The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1882-04-12

Forty.seventh Congress -Fir-t session.
WASHINGTON, April II, 1882.
SENATE

SENATE.
Mr.. Grover. from the Military Commit
tee. reported the original bill Gas substi-
tute for the pending measure) authorizing
the Secretary OF the Treasury 70 examine
and report to Congress the amount OF all
claims Of the States OF Texas, Oregon. and
Nevada. and Washington and Idaho Terri
tories, for moneys expended and indebted
ness assumed by said States and Territories
because Of Indian hOstilties. Placed on
calendar.
The Senate took up the calendar and
passed a number OF private bills.
The Indian Territory railroad bill, grant
ing the right Of way 70 the st. Louis and
San Francisco railroad, coming up as un-
| finished business. Mr.. IIawley denounced
il in the amended form in which II came
from the Railroad Committee ms an ATTEMPT
to violate the treaty rights OF Indians. Upon
the prcteXt OF ratifying IN act OF the Choc-
taw Council, he said. the bill proposed
TO seize their lands without providing
any system for adjusting the rate Of
compensation therefor. He could conceive
Of emergencies in which the United states
would have the right, in the proper legal
sense Of that term, TO pass legislation in
contraventiOn Of the treaty. but that duty
required it TO exhaust all other remedies
before gong 10 that extremity. He denied
that the remedies had been exhausted in
! this instance, and asserted that in holding
apart 4 strip Of Indian country fOrrailroad
purposes the Government was overriding
/ It's uniform practice heretofore. Ny chief
concern he added, "is not because / see
/ the Indians wronged, hut that my Govern
ment. under treaty with 10000 or 10000
L. IL Il
dare to do under a treaty with Great Bri-
/ tain. | want Uncle Sam 10 be a gentleman,
and that is all"
The discussion then turned upon the
pending amendment Of Mr.. ingalls, requir-
ing the consent Of the Choctaws and Chick
asaws 10 the act to be obtained before the
act shall take effect.
Mr.. Jonas. OF Louisiana. opposed the
amendment as a virtual defeat Of the bill,
rs the Chickasaws had announced that they
would never grant the right OF way. being
opposed 10 the road. lie maintained the
validity Of the assent alleged 10 have been
already given bv the ChOctaws. ard that
that tribe had declared in favor Of The pro-
posed road by electing public officers
friendly 10 the grant. The rights Of the
Chickasaws were not affected. az the road
would not reach their lands.
The bill finally went over without action.
A bin was introduced by Mr.. Vest 10 au-
thorize the construction Of bridges across
the Missouri river between its mouth and
the mouth II the Dakota river: across the
Mississippi river between 81. Paul, Mimi,
and Natchez, Miss. and across the Illinois
river between ITS mouth and Peoria, III.
The bin was drafted last month by the
st. Louis Merchants Exchange as a
general bridge law, and is intended 10
secure reasonable protection TO navigation
and TO authorize bridge companies TO
con. truct bridges OF varying dimensions at
suitable points on the Mississippi, Missouri.
and Illinois rivers without further legisla-
ton. The condition, are deliberately spe-
cited in the bill. which further requires that
all designs and plans for the contemplated
structures shall be submitted TO and APP
proved by the Secretary Of War, prior to
the beginning Of the work Of construction.
Executive session. Adjourned.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
Themorning hour having been dispensed
with. Mr.. Ryan, Of Kansas. from the Com
mittce on APPROXIMATIONS. reported back
Senate bin appropriating $50. COO 70 provide
for the deficiency in the appropriation for
charge of the CHEYENNE and ArrapahOc
agencies i'm Indian Territory.
Mr. Randall. OF Pennsylvania. held that
this was a bill IN The line OF the general ap-
preparation for the support OF the Govern
ment, and as such could not be originated
by the Senate.
The Senate bill was accordingly with
drawn. and an original bill to the same eli
g.. IN 4 a
The House went into Committee OF the
Whole on the post-Oilice appropriation bill
with Senate amendments. The following
Senate amendments were cOncWred in:
Appropriating $4,000 for furnishing
iourth-class pOstmasters with the necessary
implements for cancelling stamps, ETC.. in
crcasing the appropriation for compensa-
ton TO clerks in pOst-0fiices by Sl50,000:
decreasing by S500,0O0 the appropriation
for mail transportation by railroads; pro-
viding that il any person shall hereafter
perform any service for any mail-c0ntractOr
in carrying the mail he shall have lien on
any money due by the Post-Oftice Depart
mcnt TO the contractor.
The amendment restoring the ranking
privilege was then reached. 4 number Of
members opposed this amendment; among
them Messrs. Cannon. Of Illinois; Hill, OF
New Jersey; Townshend, OF Ohio; RO-
bosom: Cobb, Of Indiana, and UpdegraH, OF
( Ohio.
Mr.. Brown, Of Indiana, was glad to see
the parOXism OF economy which had come
over the House. IL was not often that a
/ tidal wave of that kind came along. but
when it did he wanted 10 get on the top OF
the wave and float with the balance. The
franking privilege as it now existed cover
ed everything that members OF Congress
could ask. Carloads Of stuff were sent
under IL every day, and Congress was run
nng huge printing-Oiliee. The al
lowance OF Sl25 20 each member for
stationery was sufficient 10 pay every penny
OF his postage, and perhaps gave him an
Opera-glass or Two. III the House desired
TO put money into the Treasury il should
abolish the printing Of % per cent. OF the
matter which was now printed. There
were innumerabic bills which died in COM
mittees which had 10 be printed. Memo
rials were printed, speeches were printed.
II the man who invented the Congressional
Record still lived he ought to be arraigned
before a military tribunal, condemned, and
shot. II had killed more members OF Con-
gress than KidwelPs Bottom Potomac
Flats).
After a long discussion, almost entirely
in disapproyal Of it, the Senate amend
ment was non-concurred in, as We're also a
large number Of less important amend
ments; and the committee having risen.
the House ratified its action, and the bill
now goes TO conference committee.
The House then went INTO Committee Of
the Whole on the tariG-commissiOn bill,
and Mr.. Cox, Of North Carolina, opposed
the measure us one which would only delay
the revision OF the tariff, and prevent the
removal OF incongruities which existed in
IL. lie contended that the House, through