New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1872-03-01
WASHINGTON.
CURRENT TOPICS AT TIE CAPITAL


WASHINGTON, Thursday. Feb. 20, 1871.
a.nt over the Senate bill to renew the land grant
Ia n Croix and bayfield, Railroad in Wisconsin,
ID all day in the House, and was by far the closest
most exciting contest OF the session The friends OF
.ss measure who had, yesterday, on O test vote,
orty Of 90 realized to-day that it Is not always good
,cV 10 endeavor TO ride rough-shOd over minority
re was reaction against them and, in spite OF their
srts the gag was taken Of the minority, which they
t on Yesterday. and the bill thrown open to debate
49, oDpopents controlling the floor for an hour In this
,,r terse and sharp speeches were made by Messrs.
Gov. stevenson Hay. and Holman. MI Cox read
n-otest which was prepared last night, for
no,nre by the minority, when they thought the
-, would be rushed through without debate. He
5e strong point in referring 20 the opposition OF the
orkngmen land grants, and alluded In significant
av and with q Reimbursement to the nomination OF
In6ee Davis MI Stevenson had letter read from the
Commissioner Of the Land Office which disprOved the
rtiop that the land to be granted would not be taken
, the public domain, but from the grant Of the North
Avn Pacific The right q that road to indemnity for all
,od within their grant given TO the st. Croix road was
mt beyond question. He made vigorous attack upon
tbe land grant system and exhibited large map, on
boA the grants already made marked in colors
=, Iowa Minnesota and Kansas, there were only Few
,a-rou streaks OF white running between the broad
sands Of color designating the railroad lands.
NJ Hay said the Republican party would be
held for this legislation and the soldiers would
remainder that while they were refused land warrants
Congress had given 20 corporations millions OF acres
Mr. Holman denounced the corruptnS influences Of the
land grant system, which enriched powerful corpora
tons and enabled them to buy seats for Senator's and
control legislation. At the close Of his speech he moved
"a lay the bill on the table GToit excitement ensued
me friends OF the bin demanded time to reply and
.ore or more their feet with angry looks ana
vehement gest They did no ike the medicine they
had oramed down the thrOas OF their opponents yes
monstranoes, and Insisted his motion. 1t failed
by one majority, but the vote showed that
the hours debate had lost TO the bill
nearly votes The friends Of the grant then got
the 6OOr and speeches we're made by Messrs BANKS
Eldredge Farnsworrh. Beck. and Dunnen Mr. Banks
stated the only strong argument in favor OF the pI
that was made during the debate, which was the righ
Of the settlers along the road who had bought their
farms railroad land at double the price OF other pub
ho land to demand Of the Government that the road
should he built The fact, which is undsputed that the
course, not alluded 70 by the friends OF the bil nj
Dunnel drew picture OF the JOY OF the 10 ine
A.. CrOx Valley, who came 30 miles, he SAID, win
streaming eyes, when the mercury at 400 below zero
4 second motion to table the bin was lost-Yeas, s7
Nays o. Mr. Holman had previously entered motion
Instructions TO amend IL give to the ST. Croix
Road only such land would otherwise belong 10 tue
receive indemnity for the land taken. This motion
put, and carried by 100 to 20 but pending
a vote on the usual motion 70 lay on the table motion
reconsider, the House adjourned, so that there Is
possibility that the fight will be resumed tomorrow, and
an Effort made secure reconsideration. powerful
lobby Is at work for the bill, and has been engaged
for month past In securing v 9s pe e n
ences, proper and imProPeTi haye been brought 10
appealed 10 in behalf Of Cornell University which has
located Agrcutural College scrip In Western WIS
eonsin and could sell It's land for much higher price
the road should be built The interest OF certain pron
nent Boston in the road Is said to explain the S0t
baggeTs Of course voted Yea, they do on al Land
many honest believers in the policy Of grants to rail-
roads, like Mr. Dunnen Of Minnesota, and many Who,
new grant, but only extending the time forthe compile
OF the road for reasons which appeared suincle
100000 10 Is 100000 the Railroad Company naturally
gives TO numerous rnmors OF me use Oh otner oD
known % have any foundation.
The meeting Of the Foreign Affairs Committee OF the
House. to-day, spent IN consideration OF the propo-
tion to devote the surplus of the Chinese indemnity
fund after tho payment Of all claims against 1t, for
founding an American College in China, for the
instruction OF the Chinese in tho English Ian
guage, and the Americans in the Cmnese, AN
ton was made by Mr. Jones who has spent several
years China. He said that IN the commercial inter
course between the Americans and Chinese, our mer
chants labor under great disadvantages from want OF
knowledge OF the language and ron the Gii
transacted the mSag ]@f tSat our CONN
mercal relations with CHINA might De gTeat$
American interpreters well yersed IN the Chinese ian
iIu59gebt Of college under American control for the
purpose OF furnishing such interpreters would he said
Sons In developing wider and coserSreatiOns of
merce and friendship with the Chinese empire The ad-
yOoates the also show that the Chinese Gov
eminent has no upon this money the terms OF the
payment being that 1t should settle all claims against
that nation ara that the United States should take the
sk that the amount should be sufficient to cover all
private claims.
The House Committee Territories agreed, this morn
ing 20 report for passage bill setting apart In each
rtorv from the proceeds OF internal revenue taxes
collected therein the sum of $4,000 TO be devoted to the
erection or completion Of public buildings IL 10 urged
that this measure will Be Of economy 10 the Govern
msnt Which Is now for Of buildings for the
uses OF the Territorial Governmental On TUESDAY aeA
the COMMITTEES win hold a special session for hna
bearing of Messrs Ross and BOudinot delegates from
the Cherokee Nation, In opposition 10 the OkSahoD"
Territorial Constitutional DILL
An ocnsn0 htta incident occurred the Senate this
morning Mr. Chandler rose TO personal explanation
snd with much expectOratiOn began TO read letter
from one OF his constituents living III Jackson Mcn
Mr. Morton, half way across the chamber, cahed OUT
Louder and Mr.. Chandler, his voice gradually gaming
power read through the letter from which II appeared
that the writer received under the franks OF
Chandler and Morton, copie6 Of the call OF the i1Pera
Republican meeting at Cincinnati, speech OF GraH
Brown letter from Senator Sehurz &c Bota Onsnuier
and Morton the franks orgeries the former
u,ng some very strong language about tne ClncnnatI
movement and speaking Of them III very ZEN bit
fones Az sOon as Chandler sat down, MS race WuliS
excitement senator TPtSH So sPFSRg up He eP had
that he had been treated allOsI as oauS
o4ved back copy Of OF MT Chanoier SpeStctHoe
which be had sent TO man In Nebraska WIN nG ,hnt
nation fhat such documents were DOT WanVSu III
state Tie abatement, OF course brought u0Wn tho
house and even Mr.. Chandler was oDlsed " Slit VI"
Joke. W.
The fight In New-Orleaus, between casey anu war
moth seems likely to be transferred to tins Guy 0aSey
and Packard are already here. and Warmoth Is uaiy
expected movement is in progress 70 ds SPIN friend
Of Warmoth and ON the relative Of the Deh'S'
Ex-senator b. F. Wade. attorney Of the Northern rs