The National tribune., 1888-06-21
CONGRESS.
An Abstract Of the More Important
Proceedings in Both Houses.

In the Senate the appropriation bill for the
District of Columbia was taken up for cODsid-
GRAFTON, amended in various ways after con-
siderable argument, read third time, and
passed The amendment which had been
agreed 20 in Committee Of the Whole requiring
all telegraph and telephone wires in the Dis
trict TO be placed under ground, was struck out
by yea and nay vote 80 yeas TO nays.
Mr.. Stewart New called up the resolution
directing the Secretary of the Treasury to fur
nish full statement Of al bonds for sale to the
Government since April /, 1888, with dates of
offers, the amounts offered, premiums asked,
names of parties offering, with full statement
of the bonds purchased, giving dates on which
these bonds were purchased
This resolution was debated at some length
by Mr.. Cockrell, Mr.. Stewart and Mr.. Teller,
and was finally agreed to.
In the House. Mr.. Bayne offered the follow
ing resolution, which, upon objection Of Mr..
Breckenridge (Ark.), who demanded the regu-
lar order of business was not considered:
Joint resolution granting leave of absence to
tain persons employed in the service of the
| United States.
tires, etc. That the heads of Departments are here
by authorized to grant to all persons employed in
the civil service of the United States who were
present at the battle of Gettysburg either in the
Union Confederate forces sufficient leave of alb
sence, without loss of pay, 10 attend the Reunion
to be held at Gettysburg the Sd day of July next
such absence not to be taken from the allowance
made by law.
The tariff bill was then taken up, and con-
sumed the time for the rest of the day.
THURSDAY, JUNE IA.
The Senate considered the Agricultural and
Postoffice appropriation bills at length, and adj
journed until Monday without passing either
of them.
The resolution granting leave of absence to
any person in the employment of the Govern
! I'm aply laoft Of loft
burg, in either the Union or Confederate serv-
ice, to attend the Reunion at that place July B.
was amended by striking ont the word " Con-
federate" which Mr. Hoar said should not re-
ceiye official recognition by the Senate, and
passed.
In the House the tariff bill was discussed
until o'clock P. NJ, when it adjourned.
FRIDAY, JUNE Is.
The Senate WAS not in session to-day.
The House proceeded to the consideration Of
the private calendar in Committee of the
Whole and passed great many of these meas
ures, besides great many private pension
bills, taking recess at o'clock and adjourn
ing at 1890 P. m.
SATURDAY, JUNE 16.
The few Members present when the House
met this morning laughed when among the
personal requests the clerk read applications for
leave by Messrs. Osborne, of Pennsylvania, and
Butler, Of Tennessee, to go to the Chicago
Convention" Nearly all of the Members who
have preceded them have given important
business" as an excuse for their absence.
Mr. Randall pa, from the Committee on
Appropriations, reported the sundry civil APP
preparation bill, and gave notice that he would
call it up for action at the earliest possible mo-
ment.
Bills were reported and placed on the calen-
dar as follows: Authorizing the United States
TO become party to the international Geodetic
Association providing for a worlds exposition
At the National Capital in 1892, and for per-
manent exposition of the Three Americas !;
for the relief of Assistant Surgeons i'll the
! Army; granting right Of way to the Hampton
& Old Point Railroad Co.. of Virginia, through
| the Fort Monroe Reservation, Va, and to the St.
! Louis q San Francisco Railroad Co. through
/ the Indian Territory; to authorize the Secre-
/ tary Of War to issue arms aud equipments to
the militia of the District Of Columbia provid-
| ing for leave of absence to officers and en-
| ploycs Of the customs service who receive a
/ per-dien compensation.
There was some discussion as to the order Of
procedure, Messrs Randall Townshend and
! others desiring to consider the army appropria-
/ ton bill, and other Members insisting on an
opportunity for the disposition of other busi-
ness. Both Mr. Randall aud Mr.. Burrows con-
! Cured in the statement that it had been in
| formally agreed that the tariff bill should be
| laid aside and the appropriation bill considered
| during the absence Of the Republican Members
at the convention.
Mr.. Grain TEX. said that the Democratic
managers had treated the House to "pickled
wind for six weeks, and when an opportunity
offered for Members to call up some Of the
measures Of interest to them it was announced
! that they had made an arrangement to assign
| the time TO appropriation bills
When Mr.. Townshend moved togo into Com
mittee Of the Whole On the Army appropria-
ton bin Mr Grain and Mr. Wilkins (Ohio)
made points of no quorum, but were induced
to withdraw them when Mr.. ToWushend threat
ened an adjournment.
So the House went into Committee Of the
Whole on the Army appropriation bill.
The first formal reading Of the bill having
been dispensed with Dir. Peters (Kan.) stated
that an impression prevailed that the number
Of staff officers in the Army was largely in ex-
cess Of the requirements Of the service. lie
| asked whether the heads Of military depart
| ments had discretionary power to detail staff
officers az they pleased.
Mr. TOWnshend Chairman Of the Military
! Committeej stated that he had no information
as TO the number beyond that contained in the
Army Register, and that the matter was gov
erned by the statutes and by Army regula-
lions.
Mr.. Laird (Neb.) said whatever foundation
there might be for criticism with respect to
this motion, the responsibility did not lay with
the Military Committee, which had reported
two measures TO the House for the reorganiza-
tion Of the Army.
Mr. McAdoo offered joint resolution to an
thorizc and direct the Secretary of War to lend
to the militia of the District of Columbia such
arms, stores and supplies as may be needed tc
render the organization Efficient the militia t.
be held responsible for the preservation and re
turn Of such arms and stores.
MONDAY, JUNE 10.
The Senate was almost abandoned to-day,
large majority Of the Republican Members be
ing absent at the Chicago Convention, and but
little besides routine business transacted
In the House there was also noticeable de
crease in attendance attributable to the same
cause. The resolution appropriating $25, 00(
for the celebration Of the battle of Gettysburg
was then taken up aud discussed at length
but no conclusion reached. The Sundry Ciyi
Appropriation Bill was then taken up, and wa
under discussion when the House adjourned.
Jesse q. Grants Return.
Col. jesse r. Grant, the son of Gen. u. S
Grant, arrived in FL Paso, Tex, June s, after
trip of several months duration through vari
Gus portions of Mexico partly for pleasure ant
, health and partly on business. He has beer
looking at some mining and landed propertie