The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1883-02-23
CONGRESSIONAL
Several Provisions to the Law Adopted
by the House.

The senate proceeded to consider the
naval appropriations
A long debate took place on the provi-
sion
That no part of the money appropriated
for the general care, increase, and protec-
ton of the navy, in the line of construction
and repairs of any wooden ship, when the
estimated cost of such repairs shall exceed
25 per cent of the estimated cost of new
ship of the same size.
The provision was amended so as to fix
the limit at 30 per cent of the cost of a
new vessel of the same size. Agreed to
80 to II.
When the paragraph appropriating
$1,000 for the completion of ironclads was
reached, Senator Mcpherson reviewed the
history of the iron clads, and argued that
no appropriation should be made at present
for the completion of any of them.
Senator Hale favored the completion of
the vessels, and called special attention to
the fact that the present secretary was not
in favor of completing the work done IN
der 1.-The promissory contracts entered
into by Hon. George M. Robson" as sec
rotary of the navy. Those old contracts
were dead. Nobody was seeking to revive
them while the question of furnishing
gress We had great need of such YES
sells as these were designed to be for har-
Dor defense.
Senator Voorhees, said he understood
that IS, 100000 had been spent in Ere
building these vessels, which cost about
So 900, 900 and there was not a senator
on the floor who could make an estimate
of what amount would be required to
complete them. He denounced the whole
business as an outrage and scandal.
In reply to question, Senator Allison
said the estimates to complete the vessels
footed up So, 591. sos.
After further discussion Senator Nc
Phersons amendment, designed to ex-
clude the Puritan" was rejected-16 to
"a.
The amendment of the committee max
ing an appropriation for engines and ma
chinery for the double turreted iron-clads
in accordance with the recommendation
of the naval advisory board" was agreed
to-57 to IL. The other amendments of
the committee to the bill were agreed to-
Senator Rollins offered as an additional
section an amendment providing for the
appointment of a board to scrutinize the
active list IF the navy, etc.
A point of order was raised that this was
new legislation.
Pending decision the senate adjourn |
ed
On motion by Mr.. Ryan an amendment |
was adopted authorizing surveys which |
may be required for the Identification of /
land for the purpose of evidence in any
suit or proceeding on the behalf of the
United States.
After discussion the paragraph making
an appropriation for the survey of private
land claims in New Mexico and Arizona
was amended so as to prohibit any appro-
priation TO be used for preliminary sur
veys of unconfirmed private land claims
Mr. Pound offered an amendment re-
pealing the presumption laws, together
with all laws authorizing the filing of de-
claratory statements for entry of public
lands by an agent or attorney.
Mr.. Washburn advocated the amend
ment. contending that the presumption
laws should be repealed. The manner in
which public lands were taken up under
those laws was perfect scandal.
The amendment was adopted and is as
follows in the full text:
Pr0oided. That the presumption laws,
together with all laws authorizing the filing
of the declaratory statements for entries
of public lands an agent or attorney, are
hereby repealed.
Provided, further, that this repeal shall
not affect the disposal of lands under the
reaty stipulatiens with Indian tribes, nor
De deemed to impair any of the legal rights
heretofore acquired under the laws here
Dy repealed, but all existing entries, set
dement's, or filings, may be perfected on
proper proof of tn lawful bona fed charac-
ter of said claims, and of compliance
with the provisions and requirements of
the laws under which such entries settel-
ments, or filings were made.
ProDided, further, that any person who
mas heretofore made, or may hereafter
make, bona fed entry of public lands, I'M
der Homestead laws, shall have the prlvil-
ege of paying the minimum price for the
quantity of land so entered, at any time
before the expiration of five years from
date of entry and after actual residence,
and cultivation has been
for period of not less than
two and one half years after the entry,
and it shall be the duty of the commits
sioner of the general land office to require
evidence of such actual compliance with
the requirements of the law in regard to
settlement, residence, Improvement aud