National Republican., 1883-12-11
Several Cords Of EmbryOtiC Laws Dumped
Into the Hopper.
Land Grant Railroads Attacked All
Along the Line.
Some Attention Paid 70 Civil Service Reform, Whisky,
and Banks.
"A Tilt Between Senators Ingalls, and
Hill-Othcr Matters.
THE SENATE.

THE SENATE.
On the assembling Of the senate the chair laid
before II memorial of the veterans Of the Mexi-
can war asking that their names and the widows
of deceased veterans bo placed on the pension
rolls.
Mr. Sawyer presented petition from letter
carriers Of Racine, Wis., asking that letter carriers
be allowed thirty days leave OF absence each
year.
ceeded to the appointment OF the standing and
other committees Of the senate, and the forty
sixth rule, requiring the designation to be by bal
lot, was suspended and the names were read from
list handed TO the secretary. which list was
adopted.
them one by Mr.. Frye, from 20,0O0 Good Templars,
asking n constitutional amendment prohibiting
toe manufacture and sale OF Intoxicating liquors.
lature of Nebraska, asking congress TO make set
Element OF titles held under United States patents
by citizens of the state, and now disputed by par
ties holding title under the Denver and st. Joe
BY NIr. Morgan; A petition from the cadets at
the Of tSs o q that hat
number of graduates of the naval academy TO be
retained in the service each year shall not apply
TO those classes who we're in the service ut the
time of the passage Of the act
considerable number of bills were introduced,
By ar, Sawyer. yer 70 provide for the removal of
distinctions TO nayigable waters OF the United
States.
branch United States mint at Denver, Col:
BY Mr.. Lapham: To increase the salaries OF
chaplains IN the United States army.
Also, for the relief of the state OF New York. and
to certain certificates issued by that state to
the soldiers OF the war Of 1872.
Also, to provide for courts OF review In the va
rlous circuits Of the United States and to regulate
the practice In civil and criminal cases IN the
courts of the United States.
By Mr. Cameron, of Wisconsin: To regulate cleo
tlons for representatives In congress aud 10 pun
ish violations thereof
BY Mr.. Morgan: To defno the rights of United
States citizens when residing in foreign countries
By Mr.. Voorhees,: Authorizing the construction
OF building for the accommodations of the library
Of congress-. TT is the bill introduced by him last
shall be erected east Of the capitol, either betwee
B street north and East Capitol street and First
street east and Second street east or between d
street and East Capitol street and First street and
Second street east. as the commission shall here
after determine. The sum of $4,000 Is appro-
priated to commence the construction OF the
BY NJ. ingalls,: To prevent unlawful Enclosures
of public lands.
resolution was offered by Mr.. Butler, which
he asked to have printed ana to lie on the table,
providing that each senator except the chairmen
of standing OF select committees, shall be entitled
TO a clerk or secretary at salary of 81, 900 an-
nually.
A resolution of Mr.. Voorhees, was agreed to,
authorizing the committee affairs to inquire into
the expediency and feasibility of purchasing the
encampment grounds occupied by the revolu-
,ionary army at Valley Forge, to be made ma
He also offered the following, which he asked 10
have printed:
Resolped, That in the judgment of the senate
public debt Is not public blessing, and that any
measure oil financial policy looking TO the perpet-
uation OF the present interest bearing national
debt of this government for the purposes of ma,
tional banking, or on any other account, meets
with the dIsapprobation Of this body, and should
@ be- viewed ed. with alarm by the taxpayers of the
Mr.. IIill; of Colorado called up the resolution,
already offered hy him, calling upon the secre-
tary OF the interior TO furnish copies of all papers
on file In the department of the interior relating
70 the transfer of the land grant OF the New Or
leans, Baton Rouge, aud Vicksburg Railroad COM
pany to the New Orleans Pacific Railroad com
pany. He sud there were about g 900 acres at
stake IN this M matter; that the land had been
granted in 1871, and by the terms of the act the
claim lapsed in five years from that time, the
rond not being built and that there is now an
Pacific railway.
Mr. ingalls, said this matter had been before the
attorney general, who had given an opinion that
'he grant OF the land by the act Of congress was
grant IN present., and vested tho company with
the interest," in the lands but the grant did not
acquire precision aud attach to any specific lands
until the route of the road was definitely located
that the proviso requiring the road to be built in
tiye years was merely condition subsequent,
which did not work u forfeiture but enabled the
United States 10 declare forfeiture by proper
Judicial proceedings, and until such declaration
OF forfeiture the grant remained in the grantee,
and the Baton Rouge company had the right TO
transfer its interest TO the New Orleans Pacific
company. Such was the syllabus Of the attorney
generals opinion on the subject which was read
by the secretary of the senate.
Mr.. ingalls, then stated that he had heard this
session was to be characterized by onslaughts on
the department of the interior Ho did not know
whether the senator from Colorado (Mr. HID
shared this opinion, but Mr.. Ingals throught this
the first Of series of assaults Intended TO be made
on the administration of that department He is
Informed. and believes, it is TO be followed by
haults upon the administration of the pension bu-
reau, the general land ONCE, and tho Indian
vice. The secretary Of the interior he said, In
vites The ptmos. security into all his acts
Mr.. Hill said he was merely performing his duty
In this matter. The facts are that during the five
years allowed by the act not one foot of the rail
formation to be- as good as those ser Of the senemnn
from Kansas, and he believed that the statement
that the quantity Of land IN question is 100000
the public Impression referred 10 by the senator
from Kansas, MI Hill had heard onsaughts were
rather to be made by railroad companies not only
to prevent any legislation against their interests,
but to secure legislation against the interests of
the people and IN favor OF corporations.
Mr. Ingalls, reclted the action OF the depart
mems OF the interior, and had read letter from
the secretary of that department 10 the President
reporting the action had in the matter, and max
lug certain recommendations, which recon-
mendatons had received the approval of the
President He said there had been nothing OBJ
scure about II, and II was all matter OF public
record. He did not know anddid not care whether
the assignment in question was valid or not; he
wsneq 70 Sdy IN tnad nh some competent
general, there IL prima facie evidence of the Ru-
tbority for the transfer.
He had not the slightest objection to the call for
the papers, but thought tho resolution as framed
would not accomplish the purpose of the mover,
II that purpose was to prevent the transfer of the
land, as by the time the papers are ready the
patents may be issued; and inquired II the gentle
man did not desire mainly 10 prevent the transfer
of the land.
Mr.. Hill stated that he certainly did and de.
sired that no action be taken in the matter until
the Information called for is presented 10 the
senate.
After some further remarks tho resolution yns
greed TO- and at 2:lO the senate adjourned.
THE HOUSE.
On motion OF Mr.. Hscock, a resolution was
adopted extending until Jan. 10 the time within
which the committee on the equalization Of tho
salaries Of the officers Of tho house and senate may
report.
Under the call of states the following lills, &c.
were introduced and referred:
BY Mr.. Herbert: Fixing the compensation of
United States marshals and district attorneys.
BY Mr.. Oates: To prevent the retroactive opera
tion OF the naval appropriation act Of 1882 limit.
ing the numbero Of graduates OF the naval academy
% bo retained IN the service. To devote the ro-
ceeds Of the sale Of public lands TO the education
of the people.
BY ME- Dnnn Declaring frreited lands granted
TO the following railroad companies and II states
in aid of such companies; Gulf and Ship Island
Alabama and Florida, coosa and Tennessee, Mo-