, 1888-02-17
Congressional.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 16.-Among other
bills reported in the senate from commit
tees and placed on the calendar was one
to create ports of entry at Tacoma and
Seattle, ". T.
Among the bills introduced and referred
were the following:
By Farwell-To brevet army officers on
the active and retired list.
BY Sabin-To authorize the president
to confer the brevet rank on army officers
Tor brilliant services in Indian cam
paigns.
BY Teller-To authorize citizens of the
United States to return estray cattle from
Mexico to the United States without pay
ment of duties.
A resolution offered by Plumb some
weeks ago directing an inquiry as to the
causes of inefficient mail service was taken
up and agreed to.
Manderson's resolution requiring the
secretary OF war to furnish senators on re-
quest a list of persons to whom copies of
the record of the rebellion are to be issued,
was taken up Henderson said that since
the introduction of the resolution the sec
rotary of war had expressed his readiness
to comply with the request. He contin-
ued by saying that the distribution of pub
lie documents should be made under some
executive officer.
Vest said there was unquestionably a
waste of money in the way of printing
documents.
Teller claimed that much matter in the
departments was kept secret and he pro-
tested against this. He extended his
ideas to saying that he did not believe IN
secret sessions of the senate except, per-
haps, when the senate was considering any
treaty in executive session. He thought
the discussions on combinations should be
public. In reply to questions from other
senators, Teller said that while he did not
think cabinet meetings should be held
publicly, yet when the cabinet came to
a conclusion on any subject. that conclu-
sion was the property of the whole people
and the president had no right to %conce2i
1t. The resolution was adopted.
Morgan offered a resolution, which was
adopted, calling on the secretary of the
Interior for information as to smuggling
over the Mexican border, and calling on
the president for copies of the correspond
ence with the government Of Mexico IN
that subject.
Teller introduced a bill to establish a
land Office at Folsom, N. NJ. Referred.
The senate then adjourned until Mon
day.
The following committee reports were
to-day submitted to the house:
By Adams, Illinois, from the commit
tee on judiciary MISUNDERSTANDING
the first Monday in October as the day on
which congress shall meet. Laid on the
table.
By Claridy, Missouri, from the com
mittee on commerce-To incorporate the
Maritime Canal company of Nicaragua.
Committee of the whole.
By Peel, Arkansas, from the commit
tee on Indian affairs-To divide the great
Sioux reservation into smaller reserva-
lions. House calendar.
By Stone, Kentucky, from the COM
mittee on war claims-Authorizing the
president to appoint three commissioners
of claims. Committee OF the whole.
On motion Of Dickery, Missouri, the
senate amendments were concurred in in
the house bill providing for the appoint
ment of eleven division superintendent
Of the railway mail service.
The house then went into committee Of
the whole on the urgent deficiency bill.
On motion of Cannon, the items for the
payment of salaries of clerks in the office
Of surveyor general were stricken from
the bill.
An amendment was adopted approprl-
ating $4,000 for the payo Of special agents
and necessary expenses to carry out the
provisions of the act for the allotment of
lands in severalty to Indians.
Amendments were adopted appropriate
ing 500, 900 for the support of United
States prisoners and Sc, 900 for the salary
Of ar additional circuit judge in the sec
ond judicial district.
An amendment was adopted directing
the public printer to enforce rigidly the
provisions of the eight hour law.
Having completed the consideration of
bills the committee rose.
The items relative to clerks for surveyor
general, which were stricken out in com
mittee of the whole, were reinstated in
the house. Pending final action on the
bill the house took a recess until s o'clock.
The evening session is to be for debate
only on the Pacific railroad telegraph bill.