Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1888-02-17
CONGRESSIONAL SUMMARY.

F%PBRUARY z, SENATE-A bill TO grant a
pension of fl2 per month TO army nurses
was reported fayorably from the commit
lee on pensions. The committee on
finance reported ~favorably IA bin Tor the
relief Of importers Of live stock Tor Dreed.
ing PURPOSES. the bill authorizes ana
directs the secretary OF the treasury TO
remit all duties which may nave accrued
against such importations. The senate
resumed consideration OF the resolution
TO refer the presidents message, and Mr..
Platt resumed the speech which he com
menced Yesterday. lie wanted the demo
cratic party To follow its leader, TO obey
its commander, To take oil the mask ana
have a square night on the issue presented
by tue president. The benefits OF protec-
ton, said Mr.. flatt, were as extensive as
the country's boundaries. Protection was
the policy OF united America IN It's COM
petition to the world. After an e1ecu-
tive session the senate adjourned. The
senate in secret session gave further con-
sideration TO the British eXtradltion
treaty, and after IA session OF an hour and
"a half al burned without acslon.
HOUsF.-Mr. Seney, from the judiciary
committee, reported adversely JOINT reso-
lutions proposing constitutional amend
ments fixing hours of labor and IN relation
TO the liquor traffic. The hrst or these
resolutions was laid on the table. but the
last was, at the request of Mr., BarNer OF
ew \ DIRK, placed on the calendar. Mr..
CaswCi OF Wisconsin, from the same COM
mittee, reported "A bill amending the act
restricting ownership OF lands IN the Ter
rltories to American citizens. Mir. spring
er of Illinois, from the committee on ter
ritories, reported "A bill TO organize the
Territory of Oklahoma out OF that portlon
OF the Indian Territory not occupied by
the five civilized tribes. The resolution
calling on the secretary OF the treasury
Tor detailed information relative 10 tue
recent policy of the department in pur
chasing bonds with the surplus ana the
present policy OF depositing publlc FUNDS
with a large number OF national banks was
adopted. \ bin was passed Tor the
appointment OF eleyen Division Su-
perintendents OF the Railway Mail Ser
vice, at "a salary OF $500 each. This Is an
increase of two over the number now
authorized. y bill was passed TO relieve
certain appointed or enlisted men OF the
navy and marine corps from the charge
of desertlon. 1t relieves from the charge
of desertlon such appointed or enlisted
men in the naval service who can show
upon satisfactory evidence that he served
until the expiration OF has term OF enlist
ment or until May !, Ito, or was prevent
ed from completing his term Of service by
reason OF wounds received or disease con-
tracted in the line OF duty, and who failed
TO be mustered out. " hen the charge OF
desertiOn is removed from such a man, or
in the case of his death his heiis, shall re-
ceIVe all pay or bounty withheld on ac-
count OF the charge OF desertion. All APP
plications for relief under this act must
be fled within five years after its passage.
February :, S~ENATE.-Ihe resolution
offered some time ago by Mr.. Frye, in
structing the committee on foreign rela-
tons to prepare "a statement showing the
political organization OF the dominion of
Canada and OF the several provinces of
which 10 is composed and of the geo
graphical relations sustained by them TO
the United states and various other mat
tiers, was taken up and adopted. The bill
renting duties upon animals imported
for breeding purposes was passed. The
remainder OF the session was occupied 10y
Mr.. Riddleberger of vi ginia, 10 have the
British eXtradition treaty considered in
open session.
HoUsE-February % was assigned for
the delivery of ~eulogies on the late Rep
resentative Moffatt OF Michigan. The
house resumed consideration OF the bill
making bills of ladlng conclusive evidence
and after debate 1T was passed. The bill
sets forth that whenever any common
carrier or his authorized agent delivers a
bill of lading purpOrtlng 10 be for mer-
chandiSe received for transportation from
one state TO another, such bill OF ladlng in
the hands Of any bona ide holder who re-
Quires the same in the course of trade
without notice of defect shall be conclu-
sive evidence that the goods described
therein were actually received by such
carrier.
FEBRUARY 9. SENATE.-A vote having
been taken in secret session that further
consideration of the British extradition
treaty be postponed until next December,
MIR. Riddleberger's motion that the treaty
be considered in open session was with
drawn. The remainder OF the session was
occupied in the discussion OF appropria-
tions for public buildings.
HoUsE.-Mr. Tarsney of Michigan, from
the committee on labor, reported the bill
for the adjustment of accounts oflaborers
arising under the eight-hour law. Com.
mittee of the whole. Mr.. Nutting OF New
York offered q resolution reciting the
resolutions adopted at "A convention OF
seamen in Toledo, o., In January last, de-
nouncing the overlooking of vessels on the
great lakes and calling upon the secretary
of the treasury for Information as to
whether there Is any rule, order or regula-
ton of the department the enforce ment OF
which would prevent such overlooking.
Referred. Mr. Nutting also introduced "a
bill TO prevent the overlooking of vessels
on the great lakes. The house passed a
hill disseminating the coinage OF the three
cent piece. The bill requiring the subsi-
died railways to maintain and operate
telegraph lines was taken up, After dis
cussing pro and con, the matter went over
and the discussion Will probably be re-
suned ON Saturday, and the House ad-
journed.
resolution directing the Postmaster-Gen-
eral 70 inquire into and inform the house
of the cause and the foundation for the
grievances complained OF IN a Kansas
newspaper regarding the western mail
service and also to inform the house
whether the almost universal complaint
prevailing in the west against the present
unsatisfactory mail service results from
the employment OF inexperienced and in
capable employees or insufficient appro-
priations, occupied the attention of the
house during the session. The resolution
was adopted after the adoption of an
amendment inserting the word alleged be
fore the word complaint.