The sun., 1890-05-15
CONGRESSIONAL,
A Resume of the Proceedings
OF Congress During the
Past Week.
SENATE.

SENATE.
The senate confirmed the nomination of ].
c. Donahower, marshall of Minnesota.
The pension legislation is to be tied up in
conference committee and q deal of trouble
Is expected before an adjustment can be
reached.
The Morrill, bill, which has passed the house
during his absence, was brought into the SEN
ate as the first piece of business after he en-
tered the cham ber. The house had amended
the senate bill by what is practicallythe sub
stitution Of another bill. Senator Davis
moved that the senate non-concur in the
amendment and that the bill go back to the
committee. conference committee will be
asked.
The house debated and finally rejected the
international copyright BILL Mr. Hopkins
OF Illinois said that the ostensib!e purpose
OF the bill was to extend the rights of Amer
ican authors to foreign authors, but the
measure meant vastly more than this. The
inevitable result of it would be to create a
gigantic publishing mon opoly which would
raise the price of every book and periodical
printed in this country
Secretary Rusk has written to Representa-
tive Pickler that the first instaIlment OF
seeds, which it is proposed to distribute
among the farmers alliances OF South Dako-
ia, have been forwarded to Aurora and Boz
Homme counties.
SENATE.
The senate passed the senate bill to amend
the pre-emption and homestead laws provid-
ing for the selection of lands for educational
purposes IN lieu OF those appropriated to
other purposes
The Republican senate caucus committee
on silver had another meeting. Several OF
the members were absent and no attempt
was made to commit those present to the
support OF any one OF the several PROPOSE
tions that have been before the committee
from time to time.
Senator Casey of North Dakota and SEN
ator over OF Montana introduced bills pro-
viding ior the survey of public lands in their
states. Senator Casey's bill calls for an ap-
preparation of 100000. The compensation
is to be 50 for standard and meander lines
per mile; 81 per mile for township lines; 8;
for section lines.
The house committee on public buildings
has favorably reported the bill for q building
at Butte City, Mont, the amount of appro-
priation being $15O,OOO.
The house went into committee of the
whole on the diplomatic and consular ap-
preparation bill. Mr.. McCreary (kentucky)
made an argument in favor of reciprocity
with the South American republics. The Nc
Kinley tariff bill, he said tended to close the
Canadian and other markets now open to
the surplus products of the United States,
although the United States should have re-
ciprocity with Canada as well as with coun-
tries of Central and South America. He eulo-
gized the work of the Pan-American confer
ence and declared that the example and wis
dom of the conference had hastened the
downfall of the empire of Brazil and the es
tablshment of the republic.
SENATE.
There was an unusually large number of
senator's present in the chamber and of spec
cot t1o,,
opening prayer was offered by the chaplain.
MIR. Beck's desk and chair was covered with
black Grape, and a feeling of solemnity per-
vaded the chamber. After the passage of
resolutions concerning the deceased Senator,
the senate adjourned.
HOUSE.
On motion of Mr.. Mckinley, of Ohio, the
senate amendments to the customs admins
trative bill were non-concurred in and a con-
ference ordered. Messrs. Mckinley, Burrows
and Carlisle were appointed conferees.
The following bills were passed under sus-
pension of the rules:
Authorizing the secretary of war to estab-
lsh new barbor lines in Portage Lake, Mich.
Senate bill to establish two additional land
offices in the state OF Washington.
Senate bill authorizing the Arkansas Pass
Harbor company to improve Arkansas Pass.
Mr. Perkins. Of Kansas, called up and the
house agreed to the conference report on the
OKldhOma town slte
SENATE.
A meeting of the senate committee on pen
sions was held to-day, at which the Morrill,
disability and service pension bill com bined,
substituted by the house for the senate de-
pendent pension bill, was under considera-
tion. Formal action was postponed until
the next meeting of the committee. It is
,tnderstoo2, DO u.er-2Sq +hqt annosition to the
house measure was practically updrlmrrs
and fh1f fhp anrOniffoa rril : r.
senate to non-concur in the action of the
house.
HOUSE
jThe many prominent measures pending in
botn houses ofCongress, and upon which the
friends of all are fighting for right of way,
has caused some bad blood among party
leaders. Chairman of committees are anx-
ious to get the large bills they have under
consideration first before the house or
senate, as the case may be. Then all
members with private bills want them con-
sidered, but have to stand aside now until
the national measures are out of the way.
In the house the silver bill, river and harbor
bill and tariff bill had the first of hard
struggle for the supremacy, and the tariff
bill won. In the senate the admission OF
Idaho and Wyoming and the silver bills are
crowding each other for place, while other
bills of less Importance are being pushed.
Thr death of Senator Beck dis arranged the
ly that several bills will now have tussel
for supremacy. The tariff bill will be on in
the house at once.
SENATE.
Mr.. Gray moved to proceed to the consid-
Grafton of the bill to transfer the revenue
marine service to the navy department..
Agreed to;
The Senate then proceeded to the consider
alton of the senate bill authorizing the issue
nj trpaSurv OOtnl on dpDOait nf Eilvnr hullicn
The debate concluded with an execu tive
session.
HOUSE.
Mr.. Rowell, of Illinois, presen ted the report
of the committee on elections on the Alabama
contested election case of McDufie vs. Turpie.
The report (Which faVors the claims of the
contestant) was ordered printed.
Mr.. Mckinley, of Ohio, moved to go into
committee of the whole for the consideration
of the tariff bill, and the whole day was spent
in discussion, Mckinley and Mills being the
principal speakers.
SENATE.
The Republicans put off the discussion of
the silver bill until Monday in hopes they
may before that time come to sAme kind oi
an agreement and pass Republican bill.
But there is no possibility ofreaching such
conclusion.
The pension appropriation bil ,appropri.
ating for the next fiscal year $97, 900, ,761),
was then taken up. Amendments offered by
Mr.. Sherman and Mr. Washburn, to increase
the number sl pension agents from iS to 90
and to u, gave rise to long discussion and
then went over.
HOUSE.
Members ofcongress are not paying very
much attention to the tariff debate thus far
and in this regard do not differ from the
public at large. While distinguished repre-.
sentatives were talking less than half doz.
en- members were in their seats. The only
men that have commanded attention are Nc
Kiriley, and Mill" There are no other mem
bers Of the Republican side of the committee
WIG win get much attention except Lafollette
Sf SfWisconsin.