Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-02-15

WASHINGTON, February 14-Two cleri-
cal errors were discovered in the Senate to-
day which show how such mistakes may
have very important bearing upon legis-
lation. One of the pension bills for man
named David Peterson) having been passed
without discussion with the usual rapidity
of procedure, Mr.. Cockrell subsequently
inquired what had been done with it, and
having been informed by the Vice Presi-
dent that the bill had been passed, he said
that it was a remarkable circumstance that
the bill appeared on the calendar as being
fsvorablv reported; whereas the fact was
that the report was an adverse one, with the
Recommendation that the bill be indefinitely
postponed.
A SUDDEN CHANGE.
The report was read, and it showed that
Mr. Cockrells statement was correct. The
action of the Senate in passing the bill was
therefore reconsidered, and the bill was in
definitely postponed.
This was not the only instance. Mr.. West
offered a concurrent resolution to amend an
error in the enrolment of the Senate joint
resolution for the removal of distractions to
navigation in the Mississippi river. The
error had been committed by one OF the
clerks of the House, and consisted in the
omission after the word Resolved" of the
words "by the Senate and House OF Repre-
Sentatives of the United States Of America
in Congress assembled" q"
Mr.. ingalls, commented severely upon the
blunder, speaking of it as a case of '1egis-
lation being tampered with by inefficient
clerks" He was opposed to the repetition
Of such disgracetul performances. He |
moved (instead of Mr.. Vests concurrent |
resolution) that the joint resolution in ques-
tion be returned to the House of Represen- |
tatives, with the request that the House send |
to the Sena te a copy correctly engrossed, as
1t had passed that body.
THE HOUSE REPRIMANDED.
He remarked that that was the way to get |
rid of the difficulty, and to admonish the |
House and its clerks and employees that |
there must be more care, more scrutiny and |
more attention paid to such matters. Mr.. |
Vest sssented to that disposal OF the matter, |
and remarked that the House had changed
all its clerical force, and now had lot of |
new men who knew nothing about their /
business. Mr.. Ingalls, motion was agreed to.
Mr.. Sherman's resolution, offered yester-
day, to proceed to-day, after the morning
business, to the consideration of bills on the
calendar under rule 8, was agreed to. House
bill for the relief Of the sufferers by the
wreck Of the United States steamers Trenton
and Vandalis and the stranding of the
United States steamer Nipsic, at Apia,
Samoan Islands, was passed. A bill appro-
priEting SIS, 900 for the relief of the Sioux
Indians at Devils Lake Agency, North
Dakota, was passed.
ANY NUMBER OF MEASURES.
The following bills on the calendar were
l.. r.
tary of War (with a salary of s., ,OO0); for
the construction of bridge across the st.
Croix river; to authorize the construction of
two bridges across Boeut river, Louisiana;
for the relief of soldiers or sailors who en-
listed or served under assumed names; to re-
fund to the State of West Virginia the
money paid to officers Of the One Hundred
and Thirty-third Regiment of West Vir-
ginia Militia for services rendered during
the Rebellion; appropriating S125, 900 for
Q niued States revenue cutter for services on
the Pacific coast, with headquarters at As
toria, Ore; 10 prevent the obstruction of navi-
gable waters, and to protect works against
trespass or injury; sppropriating $50 900 for
a frst-order lighthouse on North Head, Cape
Disappointment, in the State of Washington;
appropriating Sc, 5000 to restore telegraphic
communication between Tatoosh Island and
Port Angles, Wash; providing for the &C
qulsltlon OF lano Tor town sites and COM
mercial purposes in Alaska; to provide for
the disposal of the Fort Sedgwick Military
Reservation in the States OF Colorado and
Nebraska to actual settlers under the pro-
visions of the homestead law; appropriating
500, 900 for public building at Au Claire
Wis, for the benefit of actual and bona ide
settlers of land IN Colorado, lately occupied
by the Uncompagre and White River Ute
Indians; to prevent the introduction of con-
tagious diseases from one State to another;
concurrent resolutions to invite international
arbitration as to differences between ma
tions
The bill to declare unlawful trusts and
combinations in restraint of trade and pro-
duction having been reached on the calendar
it was laid aside for the present