The Penn's Grove record., 1888-01-28

NdSIltlRloll, JAN. ~, .
The Speaker and the Democratic
eader of the House were Frustrated by
udden illness the past week and in con-
sequence, little of Importance was done
in that body. Among the bills passed
10y Congress in that time, | name the
act in regard to permissible writing
and printing on third and fourth class
mail matter, which has just become a
law, and the bill appOpriating $3.50
coo for agricultural experiment sta
tons in connection with the various
agricultural colleges throughout the
country.
The House spent a good portion of
one day in iilibustering to prevent con.
sideration of the bill presented by MI.
wilkins. of Ohio, to increase the M
tiOnal bank circulation, which effort
was successful, under the leadership of
Messrs. Weaver. of Iowa and Ander-
SOL, of Kansas. The reminder of the
same day was devoted by the House to
the reception oi the pictures of the
three Massachusetts, Speakers, present.
ed by the old Bay State, and added
to the portrait gallery. There were a
number Of excellent speeches, and the
occasion OF such general interes. that
for the first time during the session,
there WAS not a vacant seat on the floor
OF in the galleries. Among the ora
tors who attracted most attention were
Messrs. Long and Lodge, of Massach-
usetts, and Mr.. Breckenridge, of Ken
lucky.
The first regular appropriation bill
reported is the Pension bill, the amount
proposed being II little over eighty AMI
a quarter million dollars, which is four
millions above the estimate.
In response to petitions from all parts
of the Union, Mr.. Taulbee, of Kentucky
has introduced an iron clad.prohibition
bill for the District of Columbia. but,
with refreshing frankness, that gentle
man, who prides himself on being the
only Democratic prohibitionist in Con-
eiess from his state, admits that there
is N possibility of its passage.
The most important legislation IN the
Senate WAS the passage of the act to
refund the direct tax of 1861, all such
claims to be filled within six years.
An Intellectual attempt was made by
the Southern Senators to include the
tax On cotton.
As to the Blair Educational bill, /
will mention that Ex-Justice VIM.
Strong, of the United States Supreme
Court, retired, is delivering a regular
cause of lectures Oh the Constitution
of the United States before the students
of Columbia, Law school OF this city. f,
His last ltctur, WAS on the first clause
of the eighth section, Article /. "'Tle
Congress shall have power to lay and
collect taxes, duties, imports and excis-
rs, To pay the debts and provide for the
common defense and general welfare
of the United States"
In the course of the remarks of the !
Judge, he was asked by a student if,
in his opinion, the Blair Educational
bill vas constitutional? The Judge
promptly replied, ut is my opinion
that ii is unconstitutional, and this l
believe to he the opinion of the present
bench.
The above opinion from Judge
Strong is undoubtedly a heavy handi.
cap for the Blair bill to carry, for in
probability the Judge but voiced the
opinion of IA majority of the Supreme
What effect it will have on the
of the Blair bill in Congress, it
is impossible to say at this time; but it
can scarcely he f~avorably to that meas