Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1883-12-21
The Forty-eiGhth Congress.

NEWS
The FOrty-eighth Congress.
SENATE.
WASHINGTON. December 20,h - Cullen intro
duced bill TO establish Board Of Railroad Com
mlssloners and regulate inteTstate cOpmerce
Van Nycks resolution OF yesterday, calling on
the Secretary Of the Interior for information con-
cerning lands granted TO railroads. came up
ingalls, said he had no objection to the resolution
proper, but he objected to the preamble as tending
70 commit the Senate to an Interpretation OF de-
c.SiOn Of the supreme Court
Van Myck insisted that his preamble was correct
In the course of the debate he referred TO the opiu
ion Of Attorney General Devens and Justice Harlan
on the same subject, and criticised the opinions "a
well as the practice Of the General Land Ctfice in
following the law laid down by those opinions
rather than by the Supreme Court OF the United
States
Replying to question by Allison in regard 20
Justice HarSn's opinion, Van Wyck said that
strange indeed marvellous things had taken place In
the Supreme Court, as well as the land department
Of the Government IN reference to the public lands
He (Nan Wyck) thought the senator from Iowa
tA!lison) would cOncede that fact at least
There il abundant evidence OF il in Al;sons state
and IN the suferinCs OF its people, by the deprecia
tion Of their property. Millions Cf Of the cub
lie domain had been given to railroads, Van " OK
said before the supreme Court decision referred to
which they were not entitled to under the decision
and although for q time the General Land Office
Of Attorney General Devens and Justice II ,rlau
This course Van ", OK censured.
The discussion closed by the insertion in the pre-
amble Of the words " 1t is alleged so as not 10
commit the Senate 10 any special Interpretation Of
the Supreme Court decision
So amended, Van Wyck's resolution was agreed to.
The Senate went into executive session. aud on re-
opening resumed consideration Of the new rules
but after a short debate the matter was postponed
until after the holiday recess.
The Chair laid before the Senate n communication
from the Secretary of the Interior transmitting
copies OF paueTs relating the attempt to tran sfsr
the Texas Pacific Railroad COMPANY, 3 land grant tn
the southern Pacific Railway Company Of Arizona
New Nico and California The Secretary CON
Cludes his communication with the statement that
no action has been taken by the Department on the
subject.
A message was received from the House, concur.
ring in tbs Senate amendment making the date Of
reassembling after the holidays Monday, January
7th.
The Senate concurred in the joint resolution OF
the House relating TO the celebration of the cen.
tenary Of the surrender by Washington Of his com
mission as Commander-in Chief OF the patriot forces
Of America.
Adjourned till Monday.
HOUSE.
The question Of granting one months extra pay
to discharged employees was discussed
Blackburn, from the Committee on Rules report
ed resolution that hereafter the Committee on
P0stotiices and Post Roads shall consist OF fiiteep
members, and the Committees on Barking Cur.
rency, Foreign Affairs, Military Affairs Territories
Public Buildings and District of Columbia thirteen
members each. He stated that the increased mem
bership fully met the views OF the Speaker. The
resolution was adopted.
Henley asked leave TO introduce q bill TO amend
the Act to execute certain treaty stipulations with
China.
Weller objected. but subsequently withdrew the
objection, when it was renewed by Skinner Of New
York.
Adjourned until Morday.
Interesting scene I'm the House OF Repre-
sentafives.
WASHINGTON, December 21th Quite an interest.
ing occurred in the House thus afternoon over
attempt by Henley Of California to introduce a
new bill amending the Chinese restriction law, pre-
pared by the Pacific coast delegation The House
voted down the report OF eX-Speaker keifer, from
the Committee on Rules calling for the creation Of
a select commit woman suffrage, and prior to
adjournment, several Executive communications
were being read and referred. No one was paving
attention to the proceedings, when sudden Hen
ley arose and addressed the Chair. By previous
arrangement Speaker Carlisle at oLce recognized
him.
ION behalf of the Representatives to the House
from three States and two Territor es said Henley,
g ask unanimous consent to introduce bill" Ia
a moment the buzzing stopped and all eyes were
turned Ou the California member, his request taking
every Ody bysuTprse. Speaker Carlisle said, The
gentleman from California asks unanimous consent
to introduce a bill. The title wl be read when the
Chair will put the question OF unanimous consent s"
The Clerk read the Title, whereupOu Weller, OF Iowa.
a Republic familiarly known Calamity
Weller" because he wants to pay the nat ona debt
with greenbacls, spraug into the air and shouted.
" object Cries Of "NO no." came irom the
Democratic side and Springer, OF Illinois rushed to
Wellers desk and began eNpcs.ulating with him
g l am GLAD, Mr.. Speaker, said Mr.. Henley, "that
the objection comes from that side of the House
Just the Speaker had ordered the bill returned to
Henley. Springer succeeded in notifying Weller and
that individual arose, mumb!ed something about
acting under a misapprehension, and withdrew his
objection His action, however, smotHerod
the bill, for when Henley offered
it again Skinner, Of New York. also a Republican,
shouted, " obj ct and added, a crowd OF Dem
ocrats and Republicans gathered around him to eN-
pOstulate, i don't want the gentleman to exercise
the privilege Of withdrawing his objection without
the pri, ilege is extended to the rest Of us.
skinner refused TO back down, and Henley threw
the bill into his desk and closed the latter with
bang, he again sal " glad the objection comes
from the source il does" In a few moments the
House adjourned This puts the iutroduc ion Of
the bill off until after the holiday recess, and the
House adjourned to Monday. All the Pacific coast
members are much chagrined at the failure TO get
the bill in.
The Pacific Coast Delegation
WASHINGTON, December 2Oth--It is now reason
ably certain that the Pacific coast delegation wi not
get all they want on Speaker Carlises committees.
Glascock will be on the Commerce Committee,
Cassidy will be Chairman Of the District Of CJum-
bia Committee, and Rosecrans Chairman Of the
Military Affairs The others hope for the best.
During the holiday recess, which commences Mon
day and ends Januar. 7th. nearly all the Calionn
members will remain in Washington. Bldd will go
to New York, and Sumner, with his family, viii
take short trip to Gotham during the last week OF
the recess RoSecrans, owing t0 the illness of Mrs.
ROsecraus will remain in Washington, as will also
Glascock, Tuily and Henley.
Interstate Commerce.
WASHINGTON, December 20th.-The bill introduced
by Senator CJllum to establish Board OF Railroad
Commissioners to regulate interstate commerce
provides for the appointment bv the President of
Beard of five Commissioners, with salary of s., 900
each who will exercise supervision Interstate
commerce railroads, canals and O'her trans
portation companies and the commerce of foreign
countries, and investigate all complaints made by
the Railroad Commissioners Of States and Others as
to discrimination Cf charges made by such trans
portatiOn companies in their service as common
carriers.
The Petroleum Development IN Russia.
WASHINGTON, Dec mber 2Oth-Fulton Paul,
United States Consul of Odessa, Russia, has for
warded to the State Department a report of the
petroleum development of Russia in which he says
The residium oil is much greater an that found in
the States and besides being converted into benzine
aud various other useful products, is used fuel
locomotives and also on steamers the Caspian
Sea, Nolga and other Rivera and experiments are in
progress to utilize it in the torpedo boats now
in course Of construction by the Rus ian navy.
Crude oil is also used to sprinkle tae streets of
Baku, and is much more effecIual than water in lay
ing the .rrible dust which exists there