The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1886-01-21
TIE 18TH CONGRESS,
An Epitome of Its Proceedings the
Past Week.

The work Of Congress during the past week
has been of IA somewhat mixed character, with
| comparatively little of special interest. The
Government Printing Office has been deluged
with work, particularly the printing Of new
bills, and is greatly behind, although type-set-
ters and pressmen are working night and day.
| Not half the bills have yet reached the commit
tees at all. Last Monday there was another call
of States in the House, and some 700 more bills
were introduced, among which were the follow
| ing:
| RELATING TO PENSIONS.
Mr.. Weaver Nowa), II. r. 1878, for the relief
| Of the soldiers and sailors who served in the
army and navy Of the United States in the late
| war for the suppression of the rebellion, and to
restore TO them equal rights with the holders
| of Government bonds Mr. Lyman Iowa), IL.
| K. 1874, to extend the benefits of the pension
| laws of the United States granting pensions to
the soldiers of the late civil war. Mr.. John
! sion und.), H. L. 1920, granting a pension to
! ali United States soldiers OF the war Of the re-
bcllion, and for other purposes. Mr.. Hanback,
Kan, II. Il. 3t12, to increase pensions in GER
tain cases Ny Owen lnd.), II. Il. 33i1, grant
l ing pensions for service III the army and navy
| of the United States during the war of the re-
belli0n. Mr.. Voorhees, Ind.), by request of
! Scdgwick Post, No. 80, Department of Indiana,
5. 1888. to amend certain sections of the Re-
vised Statutes of The United States relating to
! pensions, and certain laws relating to pensions
enacted since the revision of the statutes, and
| for other purposes.
Mr.. Henderson (Iowa), Fl. r. 1856, to amend
| the pension laws grautieg arrears of pension to
| those pcrSiOned by special acts. Mr.. Mckenna
! (Cal), Il. H. 3242, TO provide arrearagc5 OF pen
| sons 10 persons mutilated in the civil war and
pensioned for other than highest disability
| Mr. Holmes Iowa, II. X. 1850, repeating the
limitation Of the arrears pensions and defining
| the payment Of the same. Mr.. Strait Mimi
| ii. Il. 1903 granting arrears Cf pension.
Mr.. Browne Uud.l, H, 4. 1885, fixing pen
sion rate for the disability Of deafness incurred
in the military service. Mr.. Conger Uowa), H.
| X. 1852, increasing the pensions of soldiers and
| sailors who have lost the hearing of both ears.
Mir. Eleeger pa, II. r. 3625, granting addi-
| ti0nal pay to Union soldiers of the late war
! vino were held rs prisoners of war after their
terms of service had expired.
Mr.. McMiIin (Tcnn.). II. r. 1878, granting
| pensions to the Survivors of the Mexican and
| Indian wars. Also similar bills by Mr. j. ii.
| Taylor CIcnn.) and Mr.. Cabell (Va.)
| Mr. Miliikeu Me-, III. r. 1857, for the relief
of contract surgeons Of the late war.
Dir. Hanback, (kan.), III. Il. 3i11, to provide
for the muster and pay of officers and enlisted
men Of the volunteer forces.
Mr.. Lowry Und.), II. Il. 3776, to extend the
time for filing claims for horses and equipments
lost by officers and enlisted mon in the service
of the United States
BoUNTTEs, ETC.
Mr.. O'Ncill (Mo.), H. Z. 1892, granting boun-
ty to commissioned officers, musicians, and
privatcs of the % No. Art.
Mr.. Warner Ohio, II. r. 3764 defining who
arc entitled TO bounty under the act Of July %,
1861.
Mr. Springer (Ill.), II. R. 1906, to retire from
active service officers of the Army who served
during the war Of the rebellion as general otfi-
GERS of volunteers.
Mr. Johnson Ind.), Fl. R. 1919, granting
homcSteads to Union soldiers of the late war
and to their widows. Mr.. Wheeler (Ala), II.
X. 1892, to authorize females to enter lands un-
der the homestead law.
Mr.. Holman und.). II. r. 33iS, granting con-
dcmned cannon and cannon-balls for monu-
mental purposes to John A. Platter Post, No.
81, GAR, Indiana. Mr.. HIT Un.), III. Il.
1895, TO authorize the Secretary of War to trans
fer condemned cannon to the Grand Army of
the Republic Warren Post, 3I5) ut Warren,
HI, for monumental purposes.
Mr. Morrill,, from the Committee on Invalid
Pensions reported back with a favorable rec
ommendation the bill granting pension to
Mrs. NJ A. {" Mother Bickerdyke.
MISCELLANEOUS BILLS.
Mr.. Cutcheon (Mich.), H. r. 1896, to provide
for the study of physiology and hygiene with
reference to the effect of the use of Intoxicating
narcotic, and poisonous substances upon the
me- Hcaiifl, anu welfare, by Inc pupils IN Lne
public schools in the Territories and in the
District Of Columbia. and in the Military and
Naval Academies. Indian and colored schools
supported in whole or in part from the Federal
Treasury.
Mr.. Stone (Ky.), II. r. 1867, to authorize the
construction of a bridge across the Ohio River
at Paducah, Ky.
Mr.. Townshend (Ill), II. r. 1878, providing
for the issue by the United States Treasury OF
silver certificates in denominations of one two
and five dollars each.
INCREASE OF PENSIONS TO WIDOWS.
The Committee on Invalid Pensions of the
House has agreed to report favorabiy Mr.
hiatson's bill to increase the pensions of widows
from IS to $l2 per month.
THE PRESIDENTIAL SUCCESSION.
The House spent two days in discussing the
Presidential succession bill, passed by the Sen
ate before the holiday recess The bill was
ported by the committee without change. Sew
eral amendments were offered, but after great
flow Of debate they were all voted down, and
on Friday the bill was passed precisely as it
came from the Senate, the vote being ayes 1S3,
noes II. Only two Democrats voted against
the bill, and 80 Republicans voted for it.
The bill provides that in case of removal
death, resignation, or inability of both the
President and Vice President Of the United
States, the Secretary of State, if there be
none, or in case of his removal, death, resig-
natiOn, or inability, then The secretary OF the
Treasury, or successfully in case as above, the
Secretary OF War, the Attorney General, the
Postmaster General, the Secretary of the Navy,
| or the Secretary Of the interior, shall act as
President until the disability Of the President
or Vice President is removed or a President
shall be elected: Provided, That whenever the
powers and duties Of the office of President Of
the United States shall devolve upon any of the
persons named herein, if Congress be not then
in session. or if it would not meet in accord
ance with law within twenty days thereafter,
it shall be the duty of the person upon whom
said powers and duties shall devolve to issue
proclamation convening Congress in extra
ordinary session, giving 20 days notice of the
time of meeting.
SILVER IN CONGRESS.
There was considerable talk in Congress last
week on the silver question. 1t was nearly all
on one side, by the friends Of the big, round
dollar, against the proposed suspension of coin
age Carefully prepared speeches were de-
lvered in the Senate by Messrs. Pugh (Alal,
Vance On. c., Brown (Ga.), Coke (Tex.), and
Maxcy TEX, and in the Senate by Mr.
Reagan TEX All are sturdy and prominent
Democrats, but they criticized, in the strongest
language, the attitude ofthe administration on
the silver question. This subject promises to
be fruitful theme for debate during the ses-
sion.
PAYING THE PUBLIC DEBT.