Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1886-08-05
XLIXth CONGRESS.

july 27-SENATE-A bill was passed d.
recting the commissioner of labor to make
investigation as to convict labor. The
committee on education and labor report
ed back Senate joint resolution propos-
ing an amendment to the constitution in
relation to alcoholic liquors and other
poisonous beverages. Calendar. The De-
iiciency appropriation bill was discussed
at length. Several items were added to
the bill, all amendments were concurred
In, and the bill passed. The rest Of the
afternoon was spent in secret session, and
at the evening session private pension
bills were discussed, 30 of which were pass
ed, including one granting a pension to
the widow of Gen. Durbin Ward. A bill
was also passed appropriating $3.50 900 for
the establishment OF a military post at or
near Denver.
HoUsE.-Mr. Holman from the Confer
ence Committee on the Legislative, Execu-
tive and Judicial Appropriation bill,
reported a disagreement. Mr.. Holman
stated that the real point Of difference
Senator's clerks. The other points of
difference were more formal than real.
Mr.. Oates moved that the House recede
from the Senator'S clerks amendment.
The motion was lost-yeas 50, nays
II a further conference was order
ed. Mr.. Henley from the Commit
tee on public lands, reported back the
Senate bill FORGETTING certain of the lands
granted to the Northern Pacific railroad
company. The committee recommends
that in lieu Of the Senate bill there be sub
stituted the provisions of the House bill
on the same subject. Mr.. Henley stated
that the difference between the two bills
was that while the Senate bill forfeited
the grant from Wallula Junction to Port
land, the House bill included also the for.
feiture OF the grant from Bismarck to the
Pacific ocean. The House bill forfeited 49,
000,00 acres more than the Senate bill
Some debate followed, and pending action.
the House adjourned.
July 2S-SENATE-The Senate spent the
day in discussing pension bills and the
treasury surplus, but took no definite
action upon either matter.
HoUsE-The House devoted the entire
session to the river and harbor bill, and
after striking out the canal items, another
conference was ordered.
July 2S-SENATE-The conference cor.r
mittee on the river and harbor bill report
ed that they were unable to agree, but the
Senate decided TO insist on its amend
ments to that measure. The Fertilization
bill was taken up and passed, when the
Senate adjourned.
HoUsE.-Thc House spent another day
with appropriation bills, but adjourned
without any action.
July 29.-SENATE.-The Senate proceeded
co the consideration of the House joint
resolution to apply the surplus in the
/ treasury to the payment OF the public
debt, MIR. Blair giving notice that, at the
/ first opportunity, he would call up the We
! toed pension bills according to their order
on the calendar. AT the close of the de-
! bate the Senate agreed to a conference on
| the Northern Pacific Land forfeiture bill,
and after executive session adjourned.
HoUsE.-Pension bills occupied the at
! tenton of the House. About 20 private
bills were BASED before adjournment.
July 30.-SENATE. The Senate resumed
consideration of the House joint resolution
| directing the payment of the surplus in
the treasury on the public debt The reso-
luton was passed, and as passed is as fol-
lows: BE it enacted that whenever the
surplus or balance in the treasury, in
Guiding the amount held for redemption OF
J United States notes, shall exceed the sum
of 500, 100000, it shall be, and is hereby
made, the duty of the secretary OF the
treasury to apply such excess, in sums not
less than sl0OO0OO0 per month during the
existence of any such surplus or excess, to
the payment of the Understanding in
debtedness of the United States, payable
at the option of the government. The sur
plus or balance herein referred TO shall be
the available surplus, ascertained accord,
ing to the form of statement of the United
States treasurer of the assets
and liabilities of the treasury Of the
United States employed on June
made under the provisions of this resolu'
ton until sum equal to the call is in the
| treasury over and above the reserve here
in mentioned; and provided further that
! the Secretary of the treasury in his dis
! erection may have in the Treasury, over
and above the foregoing sums, a working
balance not exceeding twenty million dol
lars; and whenever in the case OF any
extraordinary emergency not now exist
ing, and when, because thereof, In the
opinion of the President the public inter
| ests shall require 1t, he may, by written
order, direct the Secretary of the Treasury
to suspend the further call for the pay.
ment of such Indebtedness for such period
of time as shall be necessary to maintain
the public credit unimpaired, and that
such suspension and the reasons thereof
shall be reported to Congress within ter
days after the next meeting or immediate
ly If Congress shall be in session; that fol
a period of six months after the pas
sage here of, United States trade
dollars, If not defaced, mutilated
or stamped, shall be received at their face
value in payment of all dues to the United
States, and shall not be again paid out OF
in any other manner, issued. That the
holder of any United States trade dollars
during the period aforesaid, on presenta
ton of the same at the office of the treas
urer or any assistant treasurer OF the
United States may receive in exchange
therefor a like amount and value, dollal
for dollar, in standard silver dollars, or m
subsidiary coins at the option of the hold
or of the United States The House bill te
increase the naval establishment was ther
taken up and amended. The amendment:
were agreed to and the bill passed. A con
ference was asked for and Messrs. Came
ron, Hale and Mcpherson appointed con-
ferees. The Senate then adjourned.
HoUsE-The House resumed considera
ton of the vetoed pension bills, and refused
to pass these bills over the PRESIDENT
veto. The Senate interstate commerce
bill, as amended, was passed, and con
ference requested. Mr.. Blanchard sub
mitted the conference report on the rivel
and harbor appropriation bill. The read
ing of the report consumed nearly tive
hours and no time was left for the reading
of the descriptive statement accompany
ing the report, which is signed by only two
of The House conferees. At the evening