The Red Cloud chief., 1897-12-17
CONGRESSIONAL CHAT
WEEKS DOINCS OF NATION
AL LAWMAKERS.
A General Resume of the Most Import.
ant Lnbors OF tho House and senate
Executive and Departmental Action
Noted Briefly.

Representative Lorrimcr Of Illinois
has introduced u bill for postal savings
banks.
One of the interesting items in the
agricultural appropriation bill Is u
provision for $4,000 for an %agricultur.
al experiment station in Alaska.
Congressman Mercer has introduced
n bill granting right of way to the
Omaha Northern railroad through the
eastern portion of the state of Ne
braska.
| The American Protective Association
will seek To oppose the appointment of
Acknowledgement Mckenna to the
supreme bench because of his religion,
he being n Catholic.
The senate committee on Indian af-
fairs has reported favorably on Sena-
tor Aliens bill providing for n con-
gress of Indian tribes to he held at
Omaha during the exposition.
A bitter fight is to be wagcd in the
house over the civil service law.
Many of the members favor the repeal
or modification of the law. How long
the debate will last it is impossible to
predict.
The house committee on education
has reported favorably the bill to aid
in the establishment Of homes in the
states and territories for teaching
%articulate and vocal language to dear
children before they are of school age.
A statement prepared ut the post
office department shows that the gross
postal receipts at fifty of the largest
Offices for November amounted to S3,-
az, s6s, an increase of $685., 533, or II
$40 per cent ove the corresponding
month of last year.
Petitions have been presented by
Judge Strobe and :. NJ. Benedict of
Lincoln in favor of free coinage and
repeal of the national banking laws
and by Mr.. Mercer from citizens of
Boyd county requesting the Nebraska
delegates to favor the free homes bill.
The outlook for changing the civil
service law is being actively can
vassed among republican members of
the house as n result of n conference
recently. The members of the special
committee having the matter in charge
are trying to so shape u bill that it
will command the support of u number
Of divergent elements.
Representative johnson of North
Dakota is preparing u bill providing
for the complete determination of the
seal herd of Behring sea. He says it
has been amply demonstrated that the
seals are IA worthless asset and that
their determination will be in the
interest of peace among nations and
economy for the United States.
A bill to establish the university of
the United States has been introduced
in both houses of congress. The bill
in general terms provides for an in
stitution of the highest possible type
for the graduates of accredited colleges
and universities only, with special
reference to the work of original re-
search and investigation in all i'm
portant fields of inquiry
Judge Strobe the other day called
upon the secretary of agriculture in
the interests of Miss Louisa T.. Wilson
of Nebraska, o temporarily EN-
ployed as n microscopic in the bureau
of animal industry ut South Omaha.
Miss Wilson, who has taken the civil
service examination, is DESTROYS of be-
ing appointed on the permanent roll.
Judge Strobe was informed that if she
"a piNNNu liz tNdiliiiiutlOll SHt IllUlJ
be retained.
Secretary Gage has issued a public
notice that the treasury department on
December -, 1897. will be ready to be-
gin the rebate of interest of the bonds
issued in aid of the Pacific railroad,
commonly known a currency skies
and maturing January l.ls0s. and that
checks will be make on December - in
payment of principal and interest to
maturity of bonds presented before
that date. The aggregate of the bonds
maturing on January / is SO, 0Oi, 1853.
Secretary of the Navy Long has
written Miss Christine Bradley. daugh-
ter of Gov. Bradley of Kentucky, ask
ing her to do him the honor to christen
the battleship Kentucky. The battle
ship Kentucky was ordered by u
democratic administration. and Mr..
Herbert, who happened to be secretary
of the navy at that time, invited Miss
Richardson to christen the ship, but
the ship was not completed in time
and now n republican girl will have
that honor. Good old Kentucky bour-
bon will be used.
The secretary to the treasury has re-
appointed all of the members of the
board of tea experts established under
the act of March ., 1897. In the course
of his letter notifying the members of
their rcappointmcnt Secretary Gage
said: 1T is sufficient to say that en-
tire satisfaction with your work has
been expressed in all parts of the coun-
try, and that the grade and quality of
teas offered for sale in this country
has been steadily improving under the
effects of the rules established on the
recommendation of your board"
Representative Maxwell attempted
to speak upon the floor of the house
recently, but his remarks were scarce
ly audible to his elbow neighbors and
the stenographers could with difficulty
take down the congressman's remarks.
The speaker could not hear the Judges
words and the house generally was un-
aware that anyone was speaking. The
judge appealed for fairness toward
members, the speaker and country ut
large upon "A motion to strike from the
Congressional Record an unspoken
word thought to reflect on soldiers and