Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1888-12-20
THE SENATE AND HOUSE.
NATIONAL LAWMAKERS AND WHAT
THEY ARE DOING.


Discussed and Acted On = Gist OF tho
Business.
CONSIDERATION and discussion OF the tariff
bill was resumed I'm the Senate ON the l1th inst,
aud oscupied the principal part of the day. Mr..
Chandler presented In the Senate petition
praying for an investigation into alleged dsprl-
vations OF the right 70 vote for electors and Com
petition IL signed by 1900 residents Of Ziegler
precinct, Orangeburg County, South Carolina,
and recites that they endeavored 70 comply with
the registration law OF the State, but were pre-
vented from doing so, and then on the day OF
election were refused the right to vote. letter
accompanying the petition says that :, So9 voters
of Orangeburg County were thus deprived Of
their rights OF franchise. The names were taken
at the polls as fast their owners were refused
the privilege Of depositing their ballots. The
petition and letter were referred TO the Commit
Tee on Privileges and Elections. The Senate
agreed TO Mr.. Frye's resolution instructing the
the condition Of affairs at the Samoan Islands
far as the interests and rights of American
residents there ara affected; the relations Of tho
United States to the islands and her obligations
under existing treaties, and what action by the
United States, II any, was demanded. Mr..
Edmuuds, from the Judiciary Committee, re-
ported resolution, which was agreed to- call
ing ON the Attorney General for information
concerning the execution OF the act OF March 3,
1887, in reference to bigamy, also to report the
names of all United States officers who have
had any connection with such execution, In
what capacity, and what compensation has
spent the day In committee Of the whole on the
direct-tax bill.
THE duty on cotton ties, ETC., occupied the
whole attention OF the Senate on the 18th inst.
and gave an opportunity to several Senators to
discuss tho late election campaign and the
Presidents civil service policy. The direct tax
bill passed the House by vote Of ITS yeas to 90
nays Forty Democrats and 187 Repub-
hcans composed the majority. The mega
tive votes came from the Democratic side OF
the House. Mr.. Townshend was the only Demo-
crat in the Illinois delegation who voted for the
bill Mr.. Anderson was absent. More than one
the majority came from the South. Speaker
Carlisle, Mills, Randall and all the leaders
fought 1t, but Judge Holman sent in an aye.
The bill did not receive enough votes TO pass it
over veto When the measure came up in the
committee of the whole OF the House Mr.. Cox,
Of New York, declared it to be prohigate, i'm:
moral and Objectionable on account OF
fits glaring inequality. Mr.. Cummings
said the money would find its way into
foreign countries when the tax was collected
Mr.. Elliott offered and the committee adopted
an amendment providing for the payment to
certain owners or heirs OF owners In south Caro-
lima the value OF lands assessed for taxation by
the United States. The amendment carries
with it an appropriation OF $S50,OOO: The bill
makes it the duty Of the Secretary Of the Treas
ury to credit each State and Territory and the
District of Columbia q sum equal to all
collections by sst-oh nS or StheFwiss made s
the District of Columbia, or from any
of the citizens or inhabitants thereof, or other
persons, under the act Of Congress approved
Aug. s, 1851, and remits all money still due to
the United States on the quota OF the direct tax.
1t appropriates such sums as may be necessary
to reimburse each State, Territory, and the
District OF Columbia for ali money found due to
them and the Treasurer of the United States is
directed to pay the same to the Governors Of the
States and Territories, and to the Commission
ers Of the District OF Columbia; provided that
where the sums, or any part thereof. credited To
any State. Territory or the District Of Colum-
III Hau ham onlla tad Inv IInff fad aft
from the citizens or inhabitants thereof.
or any ether person, either directly
or by sale OF property such ,,or1 sums shall III lie SS
the District OF Columbia, for the benefit Of those
persons or inhabitants or their legal representa-
lives and provided further, that no part of the
money collected from individuals and to be held
in trust shall be retained by the United states
as u set-of against the indebtedness alleg d TO
exist against the State, Territory, District Of
Columbia, In which such tax was collected
and provided further, that no part OF the money
hereby appropriated shall be paid out by tbs
Government Of any State or Territory, or any
other person, to any attorney or agent un-
der any contract for services now existing
or heretofore made between the representa-
tive OF any State or Territory and any attorney
or agent All claims under the trust shall be
hled wi h the Governor OF such STATE or Terri
tory and the Commissioners OF the District OF
Columbia respectively within six years next
after passage Of this act and all claims not so
filed shall be forever barred and the money at
tributablo thereto shall belong to such State,
Territory, or District of Columbia, respectively,
as the case may be. The river and harbor bill
was reported TO the House and was referred to
sppropriates s11, ,9Oe,s5O. In reporting
back favorably to the House bill granting a
pension Of $3, 500 year to the widow OF Gen..
Sheridan, the Committee on Invalid Pensions
says: -There has been decided opposition In
this committee to these unusually large PEN
sions to widows, but this report Is made
favorable In this case upon the ground that
Congress cannot well refuse such action after
giving large pensions to others who are less
meritortous.
THE Senate continued the discussion Of the
tariff bill ON the 18th, several members of that
body making speeches, Mr. Vest characterizing
the measure as in the interest OF New England
manufacturers. The Senate confirmed the NOM
nations OF Perry Belmont as Minister TO
as army Post Chaplain. The Oklahoma bill
was considered in the House In committee
of the whole. and an amendment offered by Mr..
Payson (Ill) provided that the rights OF hon
orably discharged Union soldiers to make homes
on the public lands under the existing homestead
laws shall not In any degree be impaired by the
BILL and that their rights under those laws shall
extend to the lands open to settlement under its
provisions Mr.. Payson, in answer to Mr. Weaver
uowsl, said that the Government would pay
would not dare to vote against the amendment.
Mr. Springer declared that he would vote
SemaSoeicai % "S and I inconsistent' MI Weaver
yielded to no member in his devotion to the
men who carried the flag In the late war,
! to stab the bill in the name Of the Union sol
| dier. He had never card of Union soldiers
asking for such an amendment and it was not
! offered in their interest. Mr.. Warner (OhioD said
that II the lands were public lands he would be
| In favor Of the amendment, but they were not.
| The proposition is to purchase them. Mr.. Pay
| son suggested that Oklahoma would embrace
the 3,5OOOOO acres Of the public land strip.
After lengthy debate and no action the House
adjourned.
Soon after the convening hour the House went
into committee Of the whole ON the Nicaragus
canal bill, on the 18th inst Mr.. Payson QIl)
| offered an amendment providing that all shares.
stocks bonds, certificates, and other securities
shall be is sued from the principal ofhoe in New
| for cash The amendment was defeated
| by tie vota but it was agreed
| that a vote should be taken in the House. Mr..
| Spinola offered an amendment limiting the
| capital stock TO $1OO,U0l0p. The amendments
| was supported by Mr.. Payson and opposed By
Mr. Bayne pal who declared that the bill
would be passed this session II II occupied every
Friday. The Legislative, executive and judicial
appropriation BILL as reported 70 the House.
/ carnes an appropriation Of Se0,0J2.2i5 being
ei38 1g5 less than the bill for the current hscar
/ wear and SIs5 240 less than the estimates,
| Representative Hooker (Missl introduced .
Joint resolution providing for q holiday rscess
| from Friday Dec a. Until Monday Jan q The
/
AT country picnic in Massachusetts,
an old gentleman of seventy-six had Q
lively waltz with an old lady of eighty.
one. Another couple danced together