National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1882-03-31
CONGRESSIONAL.
PROCEEDINGS IN BOTH HOUSES.
Bills on the Calendar Psssed-An Army Restora-
tion-The Indian Appropriation Bill-The
Tariff Discussion In the IIouse-Hon.
A. s. Hewitps Speech.

Communications were submitted transmitting
from the Secretary Of the Interior draft Of bill
TO more adequately prevent trcspass upon Indian
lands, and from the Secretary Of War a response
TO the resolution calling for the cost Of improv-
ing the main ship channel Of Providence River
and harbor and estimates for an appropriation
ofaO,0OO for new post at Fort Lewis, Colorado.
On motion of Mr.. Aldrich, the communication
concerning the Providence River, with resolutions
OF the Rhode Island Legislature, which he pre-
sented, went 10 the Commerce Committee.
Reports from the Committee on Commerce were
made as follows:
by Mr. Coke, favorably As amended, the bill
authorizing the Texas and st. Louis Railway Com
pany to build bridges in Arkansas,
By Mr. Farley: A substitute Gov the bill for a
bridge across the Willamette River at Portland,
Oregon.
Mr.. Williams introduced bill to prohibit the
importation Of neat cattle from Canada.
Mr.. PeRdleton presented n petition from the
Sons Of Temperance, Of Ohio, representing 1000
members, for nm amendment to the Constitution
to prohibit the liquor traffic.
II, The Senate then proceeded to consider bills on
the calendar.
The FIRST bill on the calendar was to restore Eu.
gene Wells to his grade as second lieutenant in the
army, from which he was dismissed by court
martial for drunkenness, the proposed restoration
being without pay or emoluments. The excep-
tional circumstances Of the case upon which n
based by the court. martial which passed sentence
were pleaded by Senators, as against the impolicy
OF condoning the ononse under any circumstances,
and the bill was passed-yeas, S5; nays, 2i.
The additional bills passed Included several of
aprivate character, and also the following Senate
bills: To authorize the Secretary of the Treasury
TO ascertain and report to Congress the amount of
claims OF the state Of Kansas for money expended
and Indebtedness assumed by the State in ex-
pelling Indian inyaslons and suppressing Indian
hostilties, (thc period covered is from April
49, 1851, to the passage of the act;
adler and Brevet Major-Ge Meigs on the re-
tired list OF mnjor-generals according TO his bre
vet rank to repay the State Of Georgia s27 1880,
money advanced by said State for the defense OF
her frontiers against the Indians from 1895 to 1878
and not heretofore repaid to provide for the sale
OF certain PORTIONS of the Fort Leavenworth mill
After two o'clock the following general business
was transacted:
Mr.. Morgan, from the Committee on Foreign Ro-
lations reported favorably as amended his resolu
ton declaring in favor of reciprocal trade regula
tions with Mexico. The amendment requires the
regulations TO be made not by treaty but by legis
lation, the committee having adopted the view
originally suggested by Mr.. Morgan that any ar
rangements bet gecn the two countries ought to be
made by the statutes of each. The resolution di-
reefs the President TO call the attention of the
Mexican government to the subject.
Mr. Mcmillan reported, with an amendment
(striking out the power to issue bonds aud mort
gage the bridge property, the House bill to au-
thorize the construction Of bridge across the
Mississippi at or near Keithsburg, ILL.,, and ito
establish IL as n pOst-route. The Senate bill on
this subject was reported adversely and indof-
Mr.. Van Wyck, from the Committee on Public
Lands reported, with an amendment in the nature
OF substitute, the bill for the relief of settlers
Nebraska
The consideration of the Indian appropriation
blll was resumed, the question being upon Mr..
Hoars amendment
Mr.. Call by unanimous consent was allowed to
oiter and advocate amendment appropTiating the
amount OF money agreed in the treaty between
n tn hn
paid to the part of that tribe remaining in Florida
for the support and education OF the Seminoes in
that state, and directing proper distribution be-
tween these and their brethren In the West.
"A discussion followed on the point that as the
fund had heretofore uniformly been paid to the
Western Seminoles the proposed provision could
not be made without additional treaty sdpulations
or specific legislation except at the risk of an inn
proper diversion OF the money from the Indians
Mr.. Call urged the equities of the proposition,
and was followed by his colleague, Mr.. Jones, in
elaboration of his argument
Messrs. Dawes, Hoar, Allison, and Teller opposed
| the amendment.
Mr. Dawes read from the treaty to show that by
! its terms the Seminole Indian fund was not 10 be
created until after the tribe had gone West, and
that the Government had made all its payments
| upon the assumption that they had so removed.
| He offered to accept modification of the amend
| suggested by Mr. Call 5000
The amendment OF Mr.. Call us modified, to ap-
prOpriate 5000 for schools, lands, agricultural i'm
! plements, and seeds for the Seminoles in Florida
! to be expended under the Secretary of the In.
| terror, was then adopted.
The Senate next took up Mr. Hoars amend
ment to appropriate S2000O00 for the education OF
all Indian children except those of the five civil
lied tribes west of the Mississippi River, at 500
each per annum.
Messrs. Hoar and Plumb spoke at length on the
subject. The latter gave notice that he would to-
day modify his amendment by reducing the ap-
| preparation to S50O,000.
The Senate (at six o'clock p. m,), after an execu.
tive session of few minutes, adjourned until Fri