The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1890-12-18
THE NATIONAL SOLONS.
SENATE AND HOUSE OF REPRE-
SENTATIVES.
Our National Lawmakers and What They
Are Doing for the Good of the Country
Various Measures Proposed, Discussed,
and Acted Upon.

and Acted Upon.
IN the Senate on the 9th Senator Plumb
(Rep,) of Kansas introduced bill for the
free coinage of silver. Mr. Plumb also Of
fered an amendment lin the same terms) to
bill now on the calendar so that the
matter can be brought before the Senate
independently of any report from the FL
nance Committee. In doing so he gave
notice that If the election bill were not dis
posed of at an early day he should move
TO lay it aside for the time being in
order that the bill just introduced
by him and all other measures relat-
ing to the financial condition of the
country should DE considered. Something,
he said, ought to be done. Congress had on
1T responsibility which, in his Judgment,
it could not avoid for any great period of
time without letting go by q great oppor-
tunity for helping the country, and one
which, in his Judgment, would not occur
again in very great many years.
If something was not done within
the next two or three weeks it might
as well be postponed Indefinitely In the
morning hour the House resumed the
consideration of the Plumb resolution look
ing to the removal of the remains of Gen.
Q. S. Grant to Arlington. Mr.. Quinn, of
New York, regretted the presentation of
this resolution, which could have no other
object than the tearing asunder of the
heartstrings of the devoted family of the
illustrious dead. The resolution was finally
beaten-yeas, 90; nays, 1853
IN the Senate, on motion of Mr. Aldrich,
the House bill to authorize the payment of
drawback or rebate on tobacco (to correct
an omission in the tariff billi passed on the
10th, and it now goes to the President for
his approval. The Senate then resumed
consideration of the election bill. and Mr..
George spoke in opposition to it. Mr.. George
occupied just four hours in the delivery Of
his speech, all of which he read from manu-
script Senator Farwell introduced a bill
to amend Section of the act of July, 1890,
"directing the purchase of silver bullion
and the issue of Treasury notes thereon"
so as to read as follows: "That the
Secretary of the Treasury is hereby
directed to purchase from time to time all
the silver bullion that may be offered at the
market price thereof, not exceeding ST for
371.25 grains of pure silver, and to issue in
payment for such purchases of silver bull
ion Treasury notes of the United States to
be prepared by the Secretary of the Treas
ury, in such form and of such denomtna-
tiOns, not less than 81 nor more than 81, 900,
as he may prescribe. And a sum sufficient
to carry into effect the provisions of this
act is hereby appropriated. Congressman
Abner Taylor introduced in the House
u bill to restore the law in rela-
ton to Importation Of tinplate as it was
before the Mckinley bill was passed. He
i
pound. He says he does not ask that tin
plate be put on the free list, because he is
protectiOnist, but he thinks 1 cent will give
all the protection needed He would like to
have the Mckinley act amended by reduc-
ing duties that it increased on some other
articles, but he does not seem to be hopeful
the Ways and Means Committee will con-
sent to any change in the law.
In the Senate, the resolution offered by
d., l.. e 49,
with reccsses from to $3.50 p. M, was
taken up on the 18th. Mr.. Cockrell sug-
gested that if II a. IN. were fixed for the
hour Of meeting there would be an oppor-
tunity to attend to some committee work,
whereas if the Senate met at 10 no commit
tee work could be done. He also questioned
the advisability of night sessions and the
probability of an attendance of quorum.
No vote was taken. On motion OF Mr.. NC
Kenna of California, the House passed the
Senate bill apprOpriatng $4,000 to reim-
burse Charles n FELTON,, formerly Assistant
Treasurer of the United States at San
Francisco, for losses incurred in the pay
ment of forged checks.
THE Senate decided on the 18th to hold
longer daily sessions. The resolution
offered by Mr.. Doph instructing the Com
mittee on Privileges and Elections to in
quire and report whether the right to vote
at any election for Presidential electors,
members of Congress, or State legislatures
is denied to any male citizens of any State,
or is abridged, except for participation in
the rebellion or other crime, was taken up,
and Mr.. Dolph stated the reasons which
had induced him to offer it. What ne de-
sired the committee to give special atten-
ton to was whether some States had not
provided in their constitutions or laws such
voting qualifications as were not permitted
by Section of the fourteenth amendment
10 no a n 9lPi60mpnt
of representation. He claimed that the
constitution recently adopted in Mississippi
did impose such qualifications and that,
therefore, the representation OF that State
should be abridged. The reappOrtiOn-
ment bill, based on a representation of 356
members of the House Of REPRESENTATIVES,
as originally proposed by Mr.. Frank of
Missouri, was favOrably acted on by the
House Committee on Census. The agree
ment to report the bill was unanimous,
although Mr.. Holman and Mr.. Tillman re-
served the right to vote for different num-
Der than 356. The only vote taken was on
a motion made by Mr.. Holman to fix the
number at 1872, and it found no second.
AMONG the bills in reduced and referred,
on the 18th, were the following: By Mr..
Commando establish a record and pen
sion office in the War Department. By Mr..
Frye-To establish q marine board for the
advancement of the interests of the mer-
chant marine. Mr.. Casey offered reSOIu-
ton calling on the Secretary Of Agriculture
for information as to the progress made
in the investigation for irrigation
purposes under the deficiency act of last
session. After considerable discussion the
resolution was agreed to. The Senate then
resumed the consideration oft election bill.
Mr.. Jones. of Arkansas, made an argument
in opposition to it. The interstate meat in
spe ctiOn bill, which passed the Senate some
time ago. struck snag in the House. This
measure was designed to relieve meat
products to some extent from tie delays
and expenses of State and local in
spectors by providing for careful in
spection by United states inspectors. The
bill went through the Senate easily, but
when it was called up in the House some of
the Democrats raised an cutlery against it
on the ground that it was an unwarranted
assumption of power belonging tn me States,
and the friends of the bill consented to al
low it to be referred to the Committee on
Agriculture for report rather than TO risk
an immediate vote. The proposed legisla-
lation was desired by Chicago packers.
OF subaqueous tunnels the most
famous is that under the Thames at