The National tribune., 1888-04-12
CONGRESS.
An Abstract Of the More Important
Proceedings in Both Houses.
MONDAY, APRIL Q.

In the Senate the bills granting pensions TO
Mrs. John A. Logan and Mrs. Frank ?. Blair
were taken up the House amendments con-
Cured in, and passed.
On motion of Senator Harris the Senate
proceeded to the consideration of bill to au-
thorize the construction of a bridge across the
Mississippi at Memphis, and after a lengthy
discussion the bill was passed.
The House bill to provide for the purchasing
OF United States bonds was taken up
Senator Stewart moved to amend by direct
ing the Committee to report separate bill to
allow owners of either gold or silver or both to
deposit the same IN any mint or assay Office
and receive coin certificates for the market
price of such bullion, such market price to be
fixed by the Secretary of the Treasury on the
lst and 10Th day of each month. The certif-
Gates to be notices. than 81, or more than 81 ,000
After discussing the bill the Senate went into
executive session.
The House considered number Of minor
bills, and memorial was read from Miss Fran
ces Z. Willard and 50 other representatives of
the Womans Congress IN behalf OF the Blair
Educational Bill.
Mr.. Groin asked for the passage of the joint
resolution proposing an amendment to the Con-
stitution, changing the time for the commence
ment and the limitation Of the terms of the
President, Vice-PTesideut and members Of
Congress. The resolution was discussed at
length and defeated.
TUESDAY, APRIL 3.
The Senate resumed the consideration Of the
bill 10 provide for the purchase of bonds by the
Secretary of the Treasury, and q prolonged de-
bate ensued.
Senator Sherman said that the Secretary Of
the Treasury has now, and has had since the
passage of the act of March g. 1881, an unQuali-
fed right to 60 into the market and buy bonds
with any surplus revenue on hand. The ques-
tion was now, whether we should cOmplicate
that simple proposition so important to the
business interests of the country and to every
working man and every citizen Of the United
States by additional legislation.
Senator Stewart supported his silver amend
ment.
In the House, Mr.. Culberson called up the
special order, to credit and pay the several
States and Territories all money collected IN
der the direct tax levied by the act of Congress
of Aug. 5, 1861.
Mr. Ezra B. Taylor (O) made an argument
in support Of the bill.
MessIs. Oates, Hurd and others opposed the
bill.
Mr.. Buchanan N. j. recited the condition
Of things that led to the passage of the act. II
was caused by the stress for funds to carry on
the war, and the act provided that where the
States assumed the collection Of the same, that
/ they should be allowed Is per cent. reduction.
Inc bill 10 pIOVlGc LOT the promotion OF OIL
/ GERS Of the Army after 20 years service in one
/ grade was taken up, considered and passed.
| The bill TO place Maize Alfred Pleason-
! ton upon the retired list, with the rank Of Colo
| mel, was passed.
Mr.. Gear called up the bill for the relief OIL
/ telegraph operators during the war, which
/ provides that all persons engaged in the opera
! ton or construction of military telegraph line:
| during the war, are declared to have been par
| Of the military telegraph corps, and the Score
tary of the Treasury 10 directed to prepare
roll of such persons and to issue to each, upor
! application, unless it appears that his service
was not crcditably performed, asuitable Certif
cate Of honorable service. This Law is not t.
| be construed to entitle the person mentioned
to pay, allowance, bounty or pension othe
than that heretofore received by them.
After debate Mr.. T0wnshend said that th
| Committee on Military Affairs had authorizes
him to withdraw any bill that would lead t
protracted debate. He was now satisfied from
the course Of some Of the Representatives tina
they did not wish this bill to pass in any form
and that therefore he felt it incumbent on hir
to withdraw the bill from consideration whic
was done.
Mr. Fitch called up the bill to provide
monument for the II 800 Revolutionary soldier
who were starved to death in the prison ship
in front Of Brooklyn during the Revolution.
Mr.. Holman offered an amendment TO apprO
pirate $4,000 to erect a monument at Mort
Bend, O., to Gen. William Henry Harrison, bu
this was withdrawn, and the bill itself wa
withdrawn.