Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1872-03-15
HoUsE..--........ .wAsH1NaroN, March IA.

H0USE.-..---.......W WASHINGTON, March Il.
On motion Of Mr.. Blair Michigan1, !,
from the committee on claims, the bill
passed apprOpiating S337, 900 to reim-
burse the State OF Kansas for expen-
ditures in equipping, subsisting and
paying troops called into the service
by the governor on the requisition of
General Curtis in 1864, to repel the
invasion of rebels under Price.
A bill passed authorizing the South
ern claims commissioners to appoint
special commissioners to take testi-
mOny.
Mr. MeCrary reported on the Ala
bama contested election case with a
resolution that HsBdley, the sitting
member, is entitled to the sest. He
will call it up Thursday.
Mr.. Ketchum, chairman of the COM
mittee on public lands, gave notice
that he would move the previous
question at four o'clock to-day. He
proceeded to give history of the
road, and to call attention to some
important facts which had come to
his knowledge, and which warranted
him in opposing any legislation re-
viving the grant. The bill made what
was virtually a new grant Of lands,
which we're to day as much the prop
erty of the United States as any other
part Of the public domain. He moved
a substitute for the bill declaring the
lands all forfeited to the United States,
and reserving them for homestead en-
try and settlement under the home
stead act Of May 20, 1852.
e. parhov ran1fnd fn NJ
and advocated the passage of the bill
as it came from the senate. He de,
MED that it was a new grant, but
claimed that it was mere extension
OF the terms of the contract between
the United States and the State of
Wisconsin. He said the road could
not be built without government aid,
as the country through which it was
to pass was poor and thinly settled.
Besides, the State of Wisconsin had
never received large grants OF land
from the United States.
Mr.. Y said he had never voted
for a rant and he never would.
He had no doubt that land had been
forfeited TO the United States.
Mr.. Killinger proposed an amend.
ment that in the construction of the
road none other than rails manufac.
tured from American iron should be
used. He did this in the interest of
American labor.
Mr.. Cox replied to Mr.. KellingeT,
saying that he was opposed to all these
subsidized, either of land or iron.
Mr.. Eldridge spoke in favor of the
bill as passed by the senate. He con-
tended that the bill was not in the
interest of monopoly, but tnat its re-
peal would be to the advantage Of the
greatest monopoly in the conntry-
the Northern Pacific Railway COM
pany, which would grasp every acre
of these lands If they were declared to
be forfeited to the government.
Mr.. Holman moved to amend Mr..
Ketchum's substitute by adding to il
a provision that no part of these lands
shall be selected by or inure to the
benegt Of any railroad company under
any assumed grant from the United
States; but they shall be expressly
reserved for the benefit Of actual
settlers under the provisions Of the
homestead act.
Mr.. Ketchum accepted the amend
ment, and modified his substitute ac-
cordingly.
Mr.. C0nger argued in favor of the
senate bill. He declared that the idea
of the admission of new States on
an equal footing with the old States
was fraud, and protested against
the opposition made to this bill by
the Representatives from the old
States. BE appealed to the sense of
justice of the house to pass the bill.
Opposition to 1t was opposition to the
interests of the poor settlers Of Michi-
gan and Wisconsin, and was in the
interest Of the Northern Pacific Rail-
road company.
Mr.. Banks argued in support OF the
bill as being for the building OF local
road, to which the usual objection to
land grants did not apply.
The previous question was then
seconded, and the bill went over till
tomorrow.
Mr.. Garfield, from the conference
committee on the bill for the st. Louis
customhOuse, made a report appropri-
ating $500, 600 for the site and 81 $780,
600 for the building. The report was
agreed to.
After which the house adjourned.