The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1870-04-30
xLIst CONGRESS.
SECOND SESSION.
HOUSE.

HOUSE.
WASHINGTON, April 90.
Mr.. LOGAN, from the Military Commit
tee, reported adversely bill permitting
retired army and navy officers from hold
ing civil offices.
The bill donating condemned lands to
tho Mcpherson Monument Association,
was passed.
Senate bill granting lands to aid Ii the
construction Of II railroad and telegraph
from Portland to Astoria and MCMlnn'
vile, Oregon, excited a long debate.
Nh. HOLMAN said this bin appropriated
$4,000 acres Of tho public land. &c had
stated before that there wGrc0O bills pend.
ing, 'appropriating 100OO0,000 acres, but
he had since learned that that estimate
was fur below the reality, and the number
Of bills pending was over 40, approprtat-
ing 2JOO00,OO0 acres. Since tho estab.
liShment of the Government there had
been given away for purposes Of etluca.
ton 7S,O00,000 acres Of the public lands,
and 1S5000,000 to build the fortunes Of
crafty and unScrupulous men. No less
tllRn 160O0000O acres have been granted
to corporations within the last ten years.
If that policy were continued 1t would not
DO long till there would be no public lands
LEFT for homestead and presumption pur.
poses, for which over ten million acres
had been taken last year. Mr. HOLMAN
continued to argue at length against land
grants.
Mr.. SARGENTreplied for five minutes to
Mr.. HOLNAN's argument, stating that
the opposition TO railroad land grants
should not have come from Representa-.
tivcs Of States that had had their internal
improvements built up by such means.
Mr.. FITCH also replied to Mr.. HOLMAN.
He declared that the policy Of railroad
grants had been prolific Of great national
benefits, and Of but, few abuses.
Mr.. MCCoRAuCK spoke briefly In favor
Of railroad land grants.
Mr.. SMITH, Of Oregon, argued In sup.
port Of the bill as being in the interest
Of settlers.
Aftar further discussion, Mr.. HOLMAN
moved 10 refer the bill 10 the Committee
on Public Lands. Negatived.
The bill was then passed. HeaS W,
nays 90. ...
Mr. GARFIELD, from the Committee on
Banking and Currency, reported a bill TO
increase banking facilities. Recommitted'
~ SENATE.
The VICE PRESIDENT submitted the
House concurrent resolution providing for
painting of the late Gen. Thomas. The
House cGlogized tho personal worth and
important services Of tho deceased, but
was avcrse TO the resolution as establish.
ing general precedent for similar cases.
Mr.. DAVIS made remarks Of a similar
tenor.
Mr.. HOWARD opposed the resolution.
He would not, by singling out even Gen.
Thomas, furnish the slightest occasion for
rivalry or envy between the great men to
whom tho country owed so much.
Mr.. MORRILL, moved to refer the reso.
luton to the Committee on the Library.
Agreed to.
Mr.. FESToN called up tho bill authoriz.
Ing an agent 10 inquire relative to the state
of trade between tho United States and
British North America, which, Atter dis.
cussion, was referred TO the Committee on
Finance.
The bill to,pay the claim ofaCowanE EE
Dickfns6h sT Knoxville, Tenn, was Oh.
tcctef il BY '9Ir. "T1sUMBUII., on the
ground that 1T involved the principle
whether the Government should pay for
cotton dseGLHy our. army in erecting fOrti;
ficatibns. NHc could could see no more
reason for this than for paying for lumber
and earth used in such works.
Mr.. WILEY said half an hour had not
elapsed since the Senate passed m exactly
si1ilar claibn andithat the only reason for
It's assent ID olef casejand refusal insthe
tOthcr, wds TINT ono claimant lived In
Missouri and the other in Tennessee. He
thought the Government could not much
longer afford 70 deny justice to loyal men
simply because they lived in tho south, q
few pdltty dollars might be saved, but the
credit Of the Nation was. threatened by
tho persistence Of such policy.
Mr.. Fowler in support Of the claim
stated atNat Mr. Dickinson, .one Of the
ClaimansS publicly refused. 10 take the
oath 6GaIl4giAhcS 10 tie Confederate gov
tGrnmcnt. .. ...a. u.r. +.
Mr.. TRUMBU1h said the bill which had
passed involved the principle presented by
kihe one now pending and that It was
ecqualIy Objectionable. He asked unani'
nous consent to enter u motion for Its
recall from the House. IN
Mr.. DAVIS urged the selection Of a test
case and the discussion Of tho general
questions as means Of determining tht
future policy of the Senate, with the view
to the guidance ofits members. - M
Mr.. TRuMBEIL's motion was tller
entered. .Afler short executive session
the Senate adjourned until Monday. :