Evening star., 1880-01-22
FORTY-SIXTH CONGRESS.
THURSDAY. January %,

SENATE.-Mr. Hamlin presented petitions Of
citizens Of Maine for distribution Of the unex-
pended balance Of the Geneva award He again
urged the committee on the judiciary to act
promptly in this important matter.
MeSsrs. Jones and GrOome presented petitions
for appointment OF an alcoholic liquor traffic
commission.
number of bills were introduced, among
them the following: By Mr.. Kernan-Providing
for the further distribution Of the Geneva
award. By Mr.. Windom-To transfer the mill
tary reservation of Fort Ransom, Dakota, to
the custody and control Of the Interior depart
ment
Mr.. voorhees,, from the committee on the
library, reported favorably on bill to provide
additional accommodations for the Congress
Sional library. Placed on the calendar.
Mr.: Teller offered a resolution, which was
adopted, calling on the Secretary of the Inte-
rior to inform the Senate whether any member
OF the board of Indian commissioners is or has
been interested in any contract7 He desired to
say that he cast no suspicion on any member of
culation, and the people were entitled to know
whether they were true or false
Mr.. Whyte, from the committee on printing,
reported favorably joint resolution authorizing
the printing of 5000 copies of the annual report
OF the chief signal officer for 1879, and it was
passed. Also, adversely on bill authorizing
members of Congress. and it was Indefinitely
postponed.
Nj. Morgan offered resolution directing the
Secretary OF the Interior to furnish the Senate
any information in the Interior department in
answer to the following inquiries: What grants
OF public lands MADE by acts of Congress to
railroad companies or to states or territories In
aid of such companies remain incomplete by
reason OF the failure OF the grantees or beneficf-
aries to comply with the terms of such grants?
IN seh cases any M where @ there err mas Geen
OF the grant, to what extent has there been such
compliance and to what extent is there a just
cause for declaring the forfeiture OF the grants
and what reasons of justice, equity or public
faith or public policy are there why Congress
should abstain from declaring such grants for
feited in whole or in part? In cases where the
states or companies to which land grants have
been made for the benefit Of railroads, and
where just cause of forfeiture exists and where
bonattde conveyanceS have been made to pur-
chaserS for value, what proportion, as near as
may be, of the lands so granted have been sold
to such purchasers and what further legislation,
if any, is necessary to secure to such persons
their full equitable rights to such lands
Adopted.
The morning hour having expired the Senate
resumed the consideration OF the Joint reSolu-
ton relative to United States notes. Mr.. Coke
proceeded to speak on the resolution.
HOUSE-Mr Aldrich, from the committee Of
the District of Columbia, reported resolution
directing that committee to inquire into the al
legged infractions Of law by the Washington Gas
Light Company, and to determine what legis-
lation is necessary to secure to the government
of the United States and the people OF the Dis
trict better and cheaper gas supply; adopted
MI. Singleton Oil d5keu leave W pTeSent Il
petition OF 500 citizens of Illinois, which he sent
to the Clerks desk to be read.
Mr.. Mcmahon, evidently miStaking the pur-
port OF the petition, objected subsequently he
withdrew his objection.
The petition was read. 1t proved to be In the
form of resolution, asking for the passage Of
the "Weaver' bill.
The House then resumed the consideration Of
the bank reserve bill. the pending question
being ON seconding the demand for the previous
question. The previous question was seconded,
100-4S, and the main question ordered.
The debate was opened by Mr.. Gillette, OF
Iowa, in opposition to the pending bill, which
he characterized as Shot from masked bat
terry at every interest Of the people
Mr.. Weaver followed in the same course Of
argument and replied to the remarks made a
few days ago by Senator Logan, relative to the
weaver BILL"
The debate was further continued by Messrs
Whitthorne and Keifer. both Of whom opposed
the bill, the former on the ground that it would
discriminate against the greenback; the latter
on the ground that 1t would tend to imperil the
permanency Of resumption.
The House then proceeded to vote upon the
bill and pending amendments.
The only amendment to be voted upon was
one requiring the banks to keep their coin re-
serves in their own vaults. Rejected; 80 to 70.
The question then required on the engroSsing
and third reading of the bill. On a division the
vote stood 80 to l40, and the yeas and nays were
ordered.
The House refused-yeas 70, nays 15S-to
order the engroSSing and third reading of the
bill: which vote. of course killed the bill. The
House then went into committee on the revision
of the rules