Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1886-05-06
NATIONAL CAPITOL.
BUSINESS TRANSACTED BYTHE
NATIONAL LEGISLATURE.



ing his connection with land claims in
Florida. Several bills were passed au-
thorizing tho construction Of bridges
across Western rivers. Mr.. Logan report
ed favorably his bill for the reorganiza-
tion of the army with five thousand in
crease omitted. A bill was introduced
granting fifteen days leave of absence
each year with pay to Navy-yard en-
ployes. The inter State commerce bill
was laid aside for the postoffice appropri-
alton bill at p. m. The subsidy clause
was debated by Messrs. Beck, Plumb and
Others until p. M, when the Senate ad-
journed.
In the House, conference committee
was appointed on the bill to protect the
tights of the United States in the Poto-
mac flats. The Committee on Agricul-
ture reported bill imposing tax on
oleomargarine and regulating its sale.
The river and harbor bill was taken up
and discussed until $40 p. m, when the
House adjourned.
APRIL 29.-In the Senate to day bill
was passed appropriating $4,000 for the
purchase of strip of land for the post
office building at TT. Wayne, Ind. The
4th of July claims bill was taken up and
passed, with an amendment allowing the
Merrell estate in Mississippi $67, 900 for
supplies taken during the war. The
post. office appropriation bill was discus.
sed at length by Senator Beck, who spoke
in opposition to the subsidy clause.
Messrs. Frye and Edmunds took part in
the debate. AT p. m. the Senate went
went into executive session, and adjourn
ed in about an nour. The nomination of
Associate Justice Pollard, of Montana,
was rejected on charges of questionable
law practice in Indiana.
In the House the clerkship of the COM
mittee on Public Buildings and Grounds
was made an annual Office A bill was
reported ratifying an agreement made be-
tween Commissioners appointed by the
States of New York and New Jersey re.
specting the boundary lines of the States.
A bill was reported for the retirement
and rccoinage of trade dollars The
river and harbor bill was taken up An
amendment to place the Missouri River
appropriation under the control of the
Secretary of War without Intervention
of the Missouri River Commission was
lost. A motion to strike out the appro-
priation for continuing the reservoirs at
the headwaters Of the Mississippi River
was lost. An effort was made to increase
from $500, 900 to $500, 600 the appropria.
tion for the Mississippi from the mouth
of the Illinois River 10 the Ohio River,
but it failed. The Lower Mississippi
paragraph of two and quarter millions
had been reached when the committee
rose. A bill was reported granting a
right of way through public lands to any
canal or ditch company formed for the
purpose of navigation, after which the
House. at $50 p. m. adjourned.
APRIL 3O-In the Senate, on motion of
Mr.. Vance the Senate took up the presi-
dents veto of the bill "to provide for the
promotion of anatomical science and pre-
vent the desecration of graves"
The bill relates to the District of Col.
umbia and provides that the unclaimed
bodies of deceased paupers, now required
by law to be buried at public expense,
might be turned over to the medical col
leges of the District of Columbia.
The president declined to approve the
bill on the ground that certain of its pro-
visions were indefinite, and did not sup
ply sufficient safeguards.
After short debate the Senate refused
to pass the bill over the Presidents Veto
Yeas, 6; nays, 48. Messrs. Allison, Har-
ris, ingalls,, Vance, Blackburn and
Plumb voted aye.
After passing number of private bills
the postoffice appropriation bill was taken
up and Mr.. Hale resumed his remarks
upon it.
In the House, Mr.. Hatch called up the
bill creating department of agriculture
and the House began its consideration in
committee of the whole, but the morning
hour expired pending controversy as to
the limitation of debate.
The House then went into committee
of the whole on the river and harbor bill
Congress has been in session continu-
ously during period of four months,
and very little has been done during that
time that is of actual benefit to the coun.
try. Even the usual business of the ses-
sion has been delayed beyond precedent
This, too, in the first year of Democrat
ic administration which promised to
strike out new path of its own, purify
the government and show the country
fresh era OF reform, economy and pros
perity There has been no evidence of
any change in either of these particulars.
Nobody has seen evidence Of reform any
where. AS for economy so far as the
House has gone, there are evidences that
1t will be one of the most wasteful and
extravagant administrations seen in many
years. There has been no brake put up
on any of the usual appropriation bills.
The same extravaganza heretofore pre-
vailing, but which was to come to an end
under the new order of things, still goes
on. No effort seems to be made to stay
the fast flowing tide Of extravaganza
Meanwhile Morrison and his friends are
doing their level best to continue the
work OF decentralization by forcing
crude md unwelcome scheme of tariff re.
duciion upon the country. All these
things are not doingthe Democratic party
any good. The people see clearly not a
single promise made by it prior to the
late election has been kept. After twen.
tty.iive years of retirement and reflection
it is the same old organization it always
was. Its lease of power promises to be
short.
The Postoflice Department paid the
American line for carrying the mails to
China and Japan last year only $4,000,
or $3.50 per outward trip of 0, 500 miles.
or 81 cents per mile; aud only 81, ,392, or
S3l per outward trip of $500 miles. or IL
cents per mile, to the Venezuelan Line
AT the same time, the Department paid
the White Star (British) Line, 81. 1OS per
trip Of 5000 miles.
The servant girls of st, Louis have
organized themselves into q protective