Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1881-01-14
Senate.

WASHING TON, Jan. Ex-senator McMlllan
from the committee of commerce, reported
favorably the bill recently introduced by him
providing for the payment of damages which
may be occasioned to the Indians of Minnesota
reservations by the construction of reservoirs
at the head waters of the Mississippi river,
under the act of last year, and also providing
that theo appropriation heretofore made fol
constructing dam at Lake. Winnebago shall
be applied Immediately
On motion of Senator Mcmillan the bill was
taken up, and after explanation by him was
passed.
On motion of Senator Logan the resolution
extending the franking privileges to Senator's
and Members was taken up, the question
being upon the motion to refer to the COM
mittee on postofices.
Senator Wallace referred to the allusiOn to
himself in connection with recent instances of
complaint of alleged abuse of the franking
privilege as contained in the statement in the
Record of the previous day. He desired to say
that the statement pertaining to himself was
without foundation. He had at 10 time au-
thorized the use of his name on any matter that
was not frankable.
At the expiration of the morning hour the
franking resolution was referred TO the COM
mittee on postoffices, $50 to %. Discussion
ensued upon the order of business, when the
Senate finally resumed consideration of the
army bill, the question being upon the amend
ments to item for payment of the govern
ment's transportation on land grant railways.
The discussion of previous day was resumed,
and various Suggestions were urged with q
view to perfecting the item so as to limit the
discretion of quartermaster's department and
require that any settlement for transportation
by that department shall be made in accordance
with recent decisions in the controversy be-
tween the government and roads, the latter
having their legal remedy in cases of dispute
as to the amount to be allowed. The pending
amendment offered by Senator Allison was to
make fifty per cent. payment apply to the
amount audited and approved instead Of the
amount found to be Justly due by the quarter
master general.
Senator Edmunds moved an amendment to
the amendment, making the entire item
read as follows: For the payment
for army transportation lawfully due, such
land grant railroads as have not received aid
in government bonds, to be adjusted by the
proper accounting officers in accordance with
the decisions of the supreme court, in cases
decided under the land grant acts, but in no
case shall more than fifty per cent. of the full
judicial decision shall be had in respect to each
case in dispute. Agreed to; ayes 20, nays Is.
Senator Edmunds suggested that the amend
ment reported from the Senate committee ap-
pending proviso that such payment shall be
accepted as in full of all demands for said
services, being apparently superfuous, be
stricken out. The discussion was then renewed
and was participated in by Senator's Beck,
Carpenter, Edmunds, Plumb, Burnside, Nc
Pherson, Wethers and Brown.
Senator Carpenter opposed the amendment
as unjust and oppressive in compelling credi-
tors of the government to choose between
terms Offered them and years of litigation in
an effort to get what is due them.
Senator Wallace said that land grant rail
roads were creatures of the government; that
it was proposed to deal with them justly and
not to permit them to control the government
or dictate terms to it.
Senator Carpenter thought the government
was disposed to compel them to accept what
ever might he its own Interpretation of JUS
tice.
The amendment was finally agreed to-
Ayes, 70; noes, %. The amendments of the
Senate committee to the other items of the
bill were agreed to as reported. Without ac-
tiOn lIDOn the hill the Senate adjourned