National Republican., 1883-12-07
THE MORNING HOUR.
How It Was Utilized in the United States
Senate Yesterday.
Bills and ResoIutions--Many Affecting
Railroad Interests,
-Four Amendments 10 the Constitution Proposed-Twc
in Reference 10 the Veto Power.
Paragraph About the House-Both
Houses Adjourn Until Monday.
THE SENATE.

mention of 'that member of tho senate who
is absent by reason of Sickness" referring to
Senator Anthony, and invoked tho Divine
interposition to restore him to health. After
the reading of the journal the following Pc
titions and memorials were presented:
BY Mr.. Manderson From tho legislature
of Nebraska asking that tho railroads TO
whom the government has granted lands
shall be either compelled to take ont patents
on them, SO that they may be taxed, or that
tho lands may revert to tho people.
Also, asking that tho duty bo removed
from barbed wire.
Also, urging tho improvement of tho Mis-
souri river, t
BY Mr. Slater, From the chamber Of COM
merco of Astoria Greg, praying that the
lands granted to aid tho Oregon Central
railroad by act of May A. 1870, be forfeited
and thrown open to settlement.
Among tho bills introduced were the fol-
lowing
BY Mr.. Lapham: Limiting portion OF the
naval appropriation act. 1t provides that
the portion of the act approved Aug D, 1882
limiting the number of graduates of the naval
academy to be retained in service each year
shall not apply to those classes who had COM
pleted the four years cause at the naval
academy prior to the passages of the act and
members of the class Of 1881 who have been
boon honorably discharged under tho pro-
visions of the said act.
Also regulating maritime liens and reme-
dies and to secure uniformity in the enforce
ment of the rights of material men in courts
of admiralty.
Also, to establish United States mint at
New York city.
By Mr.. Miller, of California (by request) /:
To provide for the relief of settlers under
the desert land act.
By Mr.. Slater lin accordance with the
prayer of the memorial presented by him) +:
To forfeit certain public lands granted to the
Oregon Central Railroad company in tho
state of Oregon and Washington territory.
BY Mr. Call; To disqualfy judges of tho
United States supreme court from sitting in
the trial of causes which have been pre-
viously heard before them at circuit or other
wise.
BY Mr. Garland: To release tho Memphis
and Little Rock Railroad company from such
of the conditions of acts of as unjustly affect
said corporation.
Also, to authorize the secretary of the
treasury to settle and adjust the accounts be-
tween the United States and the same COM
pany on account of customs duties on iron
imported by that company.
By Mr. Mitchell: To provide for the ap-
pointment of official stenographers for the cir
cult and district courts of the United States,
lot une hGVCTdl IcTTlIOTldl COURTS anu tuo
supreme court of the District of Columbia.
BY Mr.. Ingalls,: To repeal the presumption
law and the timber culture law
Also, to amend the homestead law.
BY Mr.. Brown: For the settlement of nc.
counts between tho United States and such
railroad companies as received property from
the United States in 1865 and 1866 and that
have made full payment for the same, or who
upon adjustment of their accounts shall be
found to havo paid their Indebtedness on ac-
count of such property. In this adjustment
the abatement in respect to valuation of such
property shall not exceed % per cent. The
basis of settlement to be the same as that with
the Western and Atlantic railroad in 1877.
By Mr.. Cameron, of Wisconsin To restore
to market and sale certain lands of the
United States in the states of Minnesota and
Wisconsin, and to authorize their sale, subject
to tho rights of aowage. [These are lands
that were withdrawn from sale in 1880 and
1881, with the idea that they would be re-
quired for use in the construction and main
tenance of dams, reservoirs, &c, proposed to
be erected in tho improvement of the Mis-
sissippi river. They are by this bill to be
subject to private entry and sale at $1.25 per
acre.
By Mr.. lGroome; To provide flor the con-
struction of the Maryland and Delaware free
ship canal rs means of military and naval
defense, and for commercial purposes. The
canal Is to connect the waters of the CheSa-
peake and Delaware bays; is to be 100 feet
wide Mt bottom, 26 feet below mean low water,
and 17S feot wide at low water level, with
locks 600 feet by 60 in the chamber, and sufii-
;iently deep to allow the passage of vessels
lrawng % feet of water, and the secretary
VI war is authorized to make the necessary
urveys, and to negotiate with tho owners OF
roperty along the course of the canal, and il
satisfactory terms cannot be reached, then tc
condemn the land; $l,0O000O are appro-
priated for the purposes of the bill.
BY Mr.. Morgan: TO define the jurisdiction
of the circuit and district courts of the United
States. 1T provides that no district or oir-
cult courts shall have or exercise Jurisdiction
to enforce the collection of any tax levied in
the states under the laws thereof.
Tho following joint resolutions were
offered:
BY Mr.. Butler To provide an amendment
to the fifteenth amendment to the constitu
tion, inserting tho word nativity" SO as Il
make the article read
"The right of citizens of tho United States
to vote shall not be deniod or abridged by the
United States or by any state on account OF
nativity, race, color, or previous condition o.
Gervitude."
Sy Mr.. Laphnm: joint resolution pro
yosing an amendment to the constitution
giving women the right of suffrage. This il
the same resolution introduced by Mr.. Lap
ham during the last congress,
Also, proposing an amendment TO tho con-
veto separate items of an appropriation bill,
while approving tho remainder. Tho items
objected to, however, may become law by an
affirmative two-thrds vote of each house.
BY Mr.. Morgan Proposing an amendment
to the constitution by which tho President
shall have power to disapprove any item o
appropriations for rivers and harbors, whilt
approving other items.
Tho chair laid before the senate a petition
of the enlisted men of the United States
army, praying the passage by congress Of Q
law making provision for the retiremen
under certain conditions of enlisted mon
with fixed grades of pay and allowances; also
communication from the secretary of thu
treasury inolosing copy of a similar com
munication from tho state department
making some minor changes in the estimates
for the consular service, by which u reduction
of $500 is effected in the total estimates fol
that service; also u communication from thu
comptroller Of the currency, transmitting his
twenty-frst annual report.
resolution was presented by Mr.. Hill
calling upon the secretary of the interior Il
furnish tho senate with copies of all paper
now on file in tho interior department ro
latng TO tho transfer OF the land grant Of the
New Orleans, Baton Rouge and Nicksburl
Railroad company to the New Orleans Pacid,
Railway company, This is what Is known a
the Backbone railroad grant" The resolu
tion was laid over and ordered printed.
resolution was offered by Mr.. Dawes ant
agreed 20, calling on the secretary of the in
terror for copies Of all agreements made will