, 1888-01-19
FROM THE CAPITAL.
A Dull Day in Both Houses of
Congress.
National Democratic Committee
Will Meet Feb. %.
Remarkable Claim of a Ken
lucky Regiment.
Congressional

WASHINGTON, Jan. lS.-The senate
committee on interstate commerce this
morning decided to grant n hearing next
Wednesday to counsel for express com
panies upon the Cullom bill to extend the
application ofthc interstate law to express
companies.
Plumb's bill prohibiting the granting
Of passes by railroads to special persons
that is, members of congress and govern
ment emploves-and Buffers bill to
license railroad conductors, were referred
to subcommittee.
Farwell introduced a bill to authorize
the secretary of the treasury to apply the
surplus money in the treasury to the pur-
chase OF United States bonds and to per-
petuate the national banking system by
providing further securities.
In the house Stone-of Missouri, from
the committee on public lands, reported
a resolution calling on the secretary of the
interior for information as to what legis-
lation is necessary for the disposition of
public timber lands so as to secure Mt the
same time the preservation of the natural
forest lands at the head waters of navi-
gable rivers, and put within reach of
settlers legal means for providing them
selves with timber for building and do
nestle purposes. Adopted.
Plumb, of Illinois asked unanimous con-
sent to offer for immediate consideration
a preamble and resolution. The pream
bic recites that the secretary of the treas
ury acting id accord with the views of the
president, has paid out of the revenues
collected from imports the sum of$2, S52,-
OBS in premiums to holders of govern
ment bonds, assuming that in no other
way under existing laws can the require,
ments of the sinking fund be met, hut by
the terms of the refuuding act all of
the bonds called 4 per cents are payable
at the pleasure of the United States for
thirty years from the date of their issue, a
provision which, if understood and acted
upon in accordance with its manifest
meaning and intention, makes possible not
only the payment OF said bonds as fast as
any surplus available for such purpose
may accumulate in the treasury. but the
%rIiunding OF the same at q rate of inter
est that would save to the taxpayers more
than 5000, 900. 900. said refundinG act,
however. has, it appears without due au
thority, been so altered and published in
the statutes as to read payable at the
pleasure of the United States after thirty
years, y as voted, thus entirely subyerting
the manifest meaning of the provisions Of
the act. The resolution calls for a com
mittee of five members to make a careful
examination ofthe facts connected with the
subject. The resolution was not adopted.
The house then went into committee OF
the whole (Stone of Kentucky in the chair,
on the agricultural experiments bill
which ap%propriatcs $5S5, 900 to carry into
effect the provisions of the act of March
1887, to establish agricultural experiment
stations in connection with colleges estab.
lished in the several states. After q
brief debate the committee rose and the
bill passed.
Wilkinson, Ohio, then called up the
banking bill as unfinished business. An
effort was made by friends and opponents
of the measure tocome TO some agreement
by which the bill might be open to final
discussion and the offering of amend
ments and dilatory motions abandoned,
but it was unsuccessful, owing to the an
nouncement by Weaver of Iowa that he
would not surrender his right to antagon-
lze the bill at any time by any means in
his power. He raised fhe question of
consideration and he was determined to
resist the bill. Flibustering motions were
then submitted. This was continued for
some time, when upon motion of Wilkins
the house adjourned.