Hillsboro recorder., 1888-05-31
WASHINGTON NEWS.
HOW CONGRESS rs SPENDING
ITS TIME AND ENERGY.
OFFICIAL ACTS OF THE PREsIDENT-AP.
poINTMENTs AND REMoyALs--wHERE
THE NATIONS MONEY aoEs-GossIP.
CONGRESSIONAL.

VI my cOileagueS nome ana mas sttlcken
down at his side the companion of his
lifelong term. Many Senators on both
sides of the chamber have intimated TO
me desire TO testify their respect for my
colleague, and their sympathy for him in
his sorrow, by attending the obsequies Of
Mrs. Sawyer, which are to occur at
o'clock. To enable such Senators to do
so, ! move that the Senate do now ad-
iourn.n The motion was agreed to, and
the Senate adjourned !. The House went
into committee Of the whole, Mr.. Tur-
ner, Of Georgia, In the chair, on the
postofiice appropriation bill. Mr..
Blount, Of Georgia, explained that the
bill carried an appropriation Of SEQ, ,035,-
$40 against an appropriation Of S55,-
604, $50 for the current fiscsl year. In
the appropriation for clerks in postoffices,
there was substantial increase Of
$3.50, 900, which was made at the request
Of the Postmaster General, and which
was required TO meet the increasing needs
Of business. There were organizations
among postal clerks, among postoffice
clerks and among railroad clerks for the
purpose OF securing an increase Of sala-
ries. They did not come before the
committee, but were in the habit OF
formulating their bills and placing them
in the hands Of some prominent member,
and in this way they expect to drive
Congress to conclusions contrary to the
proper methods of legislation. SO far a.
he was concerned, be represented, not
Office holders alone, but the great mass
Of the people who paid taxes
and would Withstand any un.
reasonable increase Of salaries.
A general debate upon the bill followed,
participated in by dozen members, but
Il possessed slight interest beyond the
fact that there was general expression
that some additional compensation ought
TO be provided fourth-clnss postmasters.
The bill was then read by sections for
amendment.
The Senate proceeded TO the consider
alton Of unfinished business on Tuesday,
being the House bill 10 establish de-
partment of labor, and II passed. The
bill provides for department OF labor,
one general design, the duties Of which
shall be to acquire and diifuse among the
people Of the United States, useful infor.
nation on subjects connected With the
department, in the most general and
comprehensive sense OF that word, and
especially upon its relation TO capital,
hours Of labor, earnings Of laboring men
and women, and means Of promoting
their material, socisl. intellectual and
moral prosperity. The personnel is TO
consist OF commissioner TO be appointed
by the President, by and with the advice
and consent Of the Senate, who Is to hold
Office for four years, and receive a salary
Of IS, 900, chief clerks, stsnographers, va.
rious minor clerks, copy.sts and messcn'
gers. A number Of bills were taken
from the calenderan passed, among them
House bill 10 authorize the construction
Of bridge across the Tennessee riyeI
at Knoxville, Tenn, with amendments.
The House bill appropriating S42O, OOC
for the enlargement aud repairs Of the
public building u Atlanta. The Senate
bill granting TO corporate authoritie:
| Of Tuscaloosa, Ala, fractions Of sections
% and IS of public lands south Of Back
Warrior River. Senate bill to amend the
law making an annual appropriation K
provide arms and equipments for military
increasing the amount 20 $600,000)
senate bin appropriating $50, 900 for th,
improvement and enlargement OF thu
public building at Petersburg, Va
senate bin appropriating SIO0, 900 for !
public building at YicksbuFg, Miss.
| In the House, Mr.. Crisp, Of Georgia
presented the conference report on th'
| BIN 20 bridge Cape Fear, Blacl
and North East Rivers In Ncrtl
Cuolina, and Il was agreed to
Tho floor was thon accorded 70 the com
mittec on labor, and Mr.. 0'Neill, of Mis-
souri,, chairman Of the committee, callet
up the bill 10 coniine the sale Of the pro
ducts OF convict labor 20 the state II
which they are produced. Mr.. Cannon
Of Illinois, Offered IN amendment prohib
iting the importation for commercial
purposes Of all goods, wares or merchan
disc from any foreign country 10 Oh
United States which, In whole or in part
was manufactured or produced by con
yict labor, and prescribing penalties 70
the violation Of this prohibition. Adopt
cd. The previous question was then OF
dered--yeas, 1855, nays, "A, on the G,
grossmcnt and third reading Of the bill.
Among the memorials presented to th
genatc was one from several Of the larl
, est TOBACCO rrms IN ~. Louis, askin
, that nll licenses and restrictions on u
esle or leaf tobacco be removed; the Il
ON manufactured tobacco fixed At tN
cents per pound; and the present sysie
: Of packing and stamping retained. u
/ Morrill,. from the committee on publ
: buildings and grounds, reported bl
, approprialiug $4,000 for making q
: west end Of Smithsonian building fiI
proof. The bill passed. The bill autho
Q izinu the construction Of bridge aero
4 the Tennessee river at Guntsrsyillc, Ali
: was reported from the committee ~
placed on the calendar Senate amen
: inents 10 the pension appropriation b
; were non.concurfcd in BY the House, u
9 a conference ordered. The hour was GO
sumcd in referring TO appropriate COZ