The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1886-12-22
SUMMARY OF CONGRESS.
Senate.

the late ex-President Arthur and the late
Senator Pike. Senator Sherman called the
Senate to order, and Rev. ]. j. Butler deliv-
cred the prayer. Annual re ports ofdepnrt-
ments were laid before the Senate. :. Com
mittees were appointed to notify the House
that the Senate was in session and to wait
upon the President Messrs. Edmunds and
duty .. Senator Williams Of California was
sworn in. q. Some bills and petitions werein-
troduced to forfeit Florida land grants, to
authorize bridges across the Missouri and
East Rivers etc. Recess was then taken
until 2 o'clock, when the Presidents mes
sage was receivedand read.
SECOND DAY.-Three bills and resolutions
relative to the tariff were introduced: MIR. Van
Wyck introduced q bill for placing sugar, mo.
lasses, lumber and timber on the free list;
Mr.. Morrill, resolution declaring that any
tariff legislation at the present time1s mex
pedient; and Mr.. Dawes, resolution in
structing the Finance Committee to report
whether and how the revenues Of the country
can be reduced to the limit Of its expenditures
without injury to business interests. :. The
Senate adjourned on motion OF Mr.. Miller, of
New York, out Of respect to the memories Of
Representatives Beach and Arnot, Of New
York, and Price, of Wisconsin.
THIRD DAY.-Mr. Edmuuds presented a
memorial in favor of a constitutional amend
ment empowering Congress to pass uniform
Referred to the Judiciary Committee. Also
memorial against permitting aliens to pos
ssss large tracts Of land. Same reference. :.
A bill was introduced by Mr.. Hoar provid-
ing for the erection Of monument to the
negro sailors who gave their lives to the pres
servation Of the Government. Mr.. Ingalls,
ofered a resolution calling on the Secretary
Of the Treasury for information as to the
number Of manufacturers Of and wholesale
and retail dealers in oleomargarine who
have paid special taxes under the law Of Au-
gust 2, 1886; in what districts such taxes were
paid. and how many pounds Of oleomargar-
it has been made. Adopted .. Mr.. Blair
spoke in favor of the bill proposing an
amendment to the Constitution Of theUnited
States extending the right Of suffrage to
women. A message was received from the
President transmitting the correspondence
On the fisheries question, and the Senate inn
mediately went into executive session
FOURTH DAY.-Mr. Sewell introduced a
bill for the redemption Of trade dollars. 80.
Mr.. Morrill, spoke in favor Of thefoIlowing
resolution regarding the tariff, introduced
by him: ''The promise Of making any re:
vision Of the tariff in spirit of fairness to
all interests, not to injure any domestic in.
dustries bu5 to promote their healthy growth,
so that any change Of law must be at every
step regardful of the labor and capital in
volved, and without depriving American Ia
Dor of the ability to compete success. ully
with foreign labor, and without imposing
lower rates of duty than will be ample to
cover any increased cost Of production which
may exist in consequence of the higher rate
of wages prevailing in this country, appears
so obviously hopeless and impracticable that
any further attempts at revision by the pres
ent Congress in contravention to the forego-
ing cardinal declarations are to be regarded
as inexpedient and detrimental to the revival
Of the trade and industry Of the country"
Me ;srs. Beck and Sherman also took part in
the discussion.
House.
FIRST DAY. - When Speaker Carlisle
raped the House to order for the opening Of
the second session of the Forty-ninth Con-
gre;s, there was full attendance Of men,
beIs aud large number of spectators. The
desks Of various Representatives were
decked with beautiful floral offerings. The
Chaplain in his opening lprayer feelingly re-
ferred to the deaths of Representatives Beach
sponded. .Messrs. Regan, Breckenridge
(ky.), and Reed we're designated a commit.
tee to notify the Pre- ident that the House
awaited his pleasure. .Messrs. s. s. Cox
and Henry Bacon Of New York, and b. W.
Hush, Of Maryland, were sworn in. Re
cess was taken until o'clock, when the Presi-
dents message was received and read.
SECOND DAY.-Bills and resolutions were
introduced rs follows: By Mr.. Adams, of
Illinois-1o change the law In relation to the
amount Of United States bonds required to
L. han
ity for their circulating notes By Mr..
Peters, of Kansas-For the deposit of gold or
silver coin or bullion as security for national
bank circulation. By Mr.. Parker, Of New
York-To amend the Oleomargarine bill SO
as to make the tax q cents pound. Referred
to the Committee on Agriculture By Mr.
Cox, of New York-To prevent Government
officials from receiving two salaries. -. Mr..
Caldwell, of Tennessee, called up for consid-
GRAFTON and advocated the Electoral Count
bill.
THIRD DAY.-Mr. Boutelle Me.) asked for
unanimous consent to put upon its passage
bill admitting free Of duty material to be
lsed in rebuilding the town of Eastport, Me-,
which was destroyed by fire October IA, 1885.
Mr.. Bre, ,kenridge (Ark.) objected to the i'm
Mediate consideration of the bill, expressing
The opinion that the people Of the whole
were as much in need Of relief
rom taxation as the people of Eastport. He
was glad to find the gentleman from Maine
,onfessiEg that the tariff was tax; and he
would insist that the bill should take the reg
liar course and be sent to the committee
which had charge of the subject Of taxation
The bill was referred to the Committee on
Ways and Means The Electoral Count bill
vas debated until adjournment,
FOURTH DAY.-Mr. Forney (Ala-l from
the Committee of Conference on the Fortifi-
cation Appropriation Bill, reported con-
tinued disagreement. A further conference
was ordered. d. Mr.. Payson ILL., from the
Committee on Public Lands, reported back
the bill to restrict the ownership of real es-
tate in the Territories to American citizens
with Senate amendments thereto. The
were non-concurred in and q
conference ordered. .. The bill extending the
free delivery system was passed, with an
providing that the system may
be extended to every place containing a
of not less than 10000 within its
corporate limits, according to the last gen.
erai census taken bv authority Of State or
United States law. or to any postoffice
which produce gross revenue for the pre-
ceding fiscal year Of not less than SlO.OO0...:
The Electoral Count bill was taken up, and
after being amended was TaSSed. MessrS.
Weaver, and Hat b spoke in favor OF, and
Messrs Breckenridge, Gibson, Reagan and
Tucker in opposition to the bill creating
Of Agriculture and Labor: -.
Mr.. Randall reported the Sundry Civil APP
bill.