Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1888-04-27
CONGRESSIONAL SUMMARY.

1
Arm ID SEvArE.-Mr. Farwell's speech
on the fnancial situation. and Mr.. spoon
er's on the admission OF Dakota were the
| chief features OF to-days senate proceed
| ings Mr.. Stewart introduced a bill to
grant a pension OF 5000 year 10 the
widow OF the late Chief Justice Waite.
and remarked that he introduced IL on his
own responsibility, and he thought that
the widows OF chief justices should De
| placed on par with those of presidents.
| Referred TO committee on pensions. Mr..
Hoar offered resolution which was
adopted instructing the select committee
on the civil service to INQUIRE and report
as to sugar frauds in the New York GUS
tom house. Two private pension bill
vetoes were read and referred TO the COM
mttee on pensions.
HoUsF.-A number Of bills were intro
duced and referred. The principal feature
OF todav's session was the effort, which
proved futile, To pass the river and harbor
bill under suspension Of the rules.
April II, SENATE.-The principal feature
OF to-day's session was Mr.. Vests speech
against the admission OF Dakota. A num-
her OF private pension bills were passed,
and the senate adjourned.
HOr Aside from the speech OF Mr.
Mills of Texas in opening the debate on
the tariff bill. and the reply OF Mr. Kelley
Of Pennsylvania thereto, there was little
lone in the house to-day. The bill TO Gre
ete boards OF arbitration for settling CON
troversie s between common carriers and
their emDloves was reported, as was the
till prohibiting tn Importation Of convict
made goods. a resolution was reported
and adopted asking the postmaSter-gen-
eral for Information concerning the rates
or postage on seeds, and whether Cana
dians are given advantages over Ameri-
cans engaged in the seed business At the
conclusion the tariff debate the house
adjourned.
Arm Is. SENATr.-Mr. Evarts, from the
committee on foreign relations, reported
back adversely Mr. Riddleberger's reso-
luton 10 suspend the rules as TO the
executive sessions during the considera-
ton OF the fisheries treaty. The report
was placed on the calendar and ordered
pripted The senate then resumed CON
sideration of the senate bill discus ed
Yesterday 10 forfeit certain lands here
tofore granted for the purpose of aiding
in the construction of railroads No
progress was made with the bill and the
senate resumed the consideration OF the
bill for the admission Of South Dakota as
state, and the organization of the Ter
ritory Of North Dakota. The discussion
which followed was strictly partisan in
tone. The bill went over without action
and the senate ad burned.
HOu~r.-Mr. Belmont of New York in
troduced bill 10 prohibit the coming or
Chinese laborers 70 the United States.
referred It's main provisions are similar
20 those contained in the new treaty. The
act OF Nav 4. lSS2, is repealed The floor
was accorded TO the committee on labor,
and the bill TO establish department OF
labor was passed. The next hill called up
was that To create boards OF arbitration
for the settlement Of controversies and
differences between inter state common
carriers and their employees The bill was
passed.
AreIr 10 SrNATE.-Among the bills re-
ported from committees and placed on
the calendar was one authorizing the
president 20 appoint and retire John c.
Fremont rs maior-general L. s. A., and
one appropriating Sl1' 900 for quarters
and barracks at branches Of the national
soldiers homes TIE bill for the admis-
sion Of the south half Of Dakota was dis
cuSsed at some length and finally passed,
yeas 81. NAYS p, the division being strict
~ on party lines.
HOT~r.-Ihe house spent the day in dis
cussing appropriation bills.
Arm %, HOUsF.-The senate bill extend
ing the system OF beacon lights to the
Illinois river was passed. The Indian
S5.l000O0 Mr.. Townsend
OF Illinois. from the committee on military
affairs. reported his bin placing Gen. w.
i. lBaldvl Smith on the retired list with
the rank OF major general. a motion TO
proceed 10 the consideration of private
hills was re iected in favor OF appropria-
tion bills. and the house went into a COM
mittee of the whole on the pension appro-
priation bill An amendment was adopted
providing that in all cases OF pensions
TO widows, payment shall he made from
the date of death OF their husbands.
Another amendment was adopted provid-
ing that all officers OF the United States
authorized TO administer oaths, shall ad-
minister all oaths required 70 be made by
pensioners and their witnesses, free OF
charge The committee then rose and the
bill, which appropriates $50. 2S0. 900. was
passed. The river and harbor appropria-
tion bill was then taken up and its con-
begun, paragraph by paragraph.
But little progress had been made when
the house. nj o. m, pending further dis
'ussiOn OF the bill, took n recess until 40
p. m. the evening session TO be devoted to
the consideration OF private pension bills.
The house at the evening session passed
twenty-five pension bills.
April 81. HoUsE.-The house spent the