The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-12-11
FORTY EIGHTH CONGRESS.
Debate Between Senators ingalls, and
Hill Concerning Land Grants.
a Large humber of Bills Introduced in the
Hnuse-A Request for Postp"nement
of the O'Donnell Execution.
THE SENATE.


Debate Between Senators InSalls and Hill
on the Transfer of Land Grants.
WASHINGTON, Dec. r0-A memorial was pre-
scented from the Mexican veterans asking pen
sion.
Standing and other committees were then ap-
pointed.
The following bills were introduced:
BY Mr.. Hill: Providing for coinage at the
branch mint at Denver
Ry Mr.. Cameron, of Wisconsin: To regulate
elections of representatives. to Congress and
punish violations therefor.
BY Mr. ingalls,: To prevent unlawful Enclosures
of public lands.
resolution, by Mr.. Voorhees,, was agreed to
authorizing the committee on military affairs to
inquire into the expediency of purchasing the
encampment grounds occupied by the Revolu-
tiouary army al Valley Forge f0r national
park. He also offered the following, which he
asked to have printed:
"Resolved, That in the Judgment OF the Senate
the public dent is not a public blessing, and any
measure of financial policy looking TO the per-
petuation of the present interest-bearing ma
fiohal debt for the purposes Of national bank
ing, or any other account meets WIN the dis,
Appreciation of this body, and should he viewed
with alarm by the taxpayers OF the United
States"
Mr.. Hill called up a resolution asking the Sec
rotary of the Interior 10 furnish copies OF all pa
pers relating the transfer of the land grant to
the New Orleans, Baton Rouge u VIekshurS
Railway Company 10 the New Orleans Pacific
Railroad Com Rany. He said abont 2,0000OO
acres were at stake in this matter. The land
had been granted in 1871. BY the terms of that
act the claim lapsed five years after that time,
the road not being built and there was now an
attompt to transfer the land to the New Orleans
Pacific Railway.
Mr.. Ingalls, said the matter had been before
the Attorney general, who had given an opinion
that grant OF land by an act of Congress was a
grant in present., and vested the company with
interest in the lands. but the grant did not ac-
Quire precision and attach to any specific lands
until the route of the road was definitely located.
A provtso requiring that the road be built
within five years was merely con
dltion subsequent, which did not work
forfeiture, but eaab ed the United
States to declare forfeiture by proper ju.
dicial proceedings. Untl such declaration OF
and the road had the right to transfer
its interest to the New Orleans Pacific company.
Such was the drift and substance of the Attorney
generals opinion. Mr. ingalls, st ated he had heard
this session would be characterized by on
slafghts on the Department of the Interior He
did not know whether the senator from C0lora-
do (HnD shared this opinion, hut he Thought
this first series of assaults was intended to be
made on the administration of that depart
ment. He was Informed and believes it is TO be
followed by assaults upon tSe administration OF
the Pension Bureau, the General Land-0ntce
ard the Indian service. The Secretary of the
Interior, he said, invites the utmost scruting OF
all his acts.
Mr. Hill said he was merely performing his
duty in the matter. The facts that during
the five years allowed not one foot of railroad
was huilt. He believed the source OF his Informal
ton as good as those of the gentlemen from
Kansas, and he believed the statement that
the quantity OF land in question is
100000 acres is substantially correct,
and with regard to the public impression
referred by the senator from Kansas, he Child
had heard Onsaughts would rather be made
by railroad companies, not only to prevent leg
IsIatiOn against their interests, bur to secure
legisat against the interests of the people
ami in favor of corporations.
MI ingalls, said he aid not know and did not
carecw he ther the assignment in question was
valid or not. He simply wished 10 say,unti some
competent authority overturned the decision OF
the Attorney general there is prlDa facte evl
denee of authority for the transfers. He had not
the slightest objection TO call for papers, but
thought the resolutions, as framed. would not ac
eomplish the purpose il that purpose was the
present transfer of land, as by the time the pa
pers were ready patents may be issued, and he
inquired If the gentle man did not desire mainly
to prevent the trasfer of land.
Mr Hill stated that he certainly did, and de-
sired no action taken in he matter until infOr
nation called for presented to the Senate.
The resolution was agreed TO.
AdtOurned