The National tribune., 1888-12-13
CONGRESS.
An Abstract of the More Important
Proceedings in Both Houses.


the Senate substitute for the Mills tariff bill,
and considered il for one hour, adjourning at
l o'clock p. m.i
In the House, the tactics of last session were
resumed on motion Of Mr. Kilgore (Texas) on
the bill for the erection of monument to Gen.
Knox of Revolutionary fame, the Member from
Texas making the point of no Quorum and OBJ
structiug legislation for the day, the calling of
the roll being about the only business transact
ed. The House adjourned at o'clock P. m.
THURSDAY, Dec. 6.
In the Senate, communication from the
Secretary of State with certified copy of the
final ascertainmeut of Presidential Electors in
Kansas, was presented. The presiding officer
asked the opinion OF the Senate this being an
entirely new proceedingl rs to the disposition
to be made of the REPRESENTATION they should
be entered on the journal or placed In the ar
chives of the Senate. He added that similar
cert fcates from the States Of Maryland, North
Carolina and Georgia had been also transmitted
by the Secretary of State. The provision Of
the law of February, 1887, was read, and was
found to require the Secretary of State to trans
NIT copies of such certificates TO the two Houses
of Congress. The letters of transmttal and
the copies of the certificates were referred to
the Committee on Privileges and Elections.
The Senate resumed the consideration of the
tariff BILL beginning with Schedule b, which
covers earthenware and glassware. Mr. Nc
Pherson said that. to his mind, the rates of du-
ties provided in the Senate bill were an in
crease on the existing rates. His own State
was largely interested III those industries,
but he did not believe that they need
ed the amount of protection proposed.
No amendment, except as to two formal
changes of phfaseol0gy, was made to Schedule
b, aud the Senate proceeded to the eOnsidera-
ton of Schedule G, relating to metals
Mr.. Plumb called attention TO the paragraph
as to beams, grders and joists; spoke of the
iron and steel combinations in this country,
and instaneed the cases of the Government
building at Wichita Kan, which had effected
| large saving by contracting for such work
abroad, and of the State House of Texas, where
the saving he had been informed, amounted to
| 100000. He moved to amend by reducing
| the rate from 1 lilo cents per pound to $40
cents.
Mr.. Harris called attention to the fact that the
existing duty on these articles was equivalent to
an ad valorem rate of 1925 per cent; that the
rate of 6-l0 cents per pound proposed in the
House bill was equivalent to 44.32 per cent,
and that the rate proposed in the Senate sub
stitute was equivalent to 90.42 per cent. He
moved to amend the amendment by fixing the
| rate Clio cents per pound.
The discussion was continued by Senators
Aldrich. Harris. Hoar, Butler, Plumb and
Payne, but no vote was taken on the pending
progress during the day being about eight pages.
MIR. Butler introduced joint resolution pro-
posing Constitutional amendment charging
the Presidential term of Office TO six years.
Laid on the table. The Senate at o'clock ad-
journed till Monday.
Ia the House, the Speaker read communiea-
ton from Hon. Perry Belmont resignng his
seat as the Member of Congress from the First
| Congressional District of New York, aud his
| name was ordered stricken from the roll of the
House.
On motion of Mr. Caswell (Wis) the House
went into Committee of the Whole on the direct
tax bill. Mr. Caswell explained that the simple
purpose of the bill was to refund to the States
| and individuals who paid the tax that portion
of the direct tax which was collected. After q
| careful computation he was able to state that
the bill carried Sl5,227 ,632 This did not in
| Guide the Is per cent commission allowed the
States or parties who paid the tax. The amount
TO be cancelled now uucolleeted was s., 562 40l.
| Dir. Oates (Ala.) said that the first ground of
| his opposition to the measure was that there
WAS no authority conferred upon Congress by
the Constitution to pass the bill or to make the
appropriation provided for. If it was the inten-
ton to pass this bill in order to equalize tax
alton, he insisted that Congress should 90 fur
! Their and refund the cotton tax and correct
other abuses more glaring than had arisen I'M
| der the act of 1861.
Mr.. Barnes tJ3.) opposed the direct tax bill,
and advocated the refunding of the cotton tax.
Mr.. Enloe (Tenn.) proposed an amendment
refunding the cotton tax, and providing that
| such amounts as cannot be paid to the persons
| who paid the tax shall be turned over to the
school fund of the States interested.
| Mr.. Stewart LGa.) also opposed the measure
as unwise legislation. The House adjourned
at $50 o'clock p. m.
FRIDAY, DEC 8.
The Senate was not In session to-day.
| In the House the bill to incorporate the
! Maritime Canal Company of Nicaragua was
| taken up, and consumed the entire days ses-
sion.
| The House took recess at 4:30 o'clock D. m
| The evening session was called to order ut
! 7:30 o'clock, aud was entirely devoted to the
consideration of private pension bills, quite a
| large number of bills being passed The House
adjourned at 10 o'clock p. a. until Monday,
! Dec. 10.
MONDAY, DEC. 10.
In the Senate, after the morning hour, Mr.
! Frye (Me) submitted a resolution instructing
the Committee on Foreign Affairs TO inquire
| into the condition of affairs in the Samoan
| Islands as far as the interests aud rights of
| American citizens residing there were affected
! the relations of the United States to those
islands and her obligations under existing
treaties; the necessity of maintaining the neu-
| traiity or independence OF the islands: what
iekr- Ea1 10. I. - IL