The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1894-12-14
WORK OF CONGRESS.
pOiNGS OF OUR NATIONAL LAW
MAKERS.
Proceedings of the Senate and House
Briefly Summarized-Measu In
troduced, Passed, or Referred to
Committee-Routin Work.


Coming Work of Congress.
The present session of Congress is not
unlikely to be marked by some interesting
debates. 1t seems altogether likely that
the session will be partially devoted to n
discussion of the currency problems be-
fore the country, the President having
set the discussion going by the recon-
mendations of his message. 1t VIII De
strange if the West and South do not
make one more attempt to pass a free sii-
yer measure. There have been elected
several new Congressman, who VIII, when
their time comes. no doubt act with the
free silver side. The income tax VIII I'M
doubtedly come before the present SEES
sion of Congress. There was an appro-
priation of 50 900 made on the recommen-
dation of Secretary Carlisle to provide Tor
the hire of clerks and the cost OF the
preparation of blanks to be used in its
collection, but it will take at least half
million dollars a year TO provide for the
cost of the machinery of collection In the
Offices of the district collectors of internal
revenue. Senator Hill and his school Of
opponents Of the income tax have addi-
tional chance to voice their opposition TO
IT, The tariff is not out of the woods yet.
pendent measure providing for the free
entrance of many staples into the coun-
try, have come over from the first session
of the Fifty-third Congress, and as all or
them have devotees, they are sure 10 be
brought forward for discussion, If not for
action. This closing session of Congress
will have one merit that its predecessor
did not have. That is that the country
knows when it will end. The first SEES
sion didn't have that desirable quallnca-
ton.
Up to Thursday neither branch had
gotten in shape for active work. The re-
ports of the Cabinet Ministers had been
received and both houses discussed tnen
carefully. Congressman Fithian, OF iii
nois, introduced two bills affecting the
shipping interests. The bills were de-
signed to relieve sailing vessels of por-
ton of their tonnage tax, and transfer lt
to steam vessels, and to change the meas
urement law to make it conform to those
of Great Britain, Norway and other ma
tons. The object sought is to diminish
the amount of taxes which the vessels or
the United States have to pay in foreign
ports. A bin providing for the free coin
age of silver was introduced in the House
by Representative Hartman, of Mon
tana. An important provision of the
measure is that requiring import duties
to be paid in gold in cases where the arti-
cles of importation are brought from
countries whose Governments refuse TO
open their minis to the free coinage of
silver and gold. The Senate called for
correspondence and information relative
to several foreign questions, and the
House passed bill to transform Shiloh's
battle field into a national park
In the Senate Thursday some state pa
pers from the President were received.
Mr.. Turpie advocated the election of
Senators by direct vote. The bill exempt
ing from duty foreign exhibits ut the
Portland (OreD exposition, and a bill ex-
tending the time for commencing and
completion of bridge across the Mssis-
sippi River at New Orleans was passed.
Mr.. Ransom gave notice that the memo
rial services for the late Senator Vance
would be held Jan. II next. A bill was
passed for the national dedication of the
Chickamauga and Chattanooga national
park Sept. 10 and 20, 1895, under the di-
rection Of the Secretary of War. The en-
tire time of the House was occupied in
the discussion of the railroad pooling bill.
No action, however. was taken.
The Senate devoted Monday TO n dis
cuSSlon OF our foreign relations ana the
Nicaragua canal. The House devoted
the day, under the rules, to the business
reported from the District of Columbia
Committee. Several bills of purely local
Importance were passed and resolution
was adopted setting aside the third Satur-
day in January for eulogies on the life
and character of Marcus b. Lisle, late
representative from the Tenth Kentucky
District.
The House on Tuesday, after spirited
debate, passed the bill legalzing the pool
ing of railroads, by a vote of 1G6 to 40.
Mr.. Breckenridge of Kentucky reported
the urgent deficiency bill NJ Dingley
of Maine asked unanimous consent FOR
the consideration of n resolution calling
on the Secretary of the Treasury for in
formation first as TO whether the arti-
cles of the Behring Sea tribunal had re-
suited last season in saving the fur seal
herds from that destruction they were
intended to prevent; second, information
as to the number and sex of seals killed
by pelagic sealers; third, the protection
of fur seal herds on the Pribyloff Islands:
and fourth, the revenue derived by thu
Government from the seals during the
past and the expenditure of the Govern
ment for the protection during the sans
period. The business of the Senate was
confined TO confirming nominations.