The Leavenworth weekly times., 1878-03-28
CONGRESSIONAL.
SENATE.

WASHINGTON, March :O.-Mr. WIN
DON, faom the Committee on ApnYon-ia.
tons, reported, with amendments Ssn,ta
bill TO provide for the deficiency on m;scsl-
lapeous funds Of the House. Placed on the
calendar.
Mr.. MITCHELL introduced bill for the
protection of homestead settlers on public
lands. Referred.
Ii was ordered that there be printed for
the use of the Finance COMMITTEES, the
sta ement made BY the Secretary OF the
Treasury in regard TO the repeal OF the
specie act, and the tables submitted by him
ON that subject.
Mr.. ALLISON introduced bill to re-
peal the pre-emption laws, and to provide
Tor the sale Of timber on public lands. Re-
ferred
The Senate bill to amend section 2I64 of
the revised statutes relating to the cultiva-
tion Of timber on the public domain. was
discussed, briefly, and passed-yeas, 80;
nays, II.
At the expiration of the morning hour,
consideration was resumed of the Pacific
Railroad Sinking fund bill and Mr.. Mitchell
spoke in favor of the bill as reported by
the Committee on Railroads.
Mr.. MITCHELL quoted at great length
from judicial decisions as to the power OF
Congress, and referring to the clause of the
bill Of the Judiciary Committee declaring
what should constitute net earnings, said
it was in defensive in law, and opposed to
reason. This question was now pending in
the courts, and Congress had no right 10
make any declaration declaring what
should constitute net earnings in advance
of any decision. He argued that the
Government had no sovereignty in the mat
ter. When the Government made q con-
tract with its citizens, it divested itself OF
its sovereignty and stood upon the same
footing "a the citizen.
Mr.. THURMAN said he did not propose
to discuss the bill further, now, but at the
proper time he would endeavor to show the
Senate that the bill OF the Committee on
Railroads was a new subsidy to these COM
panies nearly equal TO the bond subsidy al
ready granted, and he thought it would be
better for the Government to lose all due
from these companies than to give up Its
right to alter, amend or repeal their char
tiers, as the bill of the Railroad Committee
proposed to do.
MIR. TELLER took the floor to speak
upon the bill, but, before commencing his
argument, it was agreed that the bill should
be laid aside until tomorrow, with the un.
derstanding that it be unfinished business
after the morning hour.
The Senate then resumed consideration
of the House bill authorizing the Secretary
Of the Treasury to employ temporary cl,rks
and making appropriation for the same
also, making an Appropriation for detecting
tresspass on public lands, etc, the pending
question being on the amendment OF Mr.
Beck to the amendmsnt OF the committee
on appropriations, forbidding any charge
for wood or timber cut on public lands in
the territories Of the United States for the
use of actual settlers in the territories
and not for export, so "a to provide that
timber shall not be exported from the terri
tory where it grew.
Mr.. BECK modified his amendment so as
to provide that in the event OF timber being
exported from the territory, it should be
liable TO seizure by United States authority
whenever found.
Pending discussion, Mr.. CONOEER sub
mitted the following:
Resided, That the President is hereby re-
quested to communicate Immediately TO
the Senate, if not Incompatible with public
interest, such information as the Govern
ment has received respecting the terms and
conditions under which tie surrender OF
Cuban insurgents has been made, together
with such other information, in his posses
sion, respecting the future policy of Spain
in the government OF the Island of Cuba.
He asked for immediate consideration Of
the resolution, but objection was made and
il was lad over. Adjourned.
WASHINGTON, March 2l-Mr. HERE
FORD submitted a preamble and resolution
declaring that the House bill To repeal spe-
Gle resumption had been referred TO the
Finance Committee OF the Senate ON the
18th OF November last; therefore,
Ecs1inG, That said committee be- required
to report sud bill 10 the Senate within one
week, Ia timer with their action thereon. ii
any sha have been had.
lie asA,d for present consideration OF the
resolution, but objection was made by Mr..
Morrill,, and it went over.
Mr. CHAFFEE, of Colorado, called up
the Senate bill to establish the Territory OF
Lincoln, and to provide a temporary gov
ernment therefor, which was discussed until
the expiration of the morning hour, and
than laid aside.
Consideration was then resumed of the
Pacific Railroad Sinking Fund bill.
Mr.. TELLER made a long speech in t.
vor Of the bill, wnen it was laid aside, but
not to lose its place as unfinished business.
The bill to employ temporary treasury
clerks, and to bring into market public
lands, &c, was taken up.
The debate in regard to so-called timber
was continued, and Mr..
tones, of Florida, spoke in opposition to
he course of the Secretary OF the ln.erior. |
The PRESIDENTS answer TO the reso-
ntion of Mr.. Blaine regarding the fishery
commission and award, was laid before the
Senate.
Mr.. GARLAND, from the Committee on
Territories, reported, favorably, on the SEN
lte bill to disapproye and TO annul the act
II the legislative assembly of New Mexico,
passed over the governor veto, to incor-
,orate the society of the Jesuit Fathers OF
New Mexico. Placed on the calendar.
Mr.. MORGAN, Of Alabama, gave notice
hat at the proper time he would move to
trike out the second section Of the bill.
Mr.. MATHEWS said that whatever else
night result from this debate, a. good
Eould follow, it would demonstrate the ne
essity for some wise and Systematic legis-
alton covering this entire subject. He
rgued that the Government owned the land
nth the timber thereon, and any person
ngaged IN cutting the timber became tres
'assers, and as owders of the property the
Inited States had right to follow 1t and
axe it wherever found, If 1t could be done
Tithout breach of the peace. The real
ist Of the accusations against the Secretary
the Interior was not that usually heard
bout negligence of a public officer, but
bat, according to his sense of duty, he was
the law, and because Of thai he
Ias arraigned as oppressive to individuals
as being un-American. He (Mathews)
bought IT was one OF our cherished
laxims and privileges that the best way to
,cure the repeal Of obnoxious laws was to
gidly enforce them, and an executive Off
r OF the government had no discretion
e must enforce the law. A recent Presi-
ent has been Justly eulogized for the senti-
ent, that it was the duty OF an executive
ficer to enforce law; that by its strict en-
'rcement its odious features would be
rought out, and, in that way, public opin-
%, aroused to Its correction. 1t was not
le poor people who we're injured by the
ction OF the Secretary. 1t was the cry Of
le rich saw-mill owners (which came up
ON all over the land
Pending the discussion, Davis, of ILL.,, in
oduced a bill to confirm to the city Of
hicsgo, the title lO certain land. Refer
d. Adjourned.
HOUSE.