Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1886-05-12
DOENGS Nv CONGRESS.


DOINGS IN CONGREss.
Senate.
MONDAY, May 3.-Mr. Hoar, from the
committee on privileges and elections, re-
ported favorably Senator Ingalls, Joint reso-
luton proposing an amendment to the con-
stitution providing the the Both of April
shall hereafter be substituted for the 4th
of March as the beginning of the official
term of the president, vice-president and
the Congress. Mr.. Dolph reported from
the committee on public lands an original
bill to repeal all laws providing for the pre-
emption of public lands, laws allowing en-
tries for timber culture and for other pur-
poses. He said it was designed to be offered
as substitute for the bill on the same sub
ject already reported from the committee.
TUESDAY, May 4.-The post-office appro-
priation bill was taken up and considerable
discussion followed on the proposed appro-
priation of 100000 for the carriage Of
United States mails to Central and South
America, China, Japan, etc. The amend
ment was finally agreed to. Other amend
ments were agreed to and the bill was pass
ed by vote Of As to TO- The committee
on finances reported favorably the bill to
tax fractional parts of gallon of whisky.
WEDNESDAY, May 5.-The Interstate
commerce bill was taken up and Senator
Spooner delivered an address against the
short and long haul principle. The Senate,
in executive session, cleared it's calendar of
nominations. The only confirmation made
public is that of q. M. Zulick, to be govern
or of Arizona. The nomination of r. s.
Dement, to be survey general of Utah. adj
versely reported from the public lands COM
mittee, was recommitted. The rejection of
Chas. r. Pollard to be associate justice of
the supreme court of Montana la officially
announced. L. Hardness has been nom
mated for postmaster at Berlin, Wis.
THURSDAY, May 6.-The Interstate COM
merce bill was again discussed at length.
The Chinese bills were made the special or
der for May 10.
MONDAY, May 3.-The House adopted
the conference report on the Indian appro-
priation bill; also conference reports on
various bills authorizing the construction
of bridges and on the Fourth of July
claims bill. The House decided that it's
sessions after May 10 should be from IL
A. NJ. to P. M, and passed number Of
public building bills. Mr.. Bean (Ariz.) in
PRODUCED bill authorizing the President
to offer a reward OF S25, 900 for the killing
or capture of Geronimo.
TUESDAY, May 4.-The House adopted
after lengthy debate the resolution OF the
ma jority Of the committee on elections con-
frming the right of J. B. Weaver, of the
Sixth Iowa District to his seat. Mr.. Green
IN. j. called up the resolution allowing the
contestee, William A. Price, from the Sec
ond District OF Rhode Island, thirty days
within which to take further testimony,
and the contestant, G. II. Page, thereafter
to take testimony in rebuttal. After an ex-
tended discussion the resolution was
adopted. The House at the evening ses-
sion passed a number of bills reported
from the military committee, including one
to regulate the promotion OF graduates of
the military academy, and another to re-
move the charge of desertion standing
against any soldier by reason Of his having
enlisted in any regiment without first hav-
ing received a discharge from the regiment
in which he previously served; also, appro-
priating $780, 900 for additional barracks
at the Southern, Northwestern and West
ern branches of the National Home for dis
abled volunteers.
WEDNESDAY, May 5.-The day was set
aside for the consideration of business re-
ported from the committee on military af-
fairs, but no business of Importance was
transacted.
THURSDAY, May Reconsideration Of the
river and harbor appropriation bill having
been completed in the committee OF the
whole the measure came before the House.
The only amendment reported from the
committee upon which a separate votew
demanded was that directing the secretary
of war to negotiate for the purchase of the
works of the Monongahela Navigation Com
peny. 1t was agreed to. Several other
amendments were rejected, and the bill
passed by a vote of 143 to 1O2. A report
was received from the committee on rail-
roads and canals appropriating $4,000
for the survey of water route to connect
the waters Of Detroit River with Lake
Michigan.
FRIDAY, May IA greater part of the
session was taken up in discussing a per-
sonal claim and the Military Academy ap-
bill. The committee on post
offices and post-roads instructed Repre-
sentative Merriman to report favorably q
bill to ratify the construction given by
Postmaster General Gresham and his sue
cessors to the act ofMarch 3, 1885, author
izing the postmaster. general to readiust the
salaries OF third and fourth class postnas-
ters.
SATURDAY. May S.-The President re-
turned without his approval two private
pension bills. The House went into COM
mittee OF the whole on the Military Acad-
envy appropriation bill, which appropri-
ates $297 ,SO5. The bill was read by
sections and no objections being made the
committee rose and the House passed the
bill, after which the army appropriation
bill was taken up in committee of the
whole, but without making much progress
the committee rose and the House a6-
lourned.