The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1881-01-14
CONGRESSIONAL.
TRANSACTIONS IN THE TWO HOUSES
YEsTERDAY.
SENATE,

WASHtSGNoN, January lS.-Mr. McMil
Ian from the Committee on Commerce, re-
ported lavorably on the bill recently In
troduCed by him providing for the pay
ment Of damsgss which may be occasion
ed 10 the Indians on the Minnesota TeseF.
vaIion, by the construction ol reservoirs
at the head waters OF the Mississippi, un.
der the act OF last year, and also providing
thRt the appropriation heretofore made
for the construction OF dam at Lake
Winnebagosish shall be applied immed'
lately,
Ca motion OF Mr.. Mcmillan the bill
was taken up, and after an explanation by
him was passed.
On motion oI Mr.. Logan the resolution
extending the ranking privilege to SEN
Rtors and members, was taken up. The
question being upon the motion to refer II
" the COMMITTEES on PostottiCes.
Mr.. Wallace referred IN the AlluSion oil
himself In connection with the recent in.
stance Of the complaint Of the alleged
abuse o! the ranking privilege 90 contain.
ed In the statement In the record OF thA
previous day, lie desired tosay that the
statement pertaining 10 himself was with.
out foundation. He hada aE no time au-
thorized the use oil hls name pn any mat.
ter that was not frankable, and would con-
tent himself with this statement in his
place as q relutaLion Of any charge against
himself.
At the expiration ofthe morning hour
the frGnking resolution was referred to
the Committee on PosIofIlcea by a vote Of
2S to %
The question being upon the amend.
ments 10 the item for tho payment oil gov.
ernment transportation on land grant rail.
roads the discussion OF the previous day
was resumed, and various suggestions
were argued, with view Of periecting the
item so As TO limit the disOTetion Of the
QuartermAster's department, and require
that any settlement for transportation by
that department shall be made in accord.
anCe with recent decisions In controversy
batwesn the Government and the roads,
the latter having their legal remedy, In
cases ot dispute, Ss To tho amount TO be
allowed
The pending amendment offered by
Mr., Allison, was 10 make the 90 per cent
payment apply to "lhe amount audited
and approved" instead OF "the amount
found 70 be Justly duo" by the Quarter.
master General.
Mr.. Fdmunds moved al amendment to
the amendment, making the entire
item read as follows: "For the payment OF
army transportation lawfully due such
land grant railroads as have not
received aid In Government bonds to be
I'D djusted by proper accounting officers In
accordance with the decisions OF the Su.
preme Court In csses decided uHdcr the
land grant acts, but IL no Case shall more
than 80 per cent Of tho full amount OF the
service be paid unlil q final judicial de.
Clsion shall he had In respea. 10 eICh caEe
In dispute, $4,000, Agreed 10, ayes 2S,
nays IS
Mr.. Edmurds suggested that The amend.
ment reported from the Senate committee,
Rppendlng provlso that "suCh payments
shall be accepted as In full oil oil demands
for said services" being apparently su'
perAuous be stricken out.
The discussion wRs then renewed and
was participated In by Mepsrs. Beck, Car
penter, Edmunds Plumb, Burnside, Mo.
Pherson, WitChsrs ana' Brown.
Mr.. Carpenter opposed the amendment
as unjust and oppressive, In compelling
the creditors Of the Government TO choose
between the terms offered them and years
Of litigation In court to get what Was due
them.
Mr.. Wallace said the land grants 10 rail.
roads were creatures OF the Government;
that II was proposed to deal with them
Justly and not TO permit them TO control
1ha HnunHp ,a,,t ~ ItntuIn In, ina IN ~
Mr.. Carpenter thought The Government
wsa disposed TO compel thel4 70 accept
whatever might be lie own Interpretation
OF justice
Tho amendment was finally Ssreed 10,
ayes 25, nays 22,
'fhO amendments OF the Senate Com.
mittes 10 tho other items Of the bill were
agreed to az reported.
Pending action on the bill tbe Senate
adjourned.