Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1882-02-25
The Senate.

WASHINGTON, Feb. Ex-senator Davis
Nv. Va.) offered and advocated the resolution
requesting the committee on military affairs
to inquire into the expediency Of giving more
aid than is now provided to the various states
and territories, in order 10 promote and en-
courage the organization of the militia forces
of the country and strengthen their efficiency.
Adopted. The calander was proceeded with.
Senator Bayard offered the following:
WHEREAS, Publication has been widely made
by the public press of the United States Of
certain alleged commercial contracts between
certain companies and co-partnerships of indi-
viduals relative to exports of guano and nj
trites from Peru, in which mediation by the
governments of Peru, Bolivia and Chilli is de-
clared to be in condition for the effectuation
and continuance of said contracts: therefore,
b it
Resolued, That the committee on foreign
relations be and hereby is instructed to inquire
whether any promises or stipulation by
which intervention by the United States
in the controversy existing between Chill and
Peru, or Chilli and Bolivia, has been expressly
or implicitly given by any persons officially
connected with the government of the United
States, or whether the influence of the govern
ment of the United States has been in any way
u
with or in relation to said contracts by any
one officially connected with the government
of the United States; and whether any one Of
fclally connected with the government of the
United States is interested directly or indirect
/ ly with any such alleged contracts in which
the mediation as aforesaid of the United States
is recited to be condition. Referred to the
committee on foreign relations.
There was considerable discussion on the
bill to restore Mark Walker, who was dis
missed from a lleutenancy in the army for
drunkenness. The general subject of the pro-
priety of restoring men so expelled was trav-
ersed in the debate and the bill recommitted.
After the morning hour Senator Allison, men,
Der of the appropriations committee in charge
of the immediate deficiency bill, was awarded
the floor, but yielded temporarily to Van
Wick, who addressed the senate upon the ne
cessitY for an investigation of alleged frauds
| in the township survey system. He said sur
veyors general and other government land Of
icers had combined to make surveys of worth
less lands and then to use the scrip they would
get in return for deposits for surveys to pur-
chase the most valuable government lands Of
the west. The deposits amounted last year to
about $4,000, 900, but most of the surveys
wee valueless to the government because of
worthlessness of lands surveyed.
Senator Teller replied that VanWyck's com
plants did not apply to Colorado, although a
large extent Of it's territory had been surveyed.
Settlers and parties interested in having public
lands surveyed had taken advantage of the
statute, because the appropriations had been
utterly below what they ought to have been.
The matter was referred to the public lands
committee for investigation.
The senate considered the immediate def
cheney appropriation bill. The senate COM
mittee amendments were agreed to, including
items for subsis; ance and education of Indians,
and $50, 900 fol- The necessary expenses of the
Garfield and Burnside funerals.
Senator Beck objected to the $20, 900 item
for mileage of army officers. and claimed GER
tain traps by army officers have been taken for
purely persona. reasons and sometimes for
purposes not entirely proper. he protested
against the payment of mileage to numerous
officers now en- route to the capital to attend
the Garfield memorial on Monday.
Senator Allison replied that if the senator's
arraignment had any force, it had application
only to the manner of spending the money
not to the propriety of voting It. He advised
Beck to be sure of his facts before making al
legations.
The amendment then prevailed as also one
increasing the item for additional clerk hire
in the postofice from $75, 900 to $3.50, The
bill was finally passed without objection.
After some contention between Bayard and
Miller, Cal, on claims of priority of the tariff
commission and Chinese bills, (the latter being
supported by Hiscock and Farley,) the
motion by Miller to take up the Chinese bill
prevailed, ayes 35, nays 16, and the measure
was laid over as unfinished.
After an executive session adjourned until
Monday.