed. The original bill
provided for an increase Of the army,
but that feature had been omitted from
the amendment bill. -. Among other bills
passed were the following: Authorizing the
the mails; reducing from eight cents to
five cents the fee on domestic money
orders for sums not exceeding IS: pro-
hibiting publication of lottery" advertise
ments in the District Of Columbia and
the Territories. The Senate, by
wo-thirds vote, passed the joint res
olution introduced by Mr.. Ingalls,
providing for the submission to the several
States of q constitutional amendment extend
ing the period Of the Presidents term and the
session Of the Fiftieth Congress until April
80, 1889, and substituting April 80 for March
4 as the beginning in future of the terms Of
the President and Congress. The measure
next went to the House for concurrence.
10Th DAY.-The Senate passed bill to
remove the political disabilities of j. G..
Flourney, of Mississippi. :. The army Appro-
priation bill was reported from the House
with a message Of concurrence in the
Senate amendments. On motion Of Mr..
Logan the Senate insisted Oh its amend
ments, and the Chair appointed Messrs.
Logan, Plumb and German as q Conference
Committee. %. The Consular and Diplomatic
Appropriation bill was also received from
the House Of Representatives with message
of non-concurrence. On motion Of Mr.. Alli
son, the Senate insisted on its amendments
and ordered conference.
18TH DAY.-Mr. Maxey, from the Com
mittee on Nicaragua Claims, reported reso-
luton, which was agreed to, requesting the
Nicaraguan Government the claims of
citizens of the United States against
that Government. IA bill to au-
thori7e the President to place Com
mander Quackenbush on the retired LIST
of the navy was passed. :. Mr.. Hawley's mo-
tion to reconsider the bill prohibiting men,
bers Of Congress from accepting employment
from railroads that had received aid from
the United States, and the bill to re-
peal the Presumption and Timber Culture
laws were discussed, but no :isive action
amendment to the latter, prohibiting the
acquisition in ore ownership Of more than
$40 acres of desert lands
12STH DAY.-Mr. Hawley's motion was
taken up to reconsider the vote by which
the Senate passed Mr.. Beck's bill prohibiting
members of Congress from acting as attor-
neys of land-grant railroads After a
lengthy discussion the motion to reconsider
was passed-yeas, 81; nays, 2l. The bin was
then referred to the Judiciary Committee by
q vote Of 81 to 81.
10Th DAY-The bill repeating the Pre-
emption and Timber Culture laws was, after
debate, passed-yeas, "a; nays, 20. A confer
ference was ordered on the disagreeing
votes of the two Houses. The bill
providing for the appointment and
compensation of United States District
Judge for the southern district Of Alabama
was passed, with the Logan amendment fix-
ing all District Judges salaries at $1,000 q
year and prohibiting nepot:sm. :. Mr.. Sewel
called up the bill for the relief Of Fitz John
Porter, and spoke in its favor. Mr.. Logan
rose to reply, but yielded to motion to go
into executive Sc sion.