The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1876-01-28

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| tary in December 1872, In regard to the
, erroneous practices in accounting in the
} Treasury, which have grown up in usage
or have been authorized by law. Mr..
I Boutwell, said when the report was pre-
, pared bill was submitted to the Com
mittee on Ways and Means Of the House,
, which that committee approved and was
passed by the House but failed in the
Senate.
Mr.. Clayton gave notice that on Thurs
day OF next week he would call up the
Senate bill to amend section 1883 Of the
revised statutes OF the United States in re.
gard to the restrictions Of the disposal Of
public lands in Alabama, Mississippi,
, Louisiana, Arkansas and Florida.
Mr.. Morrill, called up the House joint
resolution to authorize the Committee on
the District of Columbia to pay the in
terest on bonds issued in pursuance to the
act of Congress OF June Goth, 1874, out Of
any funds in the United States Treasury
subject to a requisition OF said commits
sioners.
| Amendments were reported by the Com.
mittee on Appropriations to strike out Of
the House bill the clause prohibiting any
further issue Of 1855 bonds, and that moth
ing in the bill shall be construed as bind.
ing upon the government Of the United
States TO pay the interest or principal OF
bonds issued contrary TO or in pursuance
Of the law, were agreed to.
Mr.. Allison said he thought the Com.
missioners OF the District OF Columbia
had totally misapprehended the law
which created them and had enlarged the
debt OF the District and they had con-
strued the law so as to legalize all con
tracts made by the former Board OF Pub:
lie Works. II was not the intention OF
the Committee which framed that bill to
legalize the contracts. On the contrary
they excluded that idea. There were
certain contracts which the committee
thought should be completed and there.
fore the Commissioners were authorized
10 continue and complete all work al-
ready commenced. He read from the
annual report OF the District Commits
sioners as to the amounts expended on
streets, &c., and said they had construed
the act Of June 90, 1874, as authorizing
them to do this. They had incurred debt
and incurred obligations which they had
no right 10 do under law. 1t was not in
tended by the committee which framed
the act OF June 90, 1874, that the Board
OF District Commissioners should go on
and continue the numberless contracts
made by the Board OF Public Works. In
answer 10 the question Of Mr.. Bayard, Mr..
Allison said that from November 80,
1874, to November 80, 1875, the Commits
sioners had expended S4,225,0O0.
Mr.. Cragin-For what.
Mr.. Allison-For grading, curbing,
paving, &C., &c. Continuing his argu.
ment he said lie believed the Board OF
District Commissioners should be re-
stricted so that they could not create an
other debt for Congress to pay this year.
Mr.. Sherman said it was a serious
charge made against the District Courts,
one which would have serious effect on
these securities and upon the people Of
this District. The District Courts were
created by Congress and they were given
all the powers had by previous govern
ments Of the Districts. They had power
to execute all legal contracts existing
when they came in power, and they had
authority to pass upon the question Of
what were legal contracts.
Pending the discussion the morning
hour expired, and the chair laid before
the Senate the unfinished business, being
the bill to confirm pre.emption and home
stead entries Of the public lands within
the limits of the railroad grants in cases
where such entries have been made under
the regulations Of the Land Department.
Mr.. Davis submitted the joint resolu-
tions OF the Legislature Of his State re-
lating to the sale OF leaf tobacco, asking
appropriations to continue the improve
ment Of the Monongahela river and for
the improvement OF the Ohio river and
its tributaries, and TO improve the nayi-
CATION OF Elk river, all OF which were
referred.
Mr.. Morrill, (of Maine) moved that the
unfinished business be laid aside inform
ally, and that the Senate proceed 10 the
consideration OF the bill 10 pay the inter-
est on the 3.G5 District OF Columbia
bonds.
The motion to lay aside the homestead
bill was rejected, the pending amendment
being that submitted yesterday by Mr..
Howe, providing that nothing in the act
shall be construed to affect the title which
the State Of Wisconsin or its assignees
may have 10 land granted to the State to
aid in constructing railroads, approved
June 3, 1856. After debate, vote was
taken on the amendment OF Mr.. Howe,
and it was rejected-yeas s, nays Al.
Mr.. Howe then submitted an amend
ment providing that the Commissioner
OF the General Land Office shall not here
after restore such lands to the market
without authority from Congress. Re-
iected-ayes IL, nayes 80.
Mr.. Howe next submitted an amend
ment providing that nothing in the act
shall be held TO confer upon the General
Land Office the power to restore to the
market any land once granted to State
for railroad purposes. Rejected.
Mr.. Frelinghuysen submitted an amend
ment providing that nothing contained in
the act shall affect any rights that are
now vested. Rejected; ayes 16. nays 36.
Mr.. Cameron Mo-, submitted an
amendment TO strike out Of the third sec
tion the words "or when the grantee was
in default in the performance Of any Of
the conditions imposed by such grant"
so that the section should read that all
such pre-emption and homestead entries
which may have been made by permission
Of the land department or in persuance Of
the rules and instructions thereof within
the limitsof any land grant, at any time
subsequent to the expiration Of such
grant, shall be deemed valid, and the
making OF the proof required shall en-
title the holder Of such claim 10 patent
therefor. Agreed to.
Mr.. Merrimon submitted an amend
ment that the act shall not be so constru-
ed as to imply any obligation Of the U. s.
to compensate any person on accoun OF
any claim or right embraced or affected
by it. Rejected; yeas 10, nays 80.
The bill having been considered as in
Committee OF the Whole was reported to
the Senate and the amendment made by
the committee agreed to. The question
being on the passage OF the bill the yeas
and nays were ordered and 1t was passed
yeas A, 0. Cameron, OF No., Cra-
gin, Dawes, Frelinghuysen, Hamlin,
Howe, Morrill,, Of Me-, and Robertson
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