Morning journal and courier., 1888-01-17
Fiftieth Congress--First Session.
WASHINGTON. Jan. 16,

l SENATE.-Among the petitions and memo
 r1als presented and referred was one for a
 change in the postal laws so that "paper
 book novels, blood and thunder stories' shall
 not be sent through the mails as second-class
 matter (paylng one cent per pound) while
 school, law, scientific and religious books
 have to pay eight cents per pound.
 Several bills were introduced, among others 1 one by Mir. Sherman, of Ohio, at request of
 colored clergymen in North Carolina, creating l commission to inquire into and report on
 the material, industrial and mental progress I of the colored race since 1865; by Senator l Blair to provide that no per diem employe of
 the government shall be paid less than $2 per day.
 l As soon as the morning business was all disposed of (at 1 o'clock) MT. Riddleberger, 1 of Virginia, moved that the Senate proceed l to executive business, and the motion was | agreed to without division
 Senator Hale introduced a joint resolution 1n behalf of American fishermen prepared by l Hon. Richard s. Spofford of Newburyport, Mass, and recommended for passage by meeting of citizens of Philadelphia held in Horticultural Hall January 8, 1888. The Senate devoted three hours and half to executive business and then at 4:3O ad- journed
 HoUsE.-Mr. McMillan of Tennessee, from the committee on merchant marine and fisheries, reported the Dingley resolution
 
 nation in tolls against American vessels pass ing through the Welland canal. The resolu- tion was adopted.
 MT. Richardson of Tennessee, chairman of the committee on printing, reported resolu- tion, which was adopted, for the printing of twenty thousand extra copies of the Presi- dents message.
 MT. Richardson also submitted the report of that committee on the resolution directing it to inquire into the cause of the delay in supp ying to members copies of the daily record. The report contains letter from the public printer stating that a delay has only happened upon two occasions, and in each case was caused by fail ure of the clerks office of the House to furnish "copy" until a late hour. There is also letter from the clerk of the House stating that this failure was due to duced through the petition box. Assurance is given by both these gentlemen that there will be no delay in the future in the delivery of the record. Several Republicans took oc- casion to criticise the general neglect and laxity of the printing office in doing it's work.
 Mir. Anderson, of Kansas, offered in the House this afternoon 8 resolution directing the committee on commerce to investigate the extent, causes and effect upon inter- State commerce of the continued failure by the Reading railroad company to transport
 
 House by bill or otherwise for consideration at any time such legislation as is necessary to secure to the republic the regular and com plete execution by a railroad of it's obliga- tions and services as a common carrier of inter State commerce. It was referred to the committee on commerce.
 Under the call of States ths following among other bills and resolutions were intro duced and referred: By MT. Wheeler of Ala bama to provide for certain works for coast defenses. By MT. Oates of Alabama to pro- hibit aliens from acquiring titles to lands in ! the United States. By MT. Breckenridge of l Arkansas directing the secretary of the i treasury to classify as woolen cloth all inn ports of worsted cloth, whether known as worsted cloth or under the name of worsted or diagonal or otherwise.
 MT. Shaw of Maryland, chairman of the committee on accounts, reported a resolution assigning clerks to all the committees of the \ House.
 MT. Perkins, of Kansas, offered en amend ment providing that every committee of the House shall have many clerks as there are of the committee, one to be select ed by each member; that the clerk selected by the chairman shall be the chief clerk and ! that the other clerks shall receive salary of $75 month and when 8 member is on more than one committee he shall have only the \ right to appoint one clerk. The amendment, which is designed to give every member 8 | clerk is drawn in this form so as to make it | germane to the resolution and not subject to | 8 point of order.
 MT. Morse, of Massachusetts, thought there | was good deal of humbug about this clerk | business. As chairman of one of the minor | committees he entitled to appoint 8 \ clerk, but as the committee had no room he | had no place to put his clerk.
 Other members spoke for or against the \ amendment and it was rejected; yeas 64, nays 1S1.
 The vote then recurred upon the resolu- ton reported by the committee accounts. This was antagonized by the Republicans for the reason that it provides clerks for the com mittees on expenditures in the various de- partments; although in response to ques- tion from MT. Randall MT. Shaw stated that ! it would only increase by two the number of clerks authorized by the Forty-ninth Con- gress. The resolution was agreed to-yeas 124, nays 89-and the House then at 6:05 ad diourued