St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1888-02-11
NEWS OF THE WEEK.
Cleaned by Telegraph and Mail
CONGRESSIONAL.

CONGRESSIONAL.
In the Senate On the 30th after the pre-
sentation of petitions and bills Senator Hoar
reported the bill for constitutional amend
ment in regard to the meeting of Congress.
The bill to reduce letter postage to one cent
was adversely reported by Senator Sawyer,
from the Post-office Committee. This report
was the occasion of some debate and was
nnally placed on the calendar for discus
sion. Senator Plumb offered resolution
requiring the Postoffice Committee to in
quire into the inefficiency Of the mail ser
vice in the West Laid over. The House
bill for carrying into effect the law establishing
agricultural experiment stations was passed.
The Educational bill was then debated until al
journment. -. In the House large number OF
bills were introduced when the States were
called among them bill by Mr.. Turner. of Kan
say, for q bounty on corn, wheat and flour ex-
ported; by Mr. Raynard. of Maryland to pre-
vent the creation Of trusts: by Mr. Bland, OF
Missouri, for the further coinage of silver, etc.
The reply Of the Public Printer to inquiries
made was the occasion of q spirited debate.
The Senate amendments to the Agricultural
Experiment bill we're agreed to. Adjourned.
In the Senate on the 31st after the intro
dnction of several bills and resolutions Senator
Plumb's resolution for an inquiry into the in
efficiency OF the mail service in the West was
taken up and after debate laid over. Several
bills Of minor Importance passed, among them
to punish burglary and larceny in the Indian
Territory and for public building at Omaha; :;
also the joint resolution to amend the Consti-
tuition making the terms of Office OF Presi-
dent, Senators and other officers terminate
on April 30 instead Of March q. After further
debate on the Education bill the Senate ad-
journed -. In the house a bill passed authoriz-
ing the construction Of bridge across the Mis-
souri river at Jefferson City. Committees re-
ported. A petition representing $1,000 work
ngmen was presented by Mr.. Blumm. OF Penn
sylvania, asking for an investigation of the
Reading strike. After transacting business of
no general Importance the House adjourned.
In the Senate on February ! very little
business was done beyond the Offering OF few
bills and reports of committees Pending con-
sideration OF the Educational bill the Senate
went into executive session. AT the expira-
tion OF the morning hour in the House the re-
port of the Commerce Committee on Mr.. An
dersons resolution to investigate the Reading
strike came up The committee having
reported adversely and recommending that
the matter be referred to the Interstate Com
mission. The minority report. which favored
an investigation by Congress, was championed
by Mr. Rayner of Maryland who made an elo-
quent appeal in favor Of the workingmen, and
after spirited discussion resolution was
adopted to appoint committee Of five to inves-
tigate the whole matter of the Reading strike
and report to the House by bill or otherwise.
Adjourned.
In the Senate on the I'd after committees
reported, bills and resolutions were introduced,
among the latter resolution by Senator Plumb
calling for information in regard to the neglect
of the Military cemetery at Mound City.
Kan Senator Plumb addressed the Senate in
favor OF his resolution Of inquiry as to the in
efficiency of the mail service in The West. The
President of the Senate announced as the
committee to which had been referred the
Presidents message on Pacific railroads Sen
ators Frye, Dawes, Hiscock, Davis, Morgan,
Butler and Hearst. The bill increasing the
pension Of the totally helpless to s72 per month
passed. Senator Kenna then addressed the
Senate on tariff measures and in reply to Sen.
ator Sherman's late speech on the Presidents
message and Senator Sherman responded Ad
iourned until Monday. In the House, after
considerable debate. the bill to prevent the
transmission through the mails as secondclass
matter OF cheap literature and requiring 1t to be
transmitted as third-class matter, was passed
The most of the day was taken up IN discussing
the Lowry-White contested case from tne
Twelfth Indiana district. Adjourned.
In the House on the Sd Mr. Dockery, OF
Missouri. from the Committee on Post-ofices
and Post-roads, reported bill authorizing the
appointment OF eleven division superintendent
of the railway mail service, and Mr.. Collins o.
Massachusetts. from the Committee on tine
Judiciary submitted adverse reports on bills to
create court Of customs and proposing con
stitutional amendment empowering Congress te
grant aid to the common schools OF the several
States The House then proceeded TO the con
sideration Of private business and adjourned
H. q