Thomas County cat., 1890-05-08
FIFTY-FIRST CONGRESS.

FIFTY-FIRST CONGRESS.
NKYYICINT CLKRKs.
In the house an amendment to the leQisla-
tive appropriation bill was adopted requiring
the heads Of departments to report to con-
gress the number of persons In their depart
ments who are inefficient.
CALL OF THE House.
When the house reached this bill for final
passa e it required q i've hours call of the
house to get quorum; and then, as several
members refused to vote upon ordering the
previous question, quorum was counted"
and then at II p. IN. the house adjourned.
FREMONT, NEBRASKA.
In the house the conference report ON the
Fremont, Neb., public bNilding bill was sub.
mitted by Mr.. Miliken. of Maine, and was
agreed to. The limit of cost Is $50, 900.
WITHOUT DIVISION.
The legislative, executive and judicial an
preparation bill was passed without division.
THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER.
The senate discussed memorials in relation
to the Mississippi river, as to whether the
levee system, or the outlet system, was the
correct one, or whether there should not be
combination of the two.
CORRECTING AN ERROR.
Senator Platt offered concurrent resolu-
ton (which was agreed to) requesting the
president to return the Oklahoma bill. He
explained that towing to an error of his OWN
the word ''west' had been used in place of
the word least" in the description of bound
aries.
The house took the same action.
THE LAND FORFEITURE BILL.
The senate has passed the land forfeiture
bill.
IRRIGATION AND NEGOTIATIONS WITH MEXICO.
The house concurred in the senate resolu-
tion concerning the irrigation of the arid
lands in the valley of the Rio Grande, and
the construction of dam cross that river
at or near Ell Paso for the storage of its waste
waters. The president is requested to enter
into negotiations with the government of
Mexico with a view to the irrigation of the
valley.
An amendment was agreed to requesting
the president to include in the negotiations
all other subjects of interest which may be
deemed liable to affect the present or pros
pective relations of the two governments.
This amendment was, the same day, agreed
by the senate.
THE EIGHT HOUR DAY.
Senator Reagan presented petition of local
union No. S69, United Brotherhood of Car
penters and Joiners of America, calling at
tention to the fact that in 1868 congress
passed law making eight hours days
work on all government work, and that al
though pnblic opinion has compelled the ex-
ecutive department of the government to en-
force the law on all work done directly by
the government, no attention has been paid to
the law in letting government contracts. Ihe
petitioners then ask as a means OF encourag-
ing the general adoption of the eight hour
system, if it is consistent with justice and
tn
80 amended as to require the insertion OF an
eight hour clause in all contracts for govern
ment work.
Mr.. Dolph, from the committee on foreign
relations, reported a concurrent resolution
requesting the president to negotiate with
the governments of Great Britain and Mex
leo with a view of securing treaty stipulations
for the prevention of the entry into the
United States of Chinese from Canada and
Mexico.
SERVICE PENSION.
The house substituted the Morrill, service
pension bill for the senate pension bill on its
calendar. 1t was then amended so as to nix
the age of veterans who receive the benefit OF
it at 60 instead of g. The bill was then
passed by the house. See other dispatches.
A PROGRAM.
| Mr.. Mckinley, from the committee on
rules for the immediate consideration Of
bills reported from the Judiciary committee
in the following order: Senate bill relating
! to trusts: house bill relating to copyrights;
house bill relating to bankruptcy and such
other bills as the committee may call up.
The previous question was ordered-yeas,
Isl; nays, 20.
MONOPOLY AND TRUSTS.
The house proceeded to consider the senate
DILL to protect trade and commerce against
! unlawful restraints and monopoles.
| Mr.. Bland, of Missouri. offered an amerd-
ment making unlawful any contract or agree
ment to prevent competition in the sale or
purchase of any commodity transported
| from one state to another. The amendment
was adopted on a viva voce vote and the bill
was passed in the same manner with single
negative vote.
| TARIFF DISCUSSION.
During the debate Mr.. Cannon announced
that the tariff discussion would bewin next
| week.
| CANADIAN COMPETITIONS.
The senate committee on interstate COM
merce made report detailing the manner OF
determinations practiced under Canadian
trade regulations against American carriers,
both by rail and by water. The committee
recommend that these acts of Canada be net
and balanced in way to give American car
TleEs du tQudl CIidIltc toiipCtitioiAS " inv
charges on Canadian carriers.
EXPRESS COMPANIES.
Senator Vest introduced bill to amend
the interstate commerce act, stating that its
object was to place express companies under
the provision of that act.
COPYRIGHT BILL.
The house resumed consideration of the
copyright BILL The bill was discussed all the
afternoon. The vote was then taken on the
engrOssment and third reading OF the bill,
and it was defeated-yeas, 9S: nays, l36.
The Kansas delegation voted solidly against
the bill.
NEWS RREvITIES.
There is great 6estitution among colored
settlers in Oklahoma.
Canadian weavers in cotton mills have
struck against 10 per cent. reduction OF.
wages.
Damage to the amount of $3O, 900 has been
done to property at the Rock Island arsenal
by an overflow.
Mo-, 1oy a ok ono Pit{sb,rr0 htit