The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1878-03-22
XLVTH CONGRESS- Session
WASHINGTON, March 81, 1878.


Mr.. Hereford, of West Virginia, offered 4
preamble and resolution directing the FL
nance Committee to report the House bill
repeating the resumption act within one
week. and asked immediate action thereon.
objection was made by Mr.. Morrill,, and
! the matter went over, under the rules.
Mr.. Dorsey, OF Arkansas, arose to per-
sonal explanation, and called attention to Il
publication which appeared in New York
paper OF yesterday in regard to his amend
mcnt to the bill passed last week to extend
the time of the Hot-Springs commission.
He said lie had long since determined not
to respond to newspaper publications in
stigatcd by persons engaged in defamlnS
| the character Of those upon this floor, but
| i'm regard to this matter he desired to say
that the amendment submitted by him SIM
DIV authorized The superintendent OF the
Hot-Springs reservation to lease ground for
the erection Of suitable batI!-houses for thc
accommodation of the public and to distri-
butte water to the people OF the place.
| It granted no other privilege. There
were two OF three individuals hang
ing around the Capitol who had the
interests OF the people Of Hot Springs so
much at heart that they Immediately telc-
praphed there that great fraud had been
perpetrated by him (Ir. Dorsey); that the
water company was to have possession Of
| all the springs. The amendment he pro-
| posed was an absolute necessity to enable
those visiting the springs to enjoy the adj
yantages of the waters. All the bath
houses but two were destroyed by the re.
cent fire. lie had received many letters
| urging the passage OF such an amendment
| as that submitted, and he submitted it be-
cause he thought it was the right thing to
be DONE The only thing this water com.
pany asked and all the bill granted was the
right to build reservoir on the noun.
| tain for cold water, to supply the city there
| with and erect lighthouses. 1t did not
give the company right to the Hot Springs
| Ii it did he (Mr. Dorsey would be as quick
| to protest against it as any one. He bad
| letters now from ex-senator Cragin ano
| others approving the amendment. Fol
more than a year he (Dorsey) had spent
Springs difficulties. Finally the bill was
passed organizing the commission, and the
adjustment Of the difficult question in
yolyed was now progressin, to the satisfac
| ton OF every one, and exact justice was
being done to all.
The Pacific Railroad sinking-fund bill
was discuss ed. and then laid aside, with the
| understanding that it should not loose it,
place as the unfinished business, and the
Senate resumed the consideration Of the bill
authorizing the Secretary Of the Treasury to
employ temporary clerks, and making an
appropriation for the same; also, MAKING
appropriations for detecting trespass on
public lands and for bringing into market
| public lands in certain States, and for other
purposes.
Mr.. Jones, OF Florida, quoted the I'd sec.
ton OF the bill, which appropriates $4,000
for diagrams, furniture, and repairs in the
General Land Office, &C., and said he never
| would vote for that appropriation. He
then proceeded to speak at length in oppo-
sition. to the course OF the Secretary of the
Interior in regard to the public lands. &c
concluded by saying that the policy Of the
Secretary was not right, not wise, not gene.
rous. The States OF Mississippi. Florida.
Alabama, Louisiana and Arkansas had
large tracts OF public lands which were oil
no use whatever for agricultural purposes.
| BY mistaken policy they had been reserved
! from sale, and citizens were not allowed to
buy single acre, no matter how much they
might need the lands for their convenience.
Mr.. Morgan, OF Alabama, also spoke
against the Cd sectien,of the bill, and CEN
sured the Secretary OF the Interior for The
manner in which, he had conducted afIlirs
Bin regard to the timber lands, and hich
| he (Jr, Morgan) said had been eyasiye and
mot candid. He continued st some length,
showing theS bad results and effect OF the
Secretaiy's policy. He concluded by giving