Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1886-03-17
DOIEGS Nv CONGRESS.


Duskin case. At the conclusion of his sd-
dress Mr.. Pugh obtained the floor, and aft
er executive session the Senate adjourned.
WEDNESDAY, March 10.-In the Senate
Mr.. Blackburn caused some amusement by
reporting in open session upon an apnoint-
ment. He begged the Chairs pardon for
having done SO. The urgent deficiency bill
was taken up and an amendment WAC
agreed to, appropriating $50 900 to defrav
the expenses of Gen. Grants funeral. The
bill was passed, after some debate. On the
item of $185, 600 deficiency in the depart
ment of Justice, considerable talk was made
but no action was taken.
THURSDAY, March 11.-Mr. Hawley from
the committee on civil-service, reported ad-
verseIy Mr.. Vance's bill for the repeal of the
civil-service law. Mr.. Hawley sal the
committee was not unanimous. Mr.. Lo.
gan, from the minority Of the committee on
military affairs, submitted the views Of the
minority members on the Fitz-J ohm Porter
bill. 1t is the same report presented by
the minority in the last Congress with the
addition of Gen. Logan's letter in reply to
Gen. Grants article in the North American
Review, justifying the conduct Of Fitz John
Porter. In the morning hour, the bill for
the forfeiture of part of the lands granted
to the state of Iowa to aid in the construc-
ton OF railroads was taken up, and after
debate went over.
tanned the floor and delivered q long speech
on the right of the Senate to papers in sus-
pension cases. Mr.. SpOoner's amendment
to the bill FORGETTING part of the lands
granted to the state of Iowa in aid of rail
roads was agreed to-32 to 13-and the bill
passed. The amendment withholds from
the operation of the act certain of the lands
as to which g. suit is now pending in the
United States supreme court.
MONDAY, March S.-Among the petitions
presented were large number from local
assemblies of Knights OF Labor favoring the
building of the Hennepin Canal. Mr.. Vance
offered a resolution directing the committee
on civil service reform to report forthwith
the bill before them providing for the repeal
Of the civil service law. At $3.50 P. NJ. Mr..
Stanford announced the death of Senator
Miller, of California, and the Senate at once
adjourned.
TUESDAY, March 9.-The House passed
the bill requiring Pacific railroads to pay
the cost Of surveying their lands and to
take out patents thereto. On behalf of the
committee on labor, Mr.. James, of New
York, called up the bill to prohibit any Off
Ger, servant or agent Of the government to
hire or contract out the labor OF prisoners
incarcerated for violating the laws of the
United States government. The bill was
pasEed-yeas, 249; nays, 8. Mr.. Dibble
.. J,
buildings and grounds, reported back the
Senate bill to provide for the ascertain
ment OF the market value OF certain prop
erty in Chicago and authorizing the tecre-
tary Of the treasury to sell and convey
such property. Mr.. Eldridge (Mich.), from
the committee on pensions, reported a bill
granting pensions to the soldiers and
sailors of the Mexican war. The House
then went into committee OF the WHOLE Mr..
Townshend Qn.), in the chair, on the In
dian appropriation bill. Mr.. Welborn
(Tex.) briefly ran over the appropriations
made by the bill and said it carried $5,-
sol ,562 as against S., TIT ,451, appropriat.
ed for the current year.
WEDNESDAY, March 1O.-Mr. Herbert
(Ala. J, from the committee on naval affairs,
reported the bill to increase the naval es-
Establishment. Mr.. Pulitzer IN. ", from
the committee on civil service reform, re-
ported adversely the Senate bill to repeal
the civil service law. The bill was placed :
on the calendar and leave was granted for
the filing Of a minority report. In the
morning hour, Mr.. Morrill, (Kas.l }, on behalf
of the committee on invalid pensions. called
up the bill repeating the limitation on the
time within which the claims OF militia men
who were disabled while acting under orders
of a United States officer must be filed
Mr. Rogers, OF Arkansas. Mr.. Reagan,
Texas, and Mr.. McMillen. OF Tennessee, op
posed the bill. No action was taken.
THURSDAY, March 11.-Mr. Hammond,t
Georgia, from the committee on the jud
ciary, reported back adversely the resol
ton directing that committee to inqnil
into the rights Of the United States to ca
eel patents for inventions and discoyerie
Laid on the table.
FRIDAY, March 1I.-In the House
Caswell (Wis.) offered q resolution cali
on the secretary of the treasury for asia
ment of the account between the Unit
States and the several states and tel
tories OF the direct tax laid by the act
1851. Mr.. Weaver, of Nebraska, ask
leave to offer the following preamble
resolution: Whereas, nearly every u
gress embraces at least one crank; and
present Congress is no exception to I
rule; and it should not be in the power
an idiot, insane man or crank to preve
the consideration OF any measure thereto
resolved, that the rules Of this House be
amended that it shall require
least two members to object
the consideration OF BILL" L
reading of the resolution was greet
with applause. Mr.. Swope (Pa.), from
committee on invalid pensions, reportet
bill granting pension Of $4,000 per u
to the widow OF Gen. w. s. Hancock. I
House went into committee OF the who
with Mr.. Hatch MOI in the chair on I
private calendar. A long discussion, VIII
at times took political turn, arose up
the first bill upon the calendar, being
for the relief of the heirs, at-law OF Cora
Slocomb, OF Louisiana. 1t was finally
dered reported with favorable reco
mendation. The committee then rose a.
few private bills were passed.
MONDAY, March S.-Bills were introduc
to repeal the civil service law and to pr
tect the Garden Of the Gods, in Colorad
from spoliation and to create a public pa
of the same. Mr.. Reagan TEX. from t.
committee on commerce. reported back t.
Interstate commerce bill, and it was piac'
on the calendar, Mr.. O'Nen (Pa.),
granted leave to file minority report
the BILL Mr.. Henley (Cal.) from, the COZ
mittee on public lands, reported favorab
the bill to declare forfeited lands granite
to aid in the construction OF 81 railroa
from Portland, Ore, to the Central Pacif
in California. House calendar. Mr.. Girls
(Ga.) in behalf OF the committee on Peci6
railroads, called up the bill requiring tn
Pacific railroads to pay the cost CT the sur
vey of the lands granted to them by tn
general government. and to take out pat
ents for the land. At this point Mr.. Nor
row, of California, announced the death o.
1 u a H.