The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1886-12-30
NEWS CONDENSED.
Concise Record of the Week.
DOINGS OF CONGRESS.

The Senate unanimously adopted a resolu-
ton December 20, authorizing the acceptance
OF tho tract OF land ut Highwood, ILL.,, donated
by tho Chicago Commercial Club for n military
post A bill was introduced for the extirpation
OF contagious diseases among cattle. lt creates
a commission of three, whose service shall end
when the disease is eradicated, and oppropri-
ates 81 900, 900 for the work proposed. Mr.. Vest
introduced substitute for the DILL To incorporate
the Atlantic and Pacific ship Railway Com
pany, and stated that il simply provided for
naked incorporation of the company without
any guarantee by the Government IL was
made the special order for the second Tuesday
in January. Among the petitions presented
and referred in the Senate were several III IA
vor of the reduction of the tax on oleomar-
garine. The House of Representatives refused
to suspend the rules and pass the bill lncreas-
ing the duties on Sumatra tobacco. Bills were
introduced TO appropriate SlOO,O0O for the cree
ton of monument 10 negro soldiers
and sailors who lost their lives in the
rebellion, to forbid the sale Of liquors
within the limits Of any soldiers home, and
to punish the passing OF Confederate money.
The Weaver resolution calling on Secretary
Manning for certain information concerning
Cancelled Treasury notes was adopted Mr..
Townshend introduced a. resolution in the
House that the Secretary Of the Treasury be
requested to ascertain whether any National
Banking Association in New York City has dur
ing the present month loaned its surplus funds
to stock iobbers without security, and merely
upon receipt OF interest on the same for tho
purpose of enabling the spectators TO lock up
and prevent the use Of money in business trans
actions and thereby produce scarcity OF
money and greatly increase the rate OF interest
on loans.
Mr. CULLoM called up the conference report
on the interstate commerce bill in the Senate
Dec 81, and stated that he would defer calling
for action on the matter until after the holt
days There presented to the Senate q
commul caton from tine supervising architect
OF the 3reasury showing the necessity Of ad
dtional vaults for the storage of silver, and
petition from sixty ministers of the Nebraska
Conference in favor Of the Chinese indemnity
bill. bill appointing James Is. Angel, OF
Michigan, member Of the Board of Regents OF
the Smithsonian Institution passed the Senate
The House OF Representatives refused TO con-
slider Presidential veto of private pension
bill.
A RESOLUTION instructing the Committee on
Finance to inquire into and report what specific
reductions can be made in the customs duties
and internal taxes that will reduce taxes 70
the necessary and economical expenses OF the
Government, without impalrng the prosperity
OF home industries or the compensation OF homo
labor, was taken up aud adopted IN the Senate
Dec -. Senator Blair introduced bill making
comprehensive changes in the pension laws.
Tho bill practically removes the limitation OF
the arrears OF pension act and makes the fact
of enlistment in the service OF the United
States evidence of physical soundness at the
time of enlistment. II enlarses the classes OF
persons To be entitled TO the Dement'S OF the pen
sion lave so rs 10 include all who may nave been
disabled while actually engaged in the service
OF the United States, whether they were mus
tered or not. 1t also grants pension to all fe-
male nurses in the late war who shall have
arrived ut the age of 80 years, and are without
the means OF comfortable support. IL pro-
vides that there shall be two classes OF pen
sionable disabilities-viz., specific and non spe-
cihc Non-specihc disability is defined as
one the nature and degree OF which cannot be
determined without the aid of evidence Of
medical examination. The pensionable disa-
bilitiss nro graded from one TO twenty accord
ing to the degree OF injury received. In the
House OF Representatives, u bill relative to the
construction and maintenance OF telegraph
lines by land grant railroads was reported from
the Committee on Postofices and Post Roads
bT Mr.. Warner, OF Ohio. The object of the
measure is to compel subsidized railroads to
maintain their own telegraph lines. Both houses
of Congress adjourned until Tuesday, Jan 4.