The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-01-25
BILLS FROM COMMITTEES.
THE BUSINESS BEFoRETHE LOWER
HOUSE.


A Proposal to Spend $175,ooo for
Repairing the Man-of-War Hartford
A Building for the Signal Service
Bureau Among the Possibilities
The Fort Brown Reservation.
WASHINGTON, Jan 2l--In the House to-
day Mr.. Oates, of Alabama from the Com
mittee on Judiciary, reported the bill
making bills of lading conclusive evidence
in certain cases. 1t was put on the House
calendar.
Mr.. Whitthone, of Tennessee, from the
Committee on Naval Affairs, reported the
bill appropriating S175,OOO for the repair of
the United States steamship Hartford. It
was referred to the committee of the whole.
Mr.. Milliken, of Maine, from the Com
mittee on Public Buildings and Grounds,
reported bill for the erection of building
in Washington for the use of the Signal
Office. 1t was referred to committee of the
whole
Mr.. Davis, of Massachusetts, from the
Committee on Commerce, reported the bill
to reward the Esquimaux natives for acts of
humanity to shipwrecked seamen. 1t was
referred TO committee of the whole.
of the Committee on Printing, reported a
| resolution calling on the Public Printer for
information as to whether he has recently
discharged or furloughed any of his force,
and if so for what reason, at a time when
the printing ordered by the House is largely
in arrears; also whether, in making such
discharges, regard has been bad to the
statute giving preference i'll employment to
hOnorably discharged soldiers. The reSolu-
tiOn was adopted.
FORT BROWN RESERVATION.
In consideration of the morning hour the
House proceeded to consideration of the
resolution concerning the Fort Brown mill
tary reservation, in Texas. The preamble
to the resolution recites that in March, 1855.
100000 was appropriated to enable the
Secretary of War to acquire a valid title to
the reservation, and to pay all claims
for use and occupation of the property by
the government; that no part of this appro
priaUlOn has been used on account of dis
putes between the claimants, and that S5O, 900
would be a large price to pay for the reser-
walton, including rent for its occupation.
The resolution directs the Committee on
Military Affairs to investigate the
matter and to report what
necessity exists for military
post at Fort Brown. The Secretary of War
is requested to withhold payment of any
part OF the sum OF Slb0,OOO for the grounds
and rents of the reservation. The resolu-
tion was adopted
On motion of Mr.. Phelan, of Tennessee,
the bill was passed authorizing the CON
struction of a bridge across the Mississippi
river at Memphis.
CUSTOMS DISTRICTS.
Mr.. Breckinridge, of Arkansas, intro
duced bill to authorize the consolidation
of customs collection districts in certain
cases. 1t was referred, 1t authorizes the
President to discontinue any customs dis
trist where the revenues do not equal the
expenses, and appoint deputy collectors at
supports when necessary. 1t also
authorizes the Secretary of the
Treasury to fix the compensation
of collectors and surveyors at the beginning
of each year in accordance with the amount
of their business provided that the compen-
satiOn shall net exceed s., 900 or less than
81 900, which shall be in lieu of all fees and
commissions heretofore allowed. The pro-
vision is not to apply to cases where a Gus
toms officer now receives a fixed salary in
lieu of all fees and commissions. All fees
hereafter received are to be paid into the
Treasury.
Mr.. Wheeler, of Alabama, offered reso-
luton for the printing of 5000 extra copies
of the report of the board of visitors to the
Military Academy. In Offering the resolu-
tion, which was referred, Mr.. Wheeler paid
a tribute to George w. Childs. President of
the board, whose philanthropic generosity
was not bounded by municipalities, by
States, by sections. or by people, and whose
fame extended to races foreign to us in Ian
guage and ideas The House then at
o'clock adjourned