CONGRESSIONAL. SKNATE Wednesday , January 28. Mr. Ilour from the committee on Judiciary , reported the original hill relating to the en forcement of law In Utah. Petitions were presented and referred By Mr. Slater , from the citizens of Oregon and Washing ton territory , pray ing tint the lands granted , to the Oregon Central .railroad company be re&tored to thn public domain ; also , that of the Northern Pacific. By Mr. Logan , from ex-fioldiers of the Union army , praying for tbe enactment of | a general law for the relief of that class of citizens. By Mr. Plntt , from Prof. Theodore Wolse- ley and other * , praying for the passage of a law for the collection of divorce statistics. Mr. Logan , from the committee on appro priations , reported favorably the bill mak ing an appropriation of $11,1)00 for the Im provement of the dam above the pool at the Jtock Island arsenal , and asked unanimous consent for its immediate consideration. Pending action on this a raesengo was re ceived announcing the death of Jlcpreseuta- tlve Mackey , and the matter w.as laid over , and the senate , after appointing a commit tee to attend the funeral , adjourned. SENATE Tuesday , January 29. Mr. Test , from the committee on public lands , reported fovorahly the bill repealing the tim ber culture laws. Placed on tbe calendar. Mr. Cameron ( Wls. ) introduced a bill for the establishment of the territory of North Dakota. Mr. Platt offered a resolution for which he asked immediate consideration , directing the committee on postofllces and post roads to Inquire whether telegraph charges had been Injuriously affected by the large fitok divider ds by thn Western Union company or consolidations of contracts with compiling or other companies , and whether through gold stock , teleuraph company or otherwise , the Western Union company pre scribed rules or regulations for the transmission of press news. Mr. Sherman's resolution on the Virginia and Mississippi elections was taken up. The matter was brought to a vote and the reso lution passed 33 yeas , 2J ) nays. A resolu tion appropriating $50,000 for the main tenance of destitute Indians wa increased to $100,000 and passed. Thn house bills making appropriations of $375,000 rebate tobacoo tax , and $21,005 for the expenses of the legislature of New Mexico were passed. The bill providing a method for settling in complete titles to Mexican land grants on lands derived Prom Mexico by the United States in New Mexico , Wyoming Arizona and Utah was discussed at length without action. HOUSE. The speaker laid before the house a communication from the secretary of war in response to the resolution calling for information as to the average number of commissioned oflirers in the army from the 4th of March , 1857 , and 4th of March , 1801 , and between the 4th of March , 1857 , and the 4th of March , 1881. The secretary btates that for the first period the average number was 2,474 , of whom 180 were tried by court-martial , and 122 convicted. Bills were introduced Mr. Mason , to in crease the p'ensionj * of widows and depend ent relatives of deceased soldiers. Mr. Woods , to prevent the employment of op eratives on railway trains more than twelve hours ont of twenty-four. Mr. . Wilson ( Ta. ) , providing for the inspection and cer- tiiictitiou of meat products for exporta- * ion. Mr. Merrill , pensioning widows and children of deceased sqldiers. Mr. Wood , to reduce the tariff rates on the different kinds and qualifies of sugar ; also , to reduce the duty on woolen goods , flan nels , blankets , women's aud children's dress goods and ready-made clothing. Mr. Hewitt ( N. Y. ) , to authorize the titles of newspapers to be copyrighted. Mr. War ren ( Ohio ) , to better secure the stability of paper currency. SENATE Wednesday , January 30. Mr. Hale called up the report of the com mittee on conference of both houses relating to the Greely relief expedition. The report recommends that the senate recede from its amendment requiring that only persons who volunteer for service shall be detailed for the expedition. Mr. Sherman said if he had Icnown that the bill authorized the secretary of the navy to order any man outside the line of his'duty , and thus take his life in his hands , he would not have voted for it. Mr. Saulsbury opposed the bill. If the secre tary of the navy wanted to punish any of- ' fice'r , such assignment would afford the op portunity. Tne hour of 1 o'clock having ar rived , the senate proceeded in a body to the house to attend the funeral of the late Kop- rcsentatlve Muckey. On their return the senate adjourned. HOUSE. The following reports were submitted from committees : Mr. Batch Mo. ) , from the committee on agriculture , to establish a bureau of animal industry and prevent the spread of contagious dis eases among domestic animals. 3Ir. Pu- Bluffs. Referred to committee of the whole. When the hour of 1 o'clock arrived thepub- q business w.is suspen ded , pending the funeral of Representative Mackey , of South Carolina. The casket wis borne into the chamber and placed in front of the speaker's desk , selections of scripture were read by Rev. Dr. E. D. Huntley , and an appropri ate address delivered by Rev. Dr. Rush Shippen , of the Unitarian church. After the benediction by the house chaplain , the funeral procession left the chamber , the members of the senate having retired. SENATE. Thursday , January 31. The conference report on the Greeley relief bill was taken up and the senate refused , 25 to 27 , to concur in the report , and rt- solved to appoint a new committee. The ' chair laid before the senate further papers relative to discriminations against the United States commerce between Cuba and Porto Rico' Also , a communication from the attorney-general saying that his force was not sufficient to supply copies of the papers called for , and ask ing for an immediate appropriation. A resolution directing the committee on postolfices and post roads to investij-ate the cost of telegraphic correspondence , and if it had been affected by contracts between the Western Union and other companies , was taken up and agreed to. HOUSE.Mr. . Anderson , from the committee on public lands , reported a reso lution , which was adopted , calllngupou the secretary of the interior to explain by what -L authority 189,000 acres of land were certi- jied in the state of Kansas for the bent-lit of. the Atchison , Topeka and Santa Fe railroad , At the conclusion of the mornirg hour the " house proceeded to the consideration of the calendar. The first bill was that declaring forfeited certain grants of land made in certain states to aid the construction of railroads. It forfeits all lands , granted in Mississippi under act of August 11,1856 , except tbe grant to the railroad from Jack son to the , Alabama state line ; also the grants In Alabama underacts of June 3,1856 , and March 3 , 1851 , for a road from Elyton to tbe Tennessee river , and the Memphis and Charleston and Savannah and Albany roads. The speaker laid before the house the re port of the secretary of state and accom- panving papers relative to the restrictions of American hop products Into Germany and France , After a clash as to what commit tee ft. snould go to , it was ordered printed and laid on the table. HQUSE FKIDAY , January 27. The conference which was asked .for by the senate on the Greely relief bill was agreed to. Randall and Calkins were appointed as conferees. The speaker appointed Ellis , Uolman and Ryan as conferees on the part of the house on the bill appropriating $50 , - 000 In support of destitute Indians In Mon tana. The morning hour was dispensed with. and the house went into committed of the whole ( Springer in the chair ) on the Fitz John Porter bill. A number of short speeches were made on .both fcides of the question. Mr. Steele moved to strike out the name of Fitz John Porter and insert the name B. Barnet. Re jected. Mr. Calkins offered a substitute providing for the convening of a court martial to review the case. Lost. Mr. Converse offered an amendment making Fitz John Porter's retirement compulsory. This was agreed to in the committee , but subsequently reversed in the house. Mr. Bayne offered an amendment striking out the words "appolntniontunderit , " and in serting the ' 'passage of this act. ' Agreed to. The bill then passed yeas , 184 ; nays 78. When Poland cast his vote in the affirma tive there wap a round of applause on the democratic side. The following members were among those who paired : Blackburn , White ( Ky. ) , Brown ( Pa. ) , Ermentrout , Howey , Ilitt , Eaton , Wall , Budd. George , Kasson , Talbot , Kelley , Randall , Miller ( Pa. ) , Kctcham'Warner ( Ohio ) , Wilson ( Iowa ) . Rice , Covington , Holton , Valen tine , Hardy and Ellis. Nebraska Grand Army Eneamp- ment. FKEMONT , January 00. In the Grand Army encampment held here to-day , it was decided on the first ballot that the reunion would be held at Fremont. The time has not yet been fixed upon. The vote stood , for Fremont , 2(57 ( ; for Columbus , G8. The council of administration , after a dis cussion of nearly two day decided to allow the bills incurred at the Hastings reunion last year. But it is expected that they will be set aside when they come before the en campment. Fremont agrees to fur nish everything required to con duct the reunion , and a thou sand dollars besides. The bid of Columbus provided no bonus whatever. There are 176 post commanders present. The follow ing officers were eleoted for the department encampment of the Grand Army of the Republic of Nebraska : Commander , H. E. Palmer ; senior commander , T. S. Clarkson ; junior vice-commander , A. D. Cole ; medical director , M. W. Stone ; chap lain , J. C. Lewis. The following is the re union committee : S. B. Jones , J. O. West , John Hammond , F. G. Purcell , G. W. E. Dorsey , I. C. Case and E. W. Morse. The next encampment will be held at Beatrice. - e - The Protracted Strike Over. PITTSBITRG , January 'JO. The long strike of tha window glass workers is at an end. and after seven months of idleness tl men will return to work as aoon as the fuj naces are heated. While both sides great concessions , the terms at which tl worn is resumed largely favors the wor | men , who will be paid last year's wai until April 1st , when a sliding scale will into effect , wages thereafter to be govern ] by card rate , or the gla s scale will lie sn ject to changes even * four weeks , and t | agreement will last until July 1st , am found to work satisfactorily , will probal be adopted for the ensuing year. A nui ber of factories have already started fin By the resumption 2,500 men will be li : nished employment in this city. B Public Debt Statement. WASHINGTON , February 1.- Decrease of the national debt for January , $11,958,004 ; decrease since June 3'1 ' , 188 ? , $ b5,007,488 ; cash in treasury , $393,415,2 $ } ; gold certifi cates , $101,250,620 ; silver certificates , $110 , 137,051 ; certificates of deposit , $16- 8SOCOD , refunding certificates , $306,950 ; legal tenders , $3,466,810 ; fractional curren cy , $6,987,250. A Lady's Street Car Discovery. Indianapolis T.mes. A day or so ago one of the most prominent and elegant ladies of the city went aboard an Illinois street car. By tbe time she was seated and had selected a nickel to pay her fare , a well-dressed , good-looking gentleman entered tbe car , and , seeing that she wished the change deposited in the box , received it from her for that purpose. The lady noticed that the w. d. , g. 1. gentleman dropped her nicKel in the box , but dropped none for himself. She was , of course , surprised and dis gusted at the meanness and dishonesty of the transaction. She saw the driver look several times at the box and then into the car , and she imagined he was looking at her. Sbe was uncomforta ble , and formed a resolution. When the car arrived opposite her residence she stopped it , and , calling the atten tion of the driver , pointed out the w. d. , g. 1. gentleman , and said , in his hearing : "I handed my fare to this gentleman and he put it in the box , but put nothing in for himaell. " The driver answered : "It's all right , Mrs. ; that's Col. Johnson , president of the street car company. " m * Served Him Bight. Klcratcd Railway Journal. Mary was a buxom country lass , and her father was an upright deacon in the Methodist c1 urch of a Connecticut vil lage. Mary's plan of joining the boys "and giils in a nutting party was frus trated by the unexpected arrival of a number of the "brethren" on their way to a conference , and Mary had to stay at home and get dinner for her father's clerical guests. Her already ruffled temper was increased by the reverened visitors themselves , who sat about the stove and in the way. One of the good ministers noticed her wrathful im patience , and desiring to rebuke the sinful manifestation , said sternly : "Mary , what do you think will be your occupation in hell ? " "Pretty much the same asjt is on earth , " sherepliod ; "cooking for Methodist ministers. " TOWABDS THE BOOKIES. The Character of The New Northwest. The Week. One sees little life anywhere from a rail way carriage , and , when the country is level , covered with a uniform net of thick grass , green or russett , according to the time of the year , the view from the window soon ceases to interest , an-l no one regrets that he misses 200 or 300 miles of it during the night. And we learn as little by hearing as by see ing. The information picked up by the way , chiefly in the odd minutes at-sta- tions , is not of the most reliable nature ; and nowhere is it so difficult to get at the truth as in the nort hwest on either side of the boundary lino. Of course , it is part of every man's religion that the country , ' and his section in particu lar , must "be cracked up. And when you point to indifferent crops , or tell of hardships your friends have encounter ed , or drawbacks undeniably connected with the northwest , these are at once put down to some malign genius indif ferently known as "the government , " or "the syndicate , " or "the banks. " A man with these to fall back upon is arm ed all times. He has a complete Ready Reckoner , and is saved the trouble of thinking. His casual judg ment is satisfied , aud at the same time his patriotism and self-respect are pre served intact. Fortunately , I was not dependent for information on the only sources open to Hying visitors. I had visited the country several times and spent several weeks chiefly in farmers' houses , and had learned something of the bard facts of the case. It is no use blinding our eyes to the troth that the sun of the northwest has its spots. Ten or eleven years ago I could get few to believe that there was anything good there. Two years ago few would al low that there was anything bad. We may be thankful for enormous areas of land , vast fertile plains that shall food ' e an inheritance for' our children's children , unless we go on begging strangers in mercy to us to come and enter on the possession of 160 acres apiece , without necessarily fancying that it is better than Ontario or Nova Scotia. I , for one , would be very thankful for another Ontario. The northwest has many disadvantages. The one that will be felt most sorely for many a day was the "boom" of two years ago that unset tled values and demoralized the people. Floods , grasshoppers , early frosts , monopolies and chameleon land policies have been small evils compared to the drinking and gambling , the rage for speculating engendered , the laying tie us. nHieulement of tne northwest will take time , and the more time it takes the better for the country in the end. Intending settlers , too , had better make up their minds to endure hard ships or stay at home , for they need uot expect to escape what has been , and always will be , the fate of the average immigrant. The men who made On tario and the other older proviuces were of the right stuff. So are the men who have settled in Minnesota and Dakota , hardy Norwegians , Swedes , Welshmen , Canadians , who lived at first on pota toes and milk , and were blind to the necessity'for completing railways before they had obtained patents for home steads. The change wrought by them on the appearance of these prairie states in ten years is marvelous. Men of the same stamp have gone into our north west , and unless we flood the country with a baser sort , like will draw to like. But it cannot be told too plainly that for years to come nobody need go to the northwest but workers , and that al most the only workers ueeded are farmers. There is hardly any honest way of making a living there except by making it out of the ground. Sheridan's Famous Bide. A full-page portrait of General Sheri dan is one of the attractions of the Feb ruary Century. It accompanies an ad mirable sketch of his career by General Badeau , who compares Sheridan , with Hannibal. A thrilling account is given of the turning-point in the battle of Winchester : "Sheridan , however , had so devastated the valley that it could furnish him no supplies , and ho was fifty miles from a base. Ho therefore continued his retrogade movement as far as Cedar Creek. From this point , on the 15th of October , he was sum moned by the government to "Washing ton for consultation , aud during his ab sence Early determined once more to attack the national army. The plan was well conceived. The enemy advanced in the ' night , and before dawn surprised and 'attacked the national forces , still in camp. The army was driven back , portions of it in great disorder , six or seven miles. Eighteen guns wore cap tured , and nearly a thousand prisoners , a large part of the infantry not preserv ing even a company organization. "Sheridan had left Washington on the" 18th , and slept at Winchester , twen ty miles from his command. Artillery firing was reported early on the 19th" , but it was supposed to proceed from a reconnaissance , and at nine o'clock Sheridan rode out of Winchester , all unoonsoious of the danger to his army. Soon , however , the sound of heavy battle was unmistakable , and half a mile from town the fugitives came in sight with appalling rapidity. He at once ordered the trains halted , and parked and stretched a brigade of his troops at Winchester across the country to stop the stragglers. Then-with ah escort of twenty men , ho pushed to the frout. The effect of his presence was electrical. He rode in hot haslc , swing ing his hat , and shouting as he passed : 'Face the other way , boys ! Face the other way ! ' And hundreds of the men turned at once and followed him with cheers. "After reaching the army ho gave some hurried directions , and returned to collect the fugitives. He was in major-general's uniform , mounted on a magnificent horse , man and beast cov ered witli dust aud foam ; and as he rose in his stirrups , waving his hat and his sword-by turns , ho cried again and agiin : 'If 1 had been here this never would have happened. We are going back. Face the other way , boys ! face the other way ! ' The scattered soldiers recognized their general , and took up the cry. 'Face the other way ! ' It passed along from one to another , ris ing and falling like a wave of the sea , and the men returned in crowds , fall ing into ranks as they came. They fol lowed him to the front , and and many who had fled , panting and panic- stricken , in the morning , under Sberi- dan's lead had covered thumselves with the glory of heroes long before night. Such a reinforcement may one man be to an army. "A few dispositions , and the battle began afresh. But now all was changed. The enemy advanced , it is true , but were at once repelled , and the national line , in its turn , became the assailant. Sheridan led a brigade in person , and the enemy everywhere gave way. Their officers found it im possible to rally them ; a terror of the national cavalry had seized them. The captured guns were all retaken , and twenty-four pieces of artillery besides. Sixteen hundred prisoners were taken , and Early reported eighteen hundred killed and wounded. Two thousand made their way to the mountains , and for miles the line of retreat was strewn with the debris of a beaten army. Early himself escaped under cover of darkness to Newmarket. * * "Sheridan was made a major-general in the regular army , as he was informed , in Lincoln's own words , 'for the per sonal gallantry , military skill , and just confidence in the courage and gal lantry of your troops , displayed by you on the 19th day of October , at Cedar Run , whereby , under the blessing of Providence , your routed army was reor ganized , a great national disaster averted , and a brilliant victory achieved over the rebels for the third time in pitched battle in thirty days. ' "It was just eleven weeks since Sher idan had assumed command in the val ley. In that time he had taken thirteen thousand prisoners , forty-nine battle flags , and sixty guns , besides recaptur ing eighteen cannon at Cedar creek. He must , besides , have killed and wounded at least nine thousand men , so that he destroyed for the enemy twenty-two thousand soldiers. 'Turn ' ing w'hat bid fair to be disaster into glorious victory stamps Sheridan , ' said Grant , 'what I have always thought him , one of the ablest of generals. ' " Lincoln's Sergeant. From the ISlue nnd the Gray. Jack Williams was a brave sergeant of a regiment which , undrilled and un disciplined , had joined the Army of the Potomac , just as the terrible campaign of 18G4 began. Before the army reached Petersburg , .lack commanded his company , the cap tain and lieutenants having been killed. His gallantry was so conspicuous that he was recommended for a captaincy in the regular army. Ordered before an examining board at Washington , Jack presented himself dressed in a soiled , torn uniform , with bronzed face and uncut beard. The trim , dapper officers composing the board had never been under fire nor roughed it in the field , but they were posted in tactics and in the theory of war. Though shocked at Jack's unsoldier- ly appearance , they asked him all sorts of questions about engineering , math ematics , ordnance and campaigns. Not a single question could Jack an swer. "What Ls an ehelon ? " asked one of the board. "Don't know , " answered Jack. "What is an abatis ? " "Never saw one. " "A redan ? " "You fellows have " got me again , replied Jack. "Well , what is a hollow square , sir ? " "Never heard of ono before ; guess they don't have them down at the front , do they ? " "What would you do , sir , if you were in command of a company , and cavalry should charge on you ? " asked a lisping fellow in white kids. "Do , you fool ! " thundered Jack ; "I would give them Hail Columbia ; that's what I'd do. " This ended the examination , and the report of questions and answers , with the adverse judgment of the board , was sent to President Lincoln. His private secretary read the report to him , and when he came to the only answer that Jack had given , the presi dent said : "Stop ! Read that over again. " "That's just the sort of men our army wants ! " said the president , taking the report , and dipping the pen in the ink stand. On the back of the paper he wrote in a clear hand : "Give this man a captain's commis sion. A. LINCOLN. " Teaching Animals to Converse. Now 1'ork Hon. Sir Johh Lubbock , the distinguished anthropologist and naturalist , sends to the London Nature a brief discussion of a subject which is full of interest an 4 always peculiarly fascinating. From the earliest times the speaking of birds and beasts has been the subject of fable , and every lever of a dog or a h rse has mourned that only in fable was the speech between man and the brutes. Sir John Lubbock , however , seriously considers the possibility of teaching animals to converse with man. "It has occurred to mo , " ho says , "whether seine such system as that fol lowed with deaf mutes , especially by Dr. Howes with Laura Bridgnian , might not prove very instructive if adapted to the case ol dogs. " Accordingly he has tried oxporimenta with his dog. Ho printed m legible letters on pieces of stout cardboard such words as "food , " "bone , " "out. " The dog was a black poodle , a breed which , by the way , is generally known to be quick at learning tricks ; and Sir John Lubbock got the nead "master of a deaf and dumb school to assist at the experiments. They besan by giving the dog food in. a saucer , over wlu'cn was laid the card on which was the word "food , " and beside which wjis placed an empty saucer covered by a plain card. "Van , " the poodle , soon learned to distinguish between the two. After ward ho was taught to bring the card which expressed his wants. "This he now does , " says Sir John Lubbock , "and hands it to me quito prettily , and I then give him a bone or a little food , or take him out , according to the card brought. He still brings sometimes a plain card , in which case I point out his error , and ho then takes it back and changes it. That mistake , however , is not often made by Van. He has learn ed to distinguish between the card with the word and the blank card , no mutter how often their relative positions arc changed. This is only the beginning of the very interesting experiments Sir John LuU- bock proposes to make. Ho means to multiply the cards so that the dog may be enabled to communicate freely with him. He also expresses the wish that other owners of ( togs which have dis played especial intelligence and docil ity , would conduct similar experiments , so tnat the results may be collated and compared. "I confess , " he concludes , "I hope that some positive results might follow , which would enable us to ob tain a more correct insS rht into the minds of animals than we have yet ac quired. " All those familiar with dogs and who enjoy their frequent companion ship , will both acknowledge that Sir John Lubbock has reason for his hope , and trust with him that the results se cured will enable him to explore hith erto secret chambers of the canine in tellect. An infant is taught to communicate its desires in speech only after the ex penditure of infinite pains and unwea rying patience on the part of the mother. It is a very slow process , and the teaching goes on during nearly the whole of the child's waking hours. The lessons , too , are object lessons. In the case of th $ deaf and dumb and blind , the mo'st ' marvellous results arc attained by the patient teacher. If like care and pains are spent in the way indicated by Sir John Lubbock , may we not also expect to reach results which will be surprising and of inesti mable value in the investigation of ani mal intelligence and the mental pro cesses of brutes ? Dogs have been taught by circus men and others to do a great variety of things which show the reasoning capacity of the animals ; and the stories of canine intelligence and canine susceptibilities are innu merable and wonderful. But we do not know of any previous attempt to pursue this subject after a scientific method , and for the specific scientific purpose this distinguished naturalist has in view. At any rate there is not a more fasci nating inquiry than that upon which Sir John Lubbock has entered ; and it is far from absurd to hope , as a flip pant writer in the New York Times lately implied , that man will yet have added to his pleasures the opportunity of holding converse with his dog. Contempt of Court. Washington Republican. Senator Vance tells this story : When Judge Tourgee was on the bench ia North Carolina an old chum of hia was brought before him on some trifling charge. During the trial the prisoner said something that highly displeased his honor. "Do " you mean , sternly said the judge , "to bring this court in to contempt ? " The prisoner smiled , and said : "Judge , you have known me for many years , and we have been friends , haven't weThatis a fact , " said the judge. "You would do me a favor within reason even now , would you not ? " "Very likely , " responded his honor , all graciousness and good humor ; "but what is it ? " "Well , " re torted the.scamp , "do not preas me too hard on the point of contempt this morning. " Ventilated bed clothes is one of the latest inventions of English geniua. They are perforated , and permit the vapor per from the body to escape. It is related of the 13-year-old Boston school girl who died last week , aa stated , of over-study , that during her delirium , she repeated page afti-r page of history , and struggled wiih the notes of" music , frequently crying : "Oh , mother , if I could only get these notes out of my head. "