Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1886-05-06
CONGRESSIONAL.

| as a beverage He said: ''lt was time Tor
| the prohibition idea to assume control OF
national parties, at least OF the Republi-
can party. That party could not perma-
| nentiy remain three-fourths for prohibit
| ton and one-fourth against it."
The senateappropriation committee re-
| ported back the postoffice appropriation
| bill, containing provision very similar to
| that passed last year, over which there
has been so much controversy between the
steamship companies and the postmaster
general. The clause now appropriates
| $500, 900, in the language OF the bill:
| For the purpose ofprocuring more direct
speedy or regular transportation OF the
| United States mails between the several
ports OF the United States and the various
| countries OF Central and South America
| Asia, Australia and the islands of the At
| lantic and Pacific, and the postmaster gen.
eraI is authorized and directed to make
contracts for term Of five years at a rate
not exceeding 81 mile for the carriage
of outward mails.
1t is understood that Postmaster Gener-
al Villas approves the form that IS used
this year.
The interstate commerce bill was taken
up. The pending question was on Mr..
Camden's proposed amendment to strike
out the words from the same point OF de-
parture" from the long and short haul
clause OF the bill.
Mr., Cullom defended the bill. The cen.
mittee had given the subject OF long and
short hauls good deal OF consideration,
and had not felt it sale to go further than
the State OF Massachusetts had gone in
that matter. No country in the world had
an absolute long and short haul law for
railroads. There was in this country
belief that the short haul people were
swindled in order to make up for losses on
the long haul. The committee had en-
deavored by this bill to prevent the posi-
bility OF the railroads recouping themselves
out of the short haul" people for losses
on the long haul. The committee had not
been able to bring their judgment to the
conclusion that it would be wise to insist
that there should never be a greater charge
for shorter than for a longer haul. III
passed as things were, such law would be
greatly injurious to the business OF the
country.
Mr.. Sherman could not see how the CON-
mittee, having recognized the long and
short haul principle, could resist the
amendment proposed by Mr.. Camden.
HousE.-The house committee on mill
tary affairs reported a bill to authorize the
president to confer brevet rank ON army
officers for gallant services in Indian cam
paigns.
The house judiciary committee reported
adversely the bill to prohibit aliens from
acquiring title to or owning lands in the
United States. A minority report in favor
OF the bill was submitted by Messrs. Oates
OF Alabama and Hepburn OF Iowa. The
minority, in support OF their views, refer to
the case OF Mr.. Scully, who resides in Eng
land and is a British subject, and who owns
10000 acres in Illinois, occupied by hun
dreds OF tenants, mostly ignorant foreign
ers, from whom he receives as rents 5000.
600 per annum and expends it in Europe
The Schenley estate consisting OF about two
thousand acres, within the city limits Of
Pittsburg and Allegheny, Pa. is cited as
another instance OF alien landlordism in
America. The Schenleys are subjects re-
siding in England, who draw annually from
their American estates 100000.
bill was reported by the ways and
means committee authorizing the secretary
OF the treasury to exempt all distilleries
which mash five gallons or less per day
from maintaining storekeepers and gaugers
1t also authorizes the secretary to desig-
nate special warehouses for distilleries
whose daily capacity is less than twenty
five gallons.
SENATE.-Mr. Mitchell spoke on the me-
mortal submitted by the conference OF the
New York Methodist Episcopal church,
praying for protection for Chinese in the
United States. He criticised the commit
tee on foreign relations for not having yet
reported his immigration prohibitory
BILL and warned senators on both sides of
the chamber that he would press that bill,
and that they would have to come square
ly up to the mark and could not escape the
question.
A very spirited debate took place in the
senate over the clause in the postoftice APP
preparation bill to pay $780, 900 for the
transportation OF United States mails to
Central and South America. This directs
the postmaster general 70 make contracts
for five years time with the steamship
companies upon the basis OF the number of
miles Travelled, instead OF the number OF
letters, as at present.
The senate remained in secret session
about an hour, and considerable number
OF "unobiected' cases oflittle or no promi-
nence were confirmed. Mr.. Edmunds
for a time insisted upon the reading
OF the report on each case. The sena-
tors at last became impatient because
OF the delay, and Mr. Plumb called atten-
tention to the routine character OF the
documents, protesting with some vigor
against the unnecessary waste OF time each
needed for the consideration OF legislative
matter. Thereafter no more reports were
made.
HoUsE.-The house committee on agri-
culture reported an elaborate bill provid-
ing for placing the manufacture and SAFE of
oleomargarine under the direction OF the
internal revenue department. This meas
ure has the approval OF the American Dairy
association.
1t imposes a special tax upon all manu-
facturers of oleomargarine OF 5000 per an
mum, wholesale dealers $3.50 and retail deal
ers $4S5. 1t requires stamps similar to those
now used for manufacturing tobacco. Heavy
penalties are imposed for any violation OF
tho bill. The office OF analytical chemist
and microscopic is created which Office is
to be attached to the staff OF the commits
sioner OF internal revenue.
The bill was reported with the unani-
nous approval OF the committee, and it's
passage will be urged at an early day.
The house passed the bill directing the
proper accounting officers to settle and adj
Just the accounts of Maj. Small, commits
sary OF subsistence, when stationed in
Chicago in November, 1880, as purchasing
and depot eommissary. He was robbed
by his clerk, George Davidson, OF IS, $50.
Suit was brought against Davidson in New
York for the recovery OF the money stolen
and Judgment obtained.
SENATE.-The Fourth OF July claim bin
passed with an amendment 20 REIN burse
the estate OF Ayres p. Morrill, OF Mississippi
S67, 600 for supplies to the United States
army during the war.
In executive session the senate took up
the case of Judge Pollard ofMontana, who
was reported adversely from the Judi ciary
committee, and was the subject of IL
long debate last week. He is accused of
various fraudulent practices, and t he Dem
ocrats decided that they could not afford
to make a fight for his confirmation, after
an examination OF documentary evidence
submitted by Mr.. Edmunds, the greater
part OF which was certified copies of the
records of the courts OF Jasper county, Ind.
Pollard's nomination was therefore re-
iected by an almost unanimous vote.
HoUsE,-Mr. Van Eaton, from the COM
mittee on public lands, reported bill to
grant the right OF way through the public
lands OF anycanal or ditch company formed
for the purpose OF irrigation.
The house committee on coinage report
ed bill to redeem the trade dollars. The
measure reportedis a substitute for thesev-
erai bills on this subject introduced during
the present session. The provisions of the
measure are: For six months after its
passage, trade dollars shall be received at
their face value in payment of all dues to
the United States, and shall not be again
paid out or issued in any other manner.
Holders of trade collars on presentation
of the same may receive in exchange there
for an equal amount of standard silver
dollars. The trade dollars so received by
the United States treasury officials shall
be transmitted to the coinage minis and
recoined into standard silver dollars.
When the paragraph OF the river and
harbor bill was reached appropriating
$500, 600 for the improvement OF the
Mississippi from st. Paul to Des Moines
rapids, Mr.. Gilfllan ci Minnesota moved
an amendment providing that $4,000 OF
the amount should be expended at the dis
cretion of the secretary Of war for con-
tinuing tests at Adams flume. Mr..
Gilillan made a iive-minutes speech
explaining the character and purpose
os Adams fume, the amount already ex-
pended upon the work and the results ex.
pected to be accomplished. AS the propos-
Cd Il