The Washington bee., 1892-05-14
NATIONAL CAPITAL AFFAIRS.
Late News at the Seat of Government,
The Week in Congress.

Without comment or division tin
House passed the bill lappropriating $3.50,
600 TO enable the President to carry ou
the stipulations of the Behring Sea agree
ment with Great Britain. The free
binding twine bill was taken up anG
passed by vote of 1873 yeas to AZ nays
under suspension of the rules. THE
conferrees reached an agreement on the
Chinese exclusion bill. The basis is the
Senate bill, containing clauses providing
for registration of resident Chinese and
| for the suspension of bail in habeas cor.
| pus applications finally agreed on
| by the House committee the fortifica-
tiOns bill carries an appropriation of
81, 2,412,376, which is S6,974, ,431 less thar
the estimates, and 81 1862. 427 less than
the appropriations for the current year.
The vote on the River and Harbor
bill was very spirited in the House. The
bill. as reported, carries an appropriation
IF $21 ,00O, 900, and some of its opponents
charged that it provided contracts that
would call for an expenditure of $26,
100000 additional. Mr.. Holman at.
tackled the bill, but in the consideration
Of the bill by items many appropriations
were increased. The majority of the
House Judiciary committee has made an
adverse report on the proposed amend
ment of the constitution looking to uni
form marriage and divorce laws. The
majority argue that the jurisdiction 0
congress is now too wide, and some of
its powers should be remitted to the
States rather than that new powers
should be taken from them. THE
House finance committee has agreed tc
report favorably bills appropriating
800, 900 for the extension of free posta.
delivery in rural districts, and providing
for the issue of fractional nOtes.-An
appropriation of $4,000 for the improve
ment of Salt River, in Kentucky, wa-
offered in the House by Mr.. Carruth, "in
the interest of defeated Presidential can
didates, as he suggested. IA tax of /
per cent per package of patent medicine
and proprietary annual license of 500
has been projected in the House.-The |
bill to consolidate third and fourth class
mail matter and fix postage upon it at |
cent for every two ounces or Fraction, |
thereof, and bill providing that ali
contracts shall forbid tn, |
employment of convict labor upon pen |
atty of forfeiture of the contract. hayd
been reported favorably to the House,
Senator Teller has proposed an amend |
nent to the naval bill appropriating $50,
700 for the construction of Hurst high
explosive S-inch rifle, the joint inven.
ion of General Hurst, of Mississippi and
General Hawley, of Connecticut, and per.
hitting the use of $50, 900, already appro.
'rated for gun tests, to test the gun.
The naval appropriation bill was
AIKEN up in the Senate Tuesday, and sew
raj amendments offered THE civil
undry appropriation bill was taken VI
the House, leaving only three of tho
agular annual appropriation bills to be
eported to the House, viz. The legis.
tive, executive and judicial, the agri
lltural and the deficiency bills.-Dis
lssion of the river and harbor bill was
during the present week, de.
effort being made to reduce
le items of appropriation Har.
II offered three separate resolutions in
le House instructing the ways and ,
cans committee to report bills placing
the free list all grades of sugar upon '
hlch the law still requires a tariff, iron |
es, copper ores and agricultural imple. l
ents, paper and board made from @
raw, wheat flour, lead in the ore and i
ick machinery.