Los Angeles daily herald., 1889-12-17
NATIONAL CAPITAL.
Yesterdays Proceedings in
Congress.
THE CLAYTON MURDER EPISODE.
California War Claims Laid Before
the Senate-New Bills and
Resolutions.

Associated Press Dispatches to the HERALD.
WASHINGTON, December 16.--A raso-
luton reported by Mckinley from the
Committee on Ways and Means, for the
distribution of the Presidents message
among the appropriate committees, was
adopted. p,
McKinley's resolution for holiday
recess from December goth until Janu.
ary 9Th was referred.
Henderson, Of Iowa, from the Com
mittee on Appropriations, reported a bill
appropriating $l6. 900 to meet the de.
fciency in the appropriation for public
printing and binding, and $3.50, 900 for
the deficiency in the appropriation for
the Census Bureau.
Bland's amendment, appropriatipg
5000, 900 to enable the Superintendent OF
Census to ascertain the number and
amount OF farm mortgages, etc., was re-
fsrred, and the bill was passed.
"A resolution, authorizing the Sergeant
alarms to offer reward of $1,000 for
the apprehension of Silcott was referred.
A bill by Springer to organize the Ter
ritory Of Oklahoma, and one by Baker,
Of New York, on the same subject, were
referred to the Committee on Territories.
THE CLAYTON MURDER.
A resolution was introduced by Lacey,
of Iowa, directing the Committee on
Elections to inquire into the contested
election case of Clayton against Breck-
inridge, of Arkansas (Clayton having
been assassinated while preparing his
case).
Breckinridge, of Arkansas, said it had
been his intention to offer resolution
of the same import, but since the ad.
journment of last Congress proceed
lngs had been taken in the United States
Court in his State, relating to matters of
current report in the district he repre-
sented. Inasmuch as those proceedings
seemed to him to be conclusive, and as
the court was one not organized by his
party or any member of his party, but
was throughout it's whole organisation a
Republican court, it had appeared to
him the proprieties of the case de-
manded that the iniative should be
taken by the other side as it had been.
He trusted proper disposition would be
made of the resolution, and the action of
the Committee on Elections would be
such rs to give anplest range of inquiry
that was proper under the Jurisdiction OF
the House.
Crisp contended that the resolution
must go to the Committee on Elections,
but he was overruled and the resolution
was adopted.
Adjourned.
NC KINLEY's CUSTOMS CODE.
A bill introduced in the House today
by Mckinley concerning the collection
of customs dues. is a compound of several
administrative bills which have figured
before past Congresses. The basis is the
old Hewitt administrative bill which
has been copiously amended by insertions
Of phrases, sentences and eections from
the last Senate tariff bill, and the draft
submitted by the Treasury Department t
to the last Congress, to which Mckinley
has added further suggestions made by
the present Treasury officials. The
result ls q bill of thirty-two printed
pages of technical customs administra.
tive code.
WAYS AND MEANS COMMITTEE.
The Ways sud Means Committee held
a meeting this morning and prepared to
ouVoN pIomptiy upoN tuo TVIh PlCiuAlu-
ary to the preparation of tariff bill, by
providing for a number of hearings at
which interests likely to be affected by
the proposed change, may give their
views. Hearing were fixed as follows:
Metals, ores and coal, December 26th !;
sugar, 28 HI; chemicals, Monday, 3O,h !:
earthen and glassware, 3lat; wool.
January I'd; manufactured OF wool, Sd !:
fax, hemp, jute and Cotton goods, 4th !;
silks, 9th; tobacco, cigars, snuff and
cigarettes, 7th; provisions and farm pro.
ducts, Sth; sundries, OH; wood, wooden
ware, books and paper. 10th.
THE sILCoTT NATTER.
The special House committee investi-
eating the Silcott defalcation this morn.
ing heard further testimony from ex.
Sergeant-at-Arms Leedom in correction
OF his previous testimony.
The Democratic House caucus which
was called to meet tonight to determine
what position, If any, the party
should take in regard to the Silcott de.
fciency, has been abandoned.