Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1888-12-13
DOINGS OF CONGRESS
'IMPokTANrM MEASURES coNsIDERED
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THE second session Of the Fiftieth Congress-
convened on Monday. Dec s. About thirty
senstors and 2so Representatives were present.
The usual committees were appointed by each
house 10 inform the other branch that IL was
the, President that Congress was ready
TO y receive any communications he de.
sired TO make, after which both houses
took a recess. At the conclusion Of the recess
the Presidents message was received and read
in each house, its delivery occupying an hour
tiohs oft which discuss the questions of tarift
Ieyisien, treasury surplus, fishery troubles and
The West incident were listened to with very
close attention and apparent interest, In the
House that portion OF the message In which
the Presidentl treats Of sthe tariff question
both sse Of the Hoss Sow Dy ana Sss
appear Upon the facc Of some enthusiastic Re
ppblicen, but the silence was not broken until
the clerk read. IN clear voice -The cause for
which the battleis waged is comprised within
lines clearly and distinctly defined, 1t should
never becoinpromisod ltis the peoples cause"
Then the Democrats could no longer restrain
their feelings and broke into a round OF ap-
with laughter The reading Of the message in
either house being finished was, on motion
properly referred aud ordered printed. The
horal decorations OF both halls OF Congress were
unusually elaborate, and especially were hand
some and fragrant bouquets to be seen upon the
desks OF members who had been worsted in the
late election. The blind chaplain, In his prayer
thanked God that since the last session not q
member Of the House had been -called home by
death, whereat a sad smile was seen to pass
over the faces of some of the statesmen who
have been called home by their constituents
The galleries were well fned by prominent
ladies', Mrs Cleveland occupying . conspicuous
seat as did wives OF members OF the Cabinet.
A BILL for the establishment In the Interior
Departm mt Of Bureau Of Health. to be under
the direction OF Commissioner, who shall re-
csiye an annual salary-of %, 900, was introduced
in the Stnate the 4th inst, by Senator Gibson.
II has large number OF provisions. Three
Representative McRae introduced bills similar
in their provisions, to allow persons who havs
been forced by drought, etc, TO abandon or
another entry. A similar bill was passed by
both houses last year Just before the close OF the
reason that it did not reach the President in
time for hts signature before Congress adjourn
ed In the House Macdonald (Minn.) presented
petition of citizens of North Dakota for tho
immediate admission into the Union Of South
Dakota and Montana, and for Constitutional
Conventions in North Dakota, Washington, and
New. Mexico Referred 70 the Committee ON
Territories. Representative Stone (KyJ intro
duced joint resolution in the House pro-
posing an amendment to the Constitution
providing that the President and Vice Pres
ident shall be chosen every fourth year by
the direct votes OF the people. Tho resolution
OF each State to count the votes for State OFF,
GERS shall also count the vote OF the State for
President and Vice President, certify the result
under oath, and transmit the same TO the proper
officers OF the Government before the second
Monday in December next succeeding the cleo
tion. A paragraph OF the joint resolution for
III AlIls La. a.
except for members Of Congress. on the day set
apart for the election of President and Vice
President.
WHEN the tariff bill was taken up in tho Sem
ate on the 5th inst, Mr.. harris moved to lay the
Senate substitute for the Mills bill on the tsble.
Tho motion was defeated by a strict party vote
yeas, ID; nays, ~; An emendmtn mt to the TO-
ba co section, offered by Mr.. Vance,
ducjng the limit OF claim for rebate from 80
to %. was rejected. as were several
was agreed to without division pro-
vides that whom the health or life OF prisoner
by close confinement the Judge, may issue an
order providing Tor such prisoners reasonable
comfort and well-being. vote was taken ON
amotion mado by Mr.. Mcpherson TO strike out
all the sections as to alcohol used I'm manufac-
lures and it was rejected-yeas, u; nays, 20.
After disposing.o OF thirty pages OF the bill and
ceedel TO executive business and soon after
adjourned The House passed the bill to quiet
the title of settlers on the Des Moines ki,er
lands in Iowa. AS passed., the bill provides that
any person who, in good faith, may have settlel
or may here after settle on and improve any
tract Of public lands title Of which Is be-
tbs time of said settlement, for the
purpose Of perfseting his title under
plead in support Of his title 10 said land againss
any party or parties-other than the United
States-claiming the same, the title OF the
United States as fully AMI completely as the
same might be done by the United States itself.
Delegate Gifford's bill to amend the law pro-
viding for the division OF the Sioux ssrvation
in Dakota was presented to the House, Tbs
House ordered the printing OF 1900 copies Of
tho Pres s.dent's message. f9 4 d
The tariff bin was further considered by the
Senate on the 9Th inst. No vote was taken on
any OF the amendments offered. ana after eight
pages had been gone over the bill was laid aside
Resolutions were adopted continuing the select
Committees on Meat Products and on skela-
tions with Canada. A resolution passed calling
on the secretary OF the Treasury for infor-
nation as to the expenditures in the public
building at Wichita, Nan The senate received
/ tihcetes OF Presidential electors In Kansas,
Maryland, North Carolina, and Georgia, and
they were referred TO the COMMITTEES on Priv
ileges and Elections Mr. Butler introduced a
Joint resolution proposing constitutional
amendment enlarging the Presidential term OF
ONCE TO six years, which was laid on the table
The principal part OF the day was aken up I'm
the House in the discussion OF the direct-tax
bin. The usual resolution for the distribution
OF the Presidents message was reported from
the Committee OF Ways and Means by Mr.
McMillin and adopted by the House.
AREsoLUTIoN calling on the Secretary OF the
Treasury for Information MS to what relief can
be furnished by tho revenue-cutter service and
the liic-saving service to American whaling
and hshipg vessels wrecked in Behring bea
or tho Arctic Ocean, was adopted by the
House ON tho 9TH inst. Mr.. Foran Of Ohio,
from tho Committee on Appropriations, reported
the invalid pensions appropriation bill, which
was referred to the COMMITTEES OF ths whole, Mr..
Crisp, OF GeorRia, from the Committee ON Elec-
tions. submitted the report ON the South Caro-
lima contested election ease OF Snlalls against
Elliott. ard II was placed upon the calendar. IL
finds IN favor of the conIestee, Elliott. The
minority report presented by Mr.. Rowoll. OF Illi-
nois, also placed upon tho calendar, provides for
the seating of Smalls. The House then went
into committee OF tho whole. Mr.. McMillin, of
Tennessee, I'm the chair, ON the private calendar,
the pending business being the Senate bill to
incorporate the Nicaragua Canal Con pany.
The House then adjourned. The Senate was not
In session. f..t .t