Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1878-03-23
Senate.


Senator Hereford called up the resolution
submitted by him yesterday instructing the
committee on finance to report within one week
the House bill to repeal the specie resumption
act, together with their action thereon, if any
shall have been had.
Senator Bayard said such resolution was
unusual in its character, and as it could not
pass without discussion and but fifteen min
utes OF the morning hour remained, he sug-
gested that the resolution be laid aside until
next week. After brief discussion Sen
ator Hereford consented that further consider
alton be postponed until Tuesday next.
Senator Hoar, from the committee on privi-
leges and elections, reported back the Senate
resolution to pay John Ray and VIM. L. Nc
MILAN the compensation and mileage of Sena-
tors for the unexpired term of VIM. P. Kellogg
in the Forty-second Congress, with an amend
ment to pay them $1,000 each instead of COM
pensation and mileage. Ordered printed and
to lie on the table.
Senator Conkling from the committee on
judiciary, reported adversely on the Senate bill
in relation to docketing judgments recovered
in the courts of the United States, to make
them lien on real estate, and it was indefinite
ly postponed.
The Vice-President laid before the Senate
communication from the secretary of war, in
closing q letter from the chief Of engineers re-
commencing an appropriation for continuing
examination in connection with the construc-
ton of jetties at South Pass, Mississippi river
Referred. Also, communication from the
secretary OF war enclosing letter from the
chief OF ordnance officer of the United States,
stating the clerical force allowed his Office was
inadequate to keep up the work and suggesting
that additional clerks be allowed. Referred.
At expiration of the morning hour consid-
Grafton of the Pacific railroad sinking fund
bill was resumed, and Senator Mcdonald, q
member of the Judiciary committee, spoke in
fory nf hal nod
He reviewed at length the Pacific railroad acts
of 1862 and 1864, the bonds and lands secured
by those companies, &C., and argued that the
companies had not provided for payment of the
debt due the government. He referred to the
decision of the supreme court of the United
States, that companies need not pay the inter-
est until maturity of the debt, and said the
United States every year would pay out for in
terest on account of the Union
Pacific railroad one million dollars over and
above the amount received back from half the
transportation account, and the five per cent.
fund, SO that the government would pay out
twenty-five million dollars by the time the
debt matured. This amount, added to the
present arrears of the company, would make
total of $79,031 ,012. On account of the Gen.
trail Pacific railroad company. the government
would pay out, for interest, every year, 81 I'LL
$40, which, in twenty years before maturity
of the debt, will amount to 1926, 769, 480, which,
dtluSu W Cuc pTcSeuu dIISdIS Oh UQ0 company,
will make total indebtedness due the govern
ment Of 1876, 763,919.
He spoke of the power of Congress to make
provision for the payment Of this money which
had only been loaned to the companies It
was not money given to them. Any measure
to compel the companies to pay the money
withhold dividends from stockholders to pay a
loan. The stockholders had no right to divi-
dends while the loan was unprovided for The
bill reported by the Judiciary committee, how
ever was far inside of this proposition and
would still leave dividends after providing for
the payment of the loan.
He commented on the bill reported by the
committee on railroads and said under it the
whole amount of credits, principal and inter
est, on 900, to be paid into the sinking
fund by the Union Pacific during the twenty
two years before maturity of the debt would be
$65, 1885, 79. The Central Pacific road would
receive equal credits, making total of SOL
1883 credits of the two companies at ma
turity of the debt upon which they will have
paid into the treasury $44, 900 900. He had no
belief at all that this proposition would meet
with any great favor in the Senate.
In conclusion, he argued that Congress had
full power to pass the bill reported by the ju-
dietary committee.
Senator Merriman then took the floor, with
the understanding that he would speak upon
the sinking fund bill Monday next. 1t was
then laid aside, with the understanding that it
should not lose it's place as unfinished business
and the Senate resumed consideration of the
House bill authorizing the secretary of the
treasury to employ temporary clerks. and max
ing an appropriation for detecting trespass on
the public lands, and for bringing into the
market public lands in certain States and for
other purposes. The pending question was the
amendment of Senator Beck to that of the COM
mittee appropriations.
Senator Beck, in explanation Of this amend
ment, said the object of it was to apply to I'M
surveyed lands in territories, but not to affect
any organized State or surveyed lands. If
there was any fault in the laws in regard to
timber lands. let the committee on public lands
frame law to remedy the defect. The COM
mittee on appropriations had no power to
place such an amendment in an appropriation
bill. He would go as far as any man to pro-
tect settlers on public lands, and he must pro-
test against the committee on appropriations
being charged with hostility to settlers, be-
cause they did not feel authorized to change
the laws relating to public lands BE
Condemned the employment of spies, and
said the government should not
great exigency. He did not submit his amend
ment to give any power to the secretary of the
interior to interfere Unfortunately with the
pro ,erty of other people, but long as the
government had property it must be guarded
in some way.
After further discussion Senator Beck modi-
fed his amendment so that it should apply to
unsurveyed lands of territories only, and as
modified it was agreed to.
The question then being on the amendment
of the committee on appropriations as amended
by that of Beck, it was agreed to-yeas AZ, nays
4. Senators Bayard, Cameron of Wisconsin.
Herman and Wadleigh only voting in the Mega
tive.
The amendment as agreed to is as follows
That where wood and timber lands in the terri
tories of the United States are not surveyed,
and offered for sale in proper subdivisions con-
venient Of access, no money herein appropriated
shall be used to collect any charges for wood or
timber cut on public lands in territories of the
United States for use of actual settlers in the
territories and not for export from the territory
Of the United States where the timber grew;
and provided further, that If any timber cut
on public lands shall be exported from the
territory of the United States, it shall be liable
to seizure by United States authority where
ever found.
Senator Plumb submitted an amendment ap-
propriating $40, 900 for railway mail agents
and postal clerks, and in explanation thereof
said the appropriation was necessary for mail
service on number of new Western and South
ern routes. He read letter from the post
master general favoring the appropriation.
Senator Whyte raised the point of order that
the amendment not having been considered by