Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1880-02-12
FURYY-SiXTH CONGRESS.
Second Session
The Senate

WASHINGTON, Feb. 1l.-Sena;or Cockroil,
from the committee on claims, reported ad-
versely on the bill granting pension to the
widow of tho late Gen. Custer. At the request
of Seaator Ferry it WIS placed on the calendar
Senator Garland, from the committee on lu-
dietary, reported L bill to amend section 5,352
of the revised statutes in reference to blgainy
and polygamy. Placed on the calendar.
Senator Randolph moved 10 take up the bill
for the relief of Fltz John Porter. Senator Lo-
gan desired when the bill should he taken up
it might be outside the morning hour, so that
discussion would not be broken up by eXpira-
ton of the hour Senator Randolph then asked
that the bill be made the special order for Mon
day next after the morning hour. Agreed 70.
The resolution offered by Senator Eaton, De-
cembcr /, requesting the President to trans nit
copies of all correspondence with foreign gov
ernments or their representatives IN relation L"
the inter-oceaEic canal, pa: Sed
The bill directing the postmaster general TO
readiust the salaries of certain postnasters, III
accordance with the provision OF section .
of the act of June Il, 1866, passed
The Vice President laid before the Senate
letter from the secretary of war, recommend
ing an appropriation of S3J, OOO Tor the con-
Etruction of permanent brick buildings LOT
quarters for troups at Fort Lcavenworth.
Senator Hill, (Col.), from the committee on
public lands reported favurabiy the bill for
the reclamation of ard and waste lands.
Placed on the calendar.
Senator Morrill, from the committee on pub
lie buildings ard grounds, reported Dill 1or
the erection of public buildings at Denver.
Senator Garland reported bill from inc
in iiciary committee, to-day, amendatory to the
present laws relating to bigamy and polgyamy
i: imposes Il fine of not less than 5000 aud not
Inpre thlu five years imprisonment
upon every person who has husband
or wife living and who hereafter marrleS
another, and declares that any man who mar
ries more than one woman is guilty OF bigamy.
This provision does not extend to any person
by reason of any former marriage whose hus-
band or wife by such marriage Is absent Tor
five successive years, and is not anown to be
living nor to any person whose lawful mar
rage has been dissolved by decree of a conpe-
tent court. 1t provides that in any case OF
prosecution for bigamy any person drawn as
juryman may be challenged il he is or has been
living in the practice of bi5Imy
OF polygamy, or if he be-
Ieves it morally, religiously or
legally right for man to have more than one
living and undivorced wife or to live IN the
practice of cohabiting with more than one
woman. 1t also authorizes the PRESIDENT 10
grant amnesty to offenders against the law Tor
offences committed before January 1st, 1879,
rs he shall think proper, but no such amnesty
shall have effect unless the conditions thereof
have been complied with. The bill provides
thet an issue of plural or Mormon marriages
born before the lst of November 1879, shall
he considered legitimate and entitled to all the
rights of heirs and next of kin Of their parents.
Senator Logan, from the committee on In
dian affairs renorted with amendments the bill
for relief of the Winnebago Indians in Wlscon-
sin, to aid them to obtain subsistence by asrl-
cultural pursuits and to promote their clylllza-
ton. Placed on the calendar.
The morning hour expiring, consideration
was resumed of the bill authorizing ascertain
ment of the amount of land leased IN MILL
tary warrants, etc, and Senator Edmunds con-
tnued his remarks thereon.
Senator Edmuuds argued that the i've per
cent referred to in the enabling acts OF the
States named in the bill was the five per cent.
of cash revenue from the sales of public lands.
The revenue WAS small. The States would get
little, but they would suffer no injustice on
that account. Location Gu military warrants
was rot a SALE and nothing could be claimed
by the States on lands located. He stated
the amount of land located on warrants to be
$1,000 0j0 acres. Five per cent. OF Its valua-
ton would be about 81 ,OU000 If due 1t
should be paid, but he thought he had shown
it was not due.
Senator Mcdonald spoke in favor of the bill.
visions that the money received by the States
should be devoted to public improvements.
The spirit of these provisions had been OBJ
served. Whether the particular money received
by States from the government was at once
paid out on improvement, or whether 1t went
into the treasury and other money was used
for improvement was immaterial. This money
formed but a small part of the money cxpend-
ed by States on internal Improvements. lie
showed that in 1851 former policy regarding
the per cent. was abandoned and instead of
percentum being expended by the general gov
ernment and per cent. by the States, Con
gross provided for the payment of the whole
per cent. to the States and included Indian
reservations and sales in estimating the
amount. This bill proposes to treat locations
on bounty warrants Is sales. He supported
this provision on the grounds of equity.
Senator Mcdonald yielded to a motion by
Senator Davis, of West Virginia. for an execu
tive session. which was agreed to, and wher
the doors reopened the Senate adjourned.