Doings In Congress

Important Transactions of the Past Six Days.

A Glance Over This Column Will Show The Reader What the National Lawmakers Are Doing in the Senate and House - A Summary of the Bills and Resolutions Introduced.

Washington City, Feb. 9. -The senate Wednesday adopted Frye's resolution asking for information touching the political system of Canada and its geographical relations to the United States. A bill to enable aliens to own mineral lands in this country was considered for a time and then laid aside, and the bill appropriating $1,200,000 for a public building at Kansas City passed, as was the bill for the relief of importers of animals for breeding purposes. It takes the duty off such animals. The Blair educational bill was advocated by Call and an agreement made that the vote on it be taken Feb. 15. The senate then went into executive session and at 4:55 adjourned. Riddleberger made a vigorous attempt to gat his British treaty resolution up, but the chair ignored him after ordering him to take his seat.
The house assigned Feb. 29 for eulogies upon the late Representative Moffatt, of Michigan, and passed the bill making bills of lading conclusive evidence that the goods described therein were actually received by the subscribing common carrier. A petition from lndiannpolis, Ind., asking an appropriation of $20,000 for a monument to William Henry Harrison was received and referred. The speaker announced Tillman of South Carolina, Stone of Missouri, Chipman of Michigan, Anderson of Kansas, and Parker of New York as the Reading investigating committee, and the house adjourned.
Washington City, Feb. 10. - A bill to incorporate the Nicaraugua Canal company was reported in the senate Thursday. Also a bill to secure the relinquishment of part of the Sioux reservation in Dakota. A bill was passed for the relief of a Texas postmaster who put official money in a registered letter which was stolen from the mails. Riddleberger's resolution to have the British treaty debated in open session came up, and he said be was happy to announce that the lion's tail had been twisted by the shelving of the treaty. The next thing was his resolution for the open consideration of executive business, and he proceeded to again refer to executive business until Hawley called him to order and said he was openly, consciously and willfully guilty of violation of senate rules he had sworn to observe. The resolutions were dropped. A debate took place on the amount cf money involved in bills for public buildings, which was declared to be excessive, Vest saying its aggregate was greater than that involved in the tariff bill and the Blair bill. He added that the committee on buildings was at work on a measure to abate the abuse. A bill to prohibit the importation of aliens under contract was introduced and the senate, after an executive session, adjourned until Monday.
The committee on labor reported to the house a bill to adjust claims under the 8-hour law. Bills were introduced to prevent overloading of lake vessels and to appropriate for a further deficiency. A bill discontinuing the coinage of 3-cent pieces was passed. The bill requiring subsidized railways to maintain and operate telegraph lines was debated warmly without action and the house adjourned.
Washington City, Feb. 10. - The resolution asking the postoffice department to explain the alleged inefficiency of the mail service in Kansas was adopted by the house Friday, as was a resolution asking the war office for information regarding the alleged obstruction of the Wabash river by a Louisville & Evansville railway bridge. The house then went into committee of the whole on the private calendar, and after a long debate, principally between Springer and Cox, the bill for the relief of Nathaniel McKay and the heirs of Donald McKay was reported favorably to the house. Here Springer again resisted its passage and succeeded in preventing it by demanding the reading of the bill, and the house adjourned until Monday.
Washington City, Feb. 14. - The Philadelphia Clan-na-Gael had Riddleberger's desk in the senate ornamented with a large floral harp Monday in recognition of his opposition to the British extradition treaty. Bills were reported from committees: to provide for erection of public buildings by contract with the lowest bidder; appropriating $200,000 for a public records building in this city. Bills were introduced: to increase the pensions of veterans who have lost one or two limbs or both eyes; reducing the number of documents printed by congress from 1,900 to 700. Morgan offered a resolution for an inquiry whether congress has power to prohibit adulteration of food in the states, and whether said power is the power of taxation or of regulating commerce. Plumb opposed the educational bill. Reagan defended the post office department against the charges of inefficiency. A bill was passed appropriating $500,000 for a public building at Portland, Ore., and the senate adjourned.
Bills were introduced in the house permitting tobacco raisers to sell it in leaf to unlicensed dealers or others without restriction; prohibiting gambling in farm products; constitutional amendment limiting membership of the house to 250; authorizing the loan of the surplus; to establish a postal telegraph system; to regulate telegraph companies; for the erection of public buildings at Galesburg, Ills.; Richmond, and Lafayette, Ind. ; Davenport, Ia., and Eau Claire, Wis. The bill prohibiting the advertisement or publication of lotteries or games of chance in the District was debated and referred. A bill was passed prohibiting book-making or pools on races or athletic games in the District. A resolution was adopted asking for information as to refusal of Canada to permit refuge in Canadian waters of American vessels in distress, and the house adjourned.
Washington City, Feb. 15.- The senate Tuesday adopted a resolution requiring the commerce committee to outline the facts on each item of the river and harbor bill when reporting tho same. The alleged inefficiency of the mail service was again debated without action, Plumb, Platt, Reagan and Manderson participating. Hawley opposed the educational bill, the compulsory education of Indian children was discussed without action, and the senate adjourned after a secret session had been held.
The house appropriated $62,000 for 25,000 copies of the executive document on the subject of cattle and dairy products. The bill to license railway conductors was adversely reported. In committee of the whole the deficiency bill was taken up, but most of the time was devoted to the discussion of the bill requiring subsidized railways to maintain and operate telegraph lines. Cox introduced a bill for the refunding of $2,292,657 to the mayor, aldermen and common council of New York city, being the principal and interest of bonds issued to defend the city in 1861 and 1862. The house then adjourned.

It is reported from Springfield, Ills, that in a short time Gen. John M. Palmer and Mrs. Hannah M. Kimball, a popular widow, will be united in marriage.