Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1883-01-03
FORTY-sEyENTH CONGRESS.
Important Bill Presented in Reference to
Land Grants.
The Fiz John Porter Case Resumed in
the Senate.
Reports of the Work Of Both Houses Of
Congress.
House.


the speaker proceeded with the call oil
states for the Introduction Of bills.
At lbs the senate resumed the con-
sideration of the Fitz John Porter
bill
Among the bills was one by Harris
of Massachusetts, TO transfer admins
tration of the revenue cutter service Ia
the navy department, one by Haiinan
OF Indiana limiting to two years, the
period of presentation, from the time
of accruing of claims against quarter
masters or commissary bu-
reaus and To one year from the pas
sage of the act of the presentation of
the claim of state for moneys ex-
pended, and one suppreesing Indian
hostilities. AT the conclusion of the
call of states the house proceeded to
the consideration OF bills touching the
administration of tax law. The
first bill was one relating
to the expectation of tobacco, snuff
and cigars in bond free of tax TO ada
cent territory. Passed.
IL places tobacco exported by rail
into Canada and Mexico on the same
footing with tobacco exported in yes
sells.
a bill was also passed to empower
postmasters TO administer oaths TO i'm
porters of books.
A bill was also passed providing
that Perique tobacco be sold
by manufacturers and pro-
ducers directly to legally quail
fled manufacturers, to be used in the
manufacture of cigarettes or smoking
tobacco, without the payment Of tax.
Washington, January 1.-The presi-
dent laid before the senate "a COM
munication transmitting the report of
the mississippi River committee, with
maps etc, which were or0ered
printed.
Mr.. Garland presented q remon-
STRANGE from certain merchants OF Ar
kansas sgainst an increase OF duties
on tin plates. Referred.
Mr.. Cockerell presented Il petition
from leading grocers of st. Louis for q
reduction of the duty on sugar and an
abrogation of the Hawaiian treaty.
Several petitions were presented for
the passage of II bill giving increased
pensions to one-armed and one-lesgcd
soldiers.
Mr.. Pendleton presented a memorial
from the Cincinnati Chamber OF Com
mcrce and Board OF Trade favoring
me passare OF the pending bonded
whisky bill.
Garland, from the committee of the
Judiciary reported the original bill az
IA substitute for the bills reft rred to
that committee providing for feature
In certain railroad land grants. In
presenting the report Garland said
the question was a very important one
and that he would cali up the bill us
soon as the tltz John Porter and the
present session bills were out of the
way. The bill in brief authorizes
the Encouragement to institute suits
in the name of the United States
agolnst the roads granted land which
have not patented the same, with the
view OF obtaining judgment and for.
TEXTURE, aud provides that if within
enc year previous To the passage of the
ACT, the roads in question shall have
made substantial progress in construc-
tion, they shall lie exempt from iudr-
mcnt for forfeiture.
Az the close of the morning hour the
calendar WAS taken up Logan re-
suInei his argument against the bill
In justification of his remark the
other day about people sometimes
changing their minds Mr. Logan sent to
me desk and had read two letters. One
letter OF General Pope To President
Grant In April 1874, stating that GEN
erai Porter claimed to have procured
new evidence which would either No.
gun or greatly modify the Judgment of
MS case and asking Pres. Grant To ex-
anime thequestion or have il examined
ana acted upon as justice or as mercy
uehlahu To Others. The president r,e
plieu saying he regarded the case one
oi the greatest Importance, particu-
larry as !" the army and navy; that he
hau READ ire evidence given before tho
court M I'll u and also General porter,s
suoseq,hnt defense, determine that
II ne been wrongcd he Gen, h.
Hrantl would right him rs far ms he
could, and had come u the conclusion |
ttiat mo- new tacts had been developed
an" II was doubtful whether l,y |
me action of the executive
'ione trial could he legally
gwen. Mr. Logan said he would !
make no comment on Mr.. Gmnt', |
'etter but would let II be It's own conn |
heht upon the question. A condition
mas read which the friends Of General |
forier said he remembered With !
-,Ooo wagons, Mr.. Logan said (
ne had made n calculation f..
moving these nine ulilns /
u road would hold just 900 wagons 1
instead OF 1000. The argument that /
Porter was not to blame for falling to /
obey promptly the Oh order, was AM
'wered by tho inct that he had re-
'eiVrd prior order dated at 4 O'clock
~ the eth stating the enemy was
moving up on his line ami
ne Porter must be ready MT any mo-
nent Mr.. logan proceeded next Ia
consider what he called the second
prahch si the ease, viz: the question
va" vas There "A battle on 10Th of August
% one reason given by the Seho.
iieid hoard for their resortipo 10
,orters favor. There was no Rattle
iiat gay but only "A skirnlsh, which
ne BOARD could not understand for II
vas directly contradioted by the evi.
lehce,, ana upon this point he read
rom me testimony OF Gen. Mcdowell
reynolds, rheuck, Robinson Bierm
'iegel and either union officers NJ
ackson,s command to show there wns
severe battle that day. One of the d.
lSioi commanders under Lpnpstr,at
hal DAY, General Wilcox. was now
u oiileer of the senate aud told him
Logan, his trnODs Wer,. ,.n,,,,,,.,.l ~