The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-01-13
THE WEEK IN CONGRESS.
MATTERS TO COME BEFORE THE
HOUSE AND SENATE.

Mr.. Butler Will Speak on His Negro
Emigration Bill-The Montana Sem
atorship - -Mormons Oppose State
hood for Idaho - The New Rules.
Tariff Hearings.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 12.-The most inn
portant as we'll as the most perceptible,
progress in the woIk of legislation in con-
gress is still shown in the committee stage.
Senator Morgan's bill for the disposal of
public mineral lands in Alabama is the
only measure upon the calendar Of unfin-
ished business before the Senate, and it
awaits the senator's return to be called up
for final action.
ALAsKA'S SEAL FISHERIES.
According to notice given last Thursday,
Senator Plumb will address the Senate to-
morrow upon the resolution introduced by
him last week. requesting the Secretary of
the Treasury to postpone the leasing of the
Alaska seal fisheries until further action by
congress, or until the latest period made
necessary by the existing law; and that
meanwhile he make a full report to the
Senate of the manner in which the Alaska
Commercial Company has discharged its
duties and obligations under the present
lease, and also what additional legislation,
If any, is necessary in order that the inter-
ests of the government and of the natives
and citizens of Alaska may be more fully
protected.
MR.. BUTLER'S EMIGRATION BILL.
Senator Butler has indicated his intention
to speak this week on his bill providing for
the emigration of negroes from the south at
public expense, under the direction of the
quarternaster general of the army. Should
he address the Senate on this subject, SEN
ator Ingalls, and other republican senators
willreply.
THE MONTANA SENATORS.
The credentials of the four senators
elected by rival legislatures of Montana
are expected to be laid before the Senate
this week. Objection viii be made TO seat
ing either the republican or democratic
contestants pending investigation and re-
port upon their claims by the committee on
privileges and elections. In the absence of
Senator Hoar, the chairman of that com-
mittee, no one is authorized to speak con-
corning the probable scope of the investiga-
tion that will be made. A member of the
committee, however, said to-day that he
was in favor of going fully into the ques-
ton of the legality of the organization of
the Montana legislature. He had always
held that the Senate should do this in case
of contested elections; but he admitted that
he had generally found himself in opposi-
tion to the views of the majority on that
subject.
OPEN SESSIONS.
Senators Platt and Teller, it is under
stood, will make an attempt this week to
have the Senate take up the resolution pro-
viding for the consideration of all ex-
ecutive nominations in open session.
MoRMONS TO HAVE A HEARING.
The committee on territories tomorrow
morning will hear the representatives of the
Idaho Mormons, who oppose the bill to ad-
init that territory as a state, because the
proposed constitution excludes Mormons
from citizenship. Delegate Dubois
of Idaho will appear before the COM
mittee and answer the Mormons' COM
plants. If the committee decides that the
objections of the Mormons are not we'll
founded, the bills for the admission of
Idaho and Wyoming will be reported
favorably at once.
TERRITORIAL GOVERNMENT FOR OKLAHOMA,
An effort will be made this week also to
hasten progress on the bill to give Okla
homa territorial form of government. At
present there are no formally constituted
territories in that country, and, owing to
fear of outbreaks resulting from this condi-
tion of things, the proposed municipal cleo
tion in Guthrie has been postponed until
form of government shall have been pro-
vided under which the results of the cleo
tion can be peacefully established.