New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-02-26
GENERAL WAsHINGTONNEWS
WORK IN THE HOUSE.
WOhh IN I'M 4tOOo6s
PROGRESS ON THE sUNDRY CIVIL BILL-CHARGRs
WITHOUT EVIDENCE THE LoBBY's OPPORTUNITY.
(BY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRrBUEB.i


PROGRESS ON THE sUNDRY CIVIL BILL-cHARGRs
WITHOUT EVIDENCE THE LoBBY's OPPORTUNITY.
(BY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNR.l
WASHINGTON, Feb. 25.-The House,. after the
truce in the flibusteriug contest was agreed upon
this morning spent the day in the consideration OF
the Sundry Civil bill Someprogress was made, but 1t
is probable that at least day will be neces-
sary to finish the bill. Mr.. Atkins, who the other
day, when the House refused to purchase the Polk
and Bragg papers, moved to strike out from the bill
the appropriation to continue the history OF the
Rebellion. in very manly speech this morning
withdrew his amendment, stating that he beheVed
that the work of continuing the history was just
and patriotic The Confederates really cannot COM
plain that the history in progress is unjust Tor
the records and papers of both sides fairly con-
sidered and the officer in charge of the Confederate
records is himself an ex-Confederate Major-Gen-
era.
General George B. Mcclellan won a victory by
proxy in the House to-day at least escaped de-
feat: for motion to strike his name out OF the bill
rs one of the managers of the National Homes tor
Disabled Volunteer Soldiers was not successful not
withstanding the Republicans united upon General
Manson, an Indiana man. The attempt to restore
General Benjamin F. Butler was almost piece CT
irony rs be scarcely received vote.
When the paragraph in the bill which proposed to
establish coaiipg stations on tie Isthmus or
Panama was reached there was a very animated
debate The Committee Naval Affairs, In
accordance with previous instructions through
Mir. Goode, moved amendment approprlatlhg
5000 900 to enable the Secretary of the Navy 10
establish naval stations aud coal dopots on 'ne
Isthmus of Panama. for the supply of steamships of
war; Various objections we're made to the PROPOSE
ton. ON the ground that it was not in order Mr.
Bloupt. of Georgia maintained that the amend
ment was intended as an entering wedge
to the Interoceanic Canal scheme. 1t remained
for Mr. Mcmahon, of Ohio to make q
sensation and to make somewhat serious
charges in relation to the matter. de said tnat
there was corporation known as the Chiriqui Lana
Company, which had several millions of acres OF
land to sell where these stations were proposed 10
be located; that during the war President Lincoln
made an arrangement with this company to settle
on that tract negroes from the District OF COLUMBIA;
that vessel was prepared for the purpose OF convey
ing them there aud that the vessel was nearly ready
TO sail when it was discovered that the negroes
could be used in the army. This corporation, MI.
Mcmahon said, still exists and claims that the
contract ia binding Mr. Mcmahon generally
limited at the whole history of the Chiriqui land
strip. which was fully investigated in connection
with certain coal contracts the XXXVlth Con-
cress The sensational point Of Mr. McMahons
speech was reached when he said that the present
Executive had this scheme very much at heart, ana
that the private secretary OF the President, Mt
Rogers, had been very active among members in the
use of artful and secret influences and IN urging
that the appropriation be made.
Mr. Hlscock of New-York, and Others denied Mr.
McMahon's assertion; but the latter insisted that
the project originated with the Chirqui Land Com
pany and was urged by the counsel OF that COM
pany that it had been advocated by the Executive.
ana that the scheme was to sell a small portion of
this tract to the United States for 100000, as the
result of which the remainder of the tract would
be enhanced in value and the speculative owners Of
1t secure large fortunes. Mr. McMahons statements
were of the widest sensational character; aud Mr.
Blount of Georgia. who is very Jealous Of the rights
of the Government, said that no one bat
Mr. Mcmahon believed that there had been
attempts at corruption. The number OF acres OF
land in the tract is estimated at 100000 Naval
engineers reported many years ago that the tract
was rich with coal. The Executive Department
has estimated that the saving to the Government
by the location Of naval station there would be
90 ZOO 600 annually Mr.. Harris of assachusetts,
with SOME spirit denied the insnuatlons Of Mr..
Mcmahon. and challenged him to prove that there
had been any attempts at corruption.
Under the rules OF the House of Representatives,, n
motion to SUSPEND the rules and pass a bill IS In
order at any time during the last SIX days OF ses-
SION Several bills were passed III tnlS way to-uaF
by a vote Of twothirds These last six days at the
fap end Of a session the ones IN which JObOers
cluster about the Capitol IN the largest numbers
and during which Lobbyists are most active. fhe
McGarrahan lobby has come to the front with a
new scheme; and its members are lndustrlOnsly
engaged in attempting to misead the members of the
House who have not examined the matter; and thus
TO secure majority in favor Of the new bill. Inc
90 called report of the Committee on Private Land
CLAIMS in support of the hcGarrahan bull IL not
signed by a majority OF the members OF that COM
mlttee. Its adoption was secured when hVe men,
beers of the committee were absent. member OF
the committee SAID to-day that, If the matter were
ever brought before meeting OF the full committee,
majority would be found TO be opposed to Nectar