The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-03-03
THE HOUSE.
Legislation Accomplished Yesterday Under
the Pound Rule

the Pound Rule.
WASHINGTON March 2.-Under the operation
of the Pound rule, the following proceedings oc-
Cured:
Mr.. Pound, under instructions from the com
mittee on public lands moved to take up and
pass the bill to confirm certain land titles his
congressional district, Wisconsin. Agreed.
Mr.. Spaulding, under instructions from the
committee on indian affairs, called up the bill
appTopriatinG, out of the Cheyenne and Arapa-
hoe Indian fund.- 81 900 for the relief of Powers
aud Newman and others. Passed
MI Herbert, under instructions from the COM
mittee on public building and grounds, called up
the bill for the erection of Il public building at
San Antonio Tex. Objected
Mr. Carpenter, under Instructions from the
committee on education and labor, called up the
Senate bill amending the act granting public
lands to several states and territories which
may provide colleges for the benefit of agricul-
tufe and the mechanic arts. Passed.
Mr. Vance, under Instructions from the com
mittee on patents, called up the bill amending
the patent laws so as to allow patent first OBJ
tanned abroad to run seventeen years from date
OF foreign patent. Objected to.
The conference report the District of Column
Dla appropriation was agreed to.
Mr. Caswell submitted a conference report on
the postofce appropriation bill which states
that there is continued disa agreements on the
items providing for special mail facilities. and
limiting the compensation to be paid 20 subsd-
lied railroads.
Mr. Robinson, of Massachusetts, moved that
the House recede from its Disagreement to the
two amendments and agree to tile same. Agreed
to-yess 1875. nays 7. The effect of this vote is
to pass the hill, retaining the appropriation OF
$1So,00o for special mail facilities and without
the clause limiting the compensation to be paid
subsidized railroads for mail transportation.
In the contested election case of Buchanan vs.
Manning, OF Mississippi, a resolution was adopt-
ed confirming the right OF Mr., Manning TO the
seat
The House refused to consider the contested
case of Sessinghaus VS.. Frost
Mr.. Bingham moved to suspend the rules and
pass the bill 10 ADJUST the salaries or postmas-
tiers. Mr.. Bingham explained that the object of
the bill to adjust the salaries of AZ 900 post
masters. This has been rendered necessary by
the action of Congress in reducing the rates of
postage to take effect on the 1sC of October next
The measure met with the approval OF the de-
partment, and was considered by the postot1ce
committee as the best and fairest proposition
that could be drawn. The bill retained the pres
ent classification Of postmasters. As to the first
class the bill carried $12 900 additional compen-
sation. The salaries of the postmdsters at st.
Louis, Chicago, Boston and Philadelphia was
increased from s. 900 to $4,000, and at Cincin-
nabi, Baltimore, San Francisco and Washington
from $1,000 to S., 900. The compensation to
second and third class postnasters remained as
at present. The rate OF commission granted to
fourth-class postmasters has been changed 80
they would receive about the same compensa-
ton under the two cent law as they did under
the three-cent law.
Messrs Mcmillan and Holman opposed the bill.
The motion was agreed TO, 1872 to 81 and the bill
passed.
Mr.. Butterworth moved to suspend the rules
and pass the bill to authorize the Southern Pa
CHIC and other railroad companies to unite aud
consolidate, TO form line of railroad from
the tiGaI waters of the Paeic ocean to the Gulf
of Mexico. Mr.. Butterworth explained that the
bill authorized the consolidation of nine roads to
form continuous line from the Pacific to the
every objection the bill had been
amended in many particulars. No authority
was given to the consolidated road TO operate
branches or spurs. and provision has been IN
serted providing consolidation with any parallel
or competing line. There also provision
that nothing In the act should be construed to
relieve OF the COlnDaUleS from The cOnSe-
quences ofany failure to perform any act re-
quired by any law or by any provision in their
charters should anything he construed to
relieve any of the companies from the conse-
quences of any failure to perform any act re-
quired by any law or by any provisions OF their
charters, nor should anything be construed to
revive or confirm any land grants to any rail-
road company, whether made by the United
States or by any State. The bill also protected
States and their citizens in controversies which
arose with any of the consolidated companies.
Nor did the act deprive the courts OF any State
ofjurisdlcton over controversies between the
companies and the citizens of such State.
extend the jurisdiction of the United States
courts over those controversies. After discns-
sion, and without action. the matter went over.
On motion of Mr., Strait, the Senate bill was
passed III relation to certain fees allowed TO re-
gisters and receivers 1t provides that the fees
allowed registers and receivers for testimony re-
duced by them to writing for claimants in estab-
nsning pre-empton and homestead rights and
mineral entries shall be considered and taken
into account in determining the maximum com
pensation OF said officers
Mr. Flower moved to suspend the rules and
pass the joint resolution proposing constitu-
tional amendment granting the President power
TO veto specific items in bills making appropria-
tiOns of money, while approving of the remain
ing items in such bill. Lost-l0I to 59--not the
necessary two-thirds IN the affirmative.
The Speaker laid before the House a commu-
nication from the Secretary of the Navy trans
hitting report of the court Of inquiry into the
loss of the Jeanette, Referred.
Recess.
In the evening session the Frost sessinghous
contested election case came up, Mr.. Frost oc-
cupying half an hour in defense of his rights to
retain the seat. He SAID he knew the fiat had
gone forth and his bead was in the hangman's
moose. He ready to step out
under the Judgment of partisan tribunal,
buJ he would be followed in two days by the
Speaker and his party, who had been con-
demned by the people. After further debate
resolution declaring Mr.. Sessnghaus entitled to
his seat was adopted-126 to ITO. Mr.. Sessiug-
haus was then sworn in taking the iron clad oath
Mr.. Cannon made a conference report on the
legislative appropriation bill. The bill as agreed
to in the conference approprlates $40, AGA, 296.
Mr.. Atkins said he had signed the report be-
cause the amendment of the House reducing the
number of internal revenue collectors had been
abandoned.