The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1891-12-11

sltiOn grounds. Mr.. Cullom also intro
duced bills to suspend the coming of Chi
nese laborers to the United States and to
reduce letter postage to l cent.
Senator Manderson introduced bill
which was introduced in the House last
session to establish postal ssvin gs banks
and to encourage small savings. The bill
authorizes the POstmaster-general to desig-
nate as depositaries such postoffices as he
may think proper, which shall keep for
sale stamps of the denomination of 10 cents
and 81, to be known as postal savings
stamps. Also postal saving cards. upon
which such stamps are to be affixed when
sold, the amount of the stamp purchased to
be deposited In such banks to the credit of
the purchaser as the Secretary of the
Treasury may direct The bill provides
that q small amount of interest shall be
paid depositors. Mr.. Manderson also in
troduced q bill similar in purpose to the
one introduced by him last session to in
crease the efficiency of the infantry of the
army. The bill provides for the increase OF
infantry regiments to twelve companies.
otficered as at present, with the addition OF
junior officers for the two proposed addi-
tiOnal companies, The bill also proposed
to increase the enlisted force of the army to
thirty Thousand men.
Mr.. Platt asked for the appointment
OF three commissioners orevise the statutes
relating to patents. trade and other marks,
so far as the statutes relates to matters con-
tanned In or affected by the convention for
the protection of industrial prosperity, con-
cluded at Paris in 1883.
Mr.. Plumb introduced bill to provide
for the retirement of national bank notes
and the free coinage of silver. This is the
same bill introduced in the Senate by Mr..
Plumb last year. with few amendments.
increasing from 20 to 30 per cent. the gold
and silver reserve fund for the redemption
coinage in the United States of foreign
coin, and authorizing the Secretary of the
Treasury, inshis discretion, to call for pay
ment of customs dues in.gold or silver In
whole or in part.
DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH.
Senator Sherman introduced bill to es-
tab!ish department of public health, un-
der the charge of a medical officer. to be
appointed from civil life by the President.
This department shall obtain from consul
lar officers at foreign ports all information
available in regard TO the sanitary condi-
tion of such ports and places, and also all
information accessible from State and mu-
nicipal authorities of the sanitary condi-
tion of places within the United States. all
information gathered to be embodied in the
form of a bulletin, and transmitted weekly
to the Marine Hospital service, collectors
of customs and to State and municipal
health officers. The department also shall,
tabulate statistics relating to marriages.
births. deaths, the existence of epdemics
and all information relating to climatic
and other conditions Affecting public
with State boards of health, the signal
service. the medical department. of the
army and other branches of the govern
ment and utilize the results. 30 as to make
the department repository OF public sanl-
tary comfort All rules governing the
m ha frop hxy he padi 4
officer In charge and are to serve for the in
struction of consular officers abroad and
for masters of sailing vessels bound for the
United States from foreign ports.
Senator PETER bObbed up with a number
of bills among them being the following:
To amend the Immigration and naturaliza-
tlon laws TO grant service pensions. with
additional amounts to prisoners of war, to
provide means for their payment. and to
repeal Section OF the pension act of juno
81, 1890; to reduce the number of pension
ratings TO ten; to abolish pension agencies
and to lessen the expenses of eXaminin z
boards. Mr.. Peffer also offered resolution
which was referred to the finance commit
tee directing that committee to inquire
ana report as soon as practicable as to the
actual exp xpenses attending the business of
money lending as conducted in the United
States by bankers and other persons, both
as to short loans and long loans, the OBJ
ject being, as he declared In the resolution,
To ascertain approximately the actual and
relative cost of conducting the business of
lending money. without reference TO the
value of tho amount loaned.
Mr.. Plumb offered q resolution declaring
that Congress desires the removal of the
remains of the illustriOus soldier and
statesman. Ulysses s. Grant. to and their
interment in the Arlington National Gene.
terry. and that the President be requested
to convey to the widow of that lamented
man such desire. rendering to her on the
part of the Nation all necessary facilities
for such removal and interment." The
resolution was laid OIL the table. Mr.. Plumb
giving notice that he would call it MP at a
convenient time.
1t was field day in the Senate, that
body having broken the record in the way
of measures introduced in u single day
there having been 6l2 bills and eight Joint
resolutions presented This is about one
hundred more than ever before introduced
III one day.