The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1888-01-18
SENATE AND HOUSE,
The Greater Part Of the Day Spsnt by the
Upper Body in Secret Session.
Business Transacted in Open Session-Ths
Public Printing Discussed in the
House-Call OF States,

WASHINGTON, January Ex-senator Blair
presented q memorial and resolution of the
General Assembly of the Knights of Labor
in favor of an investigation into the man.
agement of the Bureau of Engraving and
Printing, and for such legislation as will
prevent the debasement of currency notes,
etc., and also for an investigation as to the
present method of supplying postage
stamps, etc. He asked that the memorial
covering twelve sheets of type-writing) be
printed in the Record; but as Mr.. Harris
objected TO that, he proceeded to state the
chief allegations contained in it.
The following bills were reported from
committees and placed on the calendar:
House bill relating to permissible marks
printed and written on second, third and
fourth class mail matter.
Senate bill for the extension and enlarge.
ment of the Kansas City Custom House.
Among the bills introduced and referred
were the following:
By Senator Chandler-To alter khe regu-
lations enacted by the South Carolina Leg
islalure in regard to election of Represent
atives in Congress.
By Senator Sherman lat the reqaest of
colored clergymen in North Carolinal-
Creating commission TO inquire into and
report on the material, industrial and
mental progress of the colored race since
1865.
By Senator Evarts-To indemnify the
settlers on the Des Moines river lands and
above the Raccoon forks, Iowa, for pay
ments made upon lands subsequently,
taken from them, and also for the damage
sustained thereby. 1t authorizes the
President to appoint three commissioners
to determine the amounts which should be
paid each settler.
By Senator Cullom-For the establish.
ment of a bureau of harbors and water
ways in the War Department, to be off,
cered by q corps of United States civil en-
gineers. The proposed bureau is to be
charged with the construction, conduct
and preservation of harbors and water
ways. Its personnel is to be one Chief OF
Corps, four associate chiefs, not less than
| nine nor more than eleven department
engineers, and not more than fifty division
engineers, 100 first assistant engineers,
200 second assistants, and $50 cadet
engineers. The country is to be divided
and sub-divlded into grand divisions, de-
partments and divisions, over which the
officers provided for will haye charge.
The pay of these officers is to be as follows:
Chief engineers, $4,000; assistant chiefs,
| $500; department engineers, So, 900; divis-
ion engineers, 81, 600; first assistants, s. 700;
second assistants, 81 800, and cadets s., 900,
with the privilege OF retirment on half
pay at the age of sixty-fve. The chief and
hall OF the associate chiefs, department
| and division engineers may be appointed
from the army engineer corps, with the op.
t1on OF resumiDg their place in the mill
tary service at any time within wo years.
No appropriations for work the bill pro-
vldes, shall be expended unless it is suffi-
cient to complete the work or unless pro.
vision shall be made for funds necessary
for its completion. This provision, how
ever, Is not to apply to dredging or snagging
operations or to work of a temporary ma.
ture, the purpose being stated to be to pre-
vent the exercise of discretion by the en-
gineers when they know what amount ap-
proprjated is insufficient to serve any use
fui purpose.
By Senator Gala joint resolution to
appropriate $1,000 to aid the sub Tropical
Exhibition at Jacksonville, Fla.
By Senator Davis-Granting q pension,
in addition TO their retired pay. to all mil.
1tary officers retired for disease or wounds
incurred in the line of duty,
By Senator FarGell-TO appropriate
S2OO,O for the erection of an appraisers
warehouse in Chicago.
BY Senator Hale-rhe bill introduced in
the House by Representative Whitthorne
to create naval reserve.
Senator Vest, from the Committee on
Public Buildings and Grounds, reported
iaVorably bill to appropriate 81 ,2O0, 900
.OA eAC C1SOt4OI VI puDllC DulluluR al
Kansas City, Mo. Not more than $500, 900
of this amount, it is provided, shall be ex-
pended for the purpose of a site.
AS soon as the morning business was all
disposed Of (at 10 o'clock) Mr.. Riddleberger
rose and moved that the Senate proceed to
executive business, and the motion was
agreed to without division.
The Senate devoted three hours and a
half to executive business and then ad-
jourRed.
Among the petitions presented in the
Senate to-day was one asking for a change
IN postal laws so that ''paper.back novels,
blood and thunder stories," shall not be
sent through the mail as second-class mat.
ter, paying l cent per ponnd, while school,
law, scientific and religious books have to
pay cents per pound.
COMBINATIONS.
II. L. B Bragg to be Minister to Mexico.
Receivers Of Public Moneys-John
Tracey, North Platt, Neb.; Joseph s.
Swan, Gleenwood Sprlngs, COL; A. w.
Critics, Cnaudron, Neb.; ]. B. Blakeley,
Sidney, Neb.
Postmasters-W. E. Lehman, Hurley,
Wis; D. @. Bennett, Monroe, Wis. e. 6.
Farlow, Ashland, Ore.; j. II. FIey, Aber-
deem, Oak; G. w. Lewis, Black River
Falls, Wis; Fred Puhler, Ada, MINI.
John Mccarthy, saltwater, MINI.