The Columbia Democrat. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1837-1850, 1838-02-03
TwENTY-F FIFTH CONGRESS-.
WAsnINcroN, January 81, 1898.

Of general interest under consideration du-
ring this week. 1t has passed bill to pro-
vide for the safety Of passengers on board |
boats propelled in whole or in part by |
steam, which must be looked upon as We
ry important matter to the travelling public,
ifit only las the desired effect; as there has
been many valuable lives lost by negligence
and otherwise by the explosion of steam
boats upon our waters. A bill has also
passed that body for the appointment of a
board to test the Improvements in the steam
boiler, which is measure nearly as impor-
tant as the first. A bill has also passed the
senate for the increase the present mill
tary establishment of the United States.
This msasure would seem TO be especially
necessary when it is recollected that a re-
gular soldier was not to be found in any of
the northern states to preserve the neutrali-
ty of the United States, and protect our
northern frontier from aggression at the
breaking out of difficulties in Canada. The
greatest part of the week has been consul
med in the senate in discussing bill to
grant preemption rights to settlers on the
public lands up to the end of the year 49,
81. This bill has elected very considerable
discussion, but it is believed that it will
pass both branches by large vote, it being
but just that these hardy pioneers should
have right to receive the lands which they
have improved at government price. 1t
was ordered to be engrosed for a third read.
ing in the senate on Saturday evening by a
vote of nearly two to one.
In the House we have had the Florid;
war enacted over again. Mr., Chambre
leng from the committee of ways & means
reporteda bill appropriating million o
dollars for the immediate exigencies of tn
service in Florida. Mr.. G stated that thi
bill was reported as the money was imme
diately demanded, and that the committe,
intended shortly to report bill making ad
ditional appropriations, on which it wa
expected that general discussion woul
take place. This hint, however, was no
sufficient to satisfy those who wished I
keep up the war on the administration
Mr.. Wise rose and protested against ma
king further appropriations for carving 0
: this war-denounced the administrator a
having acted profdiously towards the Ind
ans, and declared that he would rather az
propriate money to secure them in the pos
session of the soil of Florida than to re
move them. The war he declared wa
kept up by those who were battening an
fattening on the spoils, and if it was NJ
n for such persons there would be no W;
d there. Mr.. Downing, the Wing delega'
d from Florida, replied to Wise in handsom
IS style, and set him down among those WI
n had more sympathy for the red men, {
those Of darker hue, than for their brett
rem of the Anglo Saxon race. Mr.. BE
IT next came to. the relief of Mr.. Wise, ar
J pronounced the appropriation as extrav
&c CANT, and not to be tolerated by the Hous
J but for all, he thought it would be as we
/ to give it. Mr.. Biddle of Pennsylvania
> declared war upon the administration, ar
u asserted that he was ready to take the r
sponsibility of Withholding this appropri
ton. He made lengthy speech in opp
sition to the whole course of the admin
tration, and while he pronounced the he
/, West censure upon the administration f
=, condemning the conduct and course of Ger
,o Scott in the campaign, he went and CO.
Al demned the course pursued by Gen. Jesu
in the strongest and most unmeasured term
So much for his consistency. Mr.. Byru
"a and Mr. Glascock replied to the remarks
le these gentlemen in most triumphant ma
n ner, the former gentleman telling them tn
r. they were for the English when that matte
m was at war with us-for the French whit
r they violated their treaty--for the Me1
u cans when they were committing robberi