Omaha daily bee., 1883-12-05
Senator Van Wyok Starts in With
a Bill to Tax Railroad
Land Grants,
And Another to Indemnify Settlers
on the st, Joe & Den
YER Lands,
A General Attack Begun on I'm.
earned Land GrantS-Gcn-
eral Proceedings.
THE FORTv-EIGHTH CONGRESS,

tHE folSIN -EASHiIh NoNStSESS.
SENATE.
WASHINGTON, December 1. - When
the senate met this morning, after the
opening preliminaries, the introduction
of bills opened as follows:
By Mr., Ingalls-To amend the arrears
of pensions law by removing certain
limitations of that act.
by Mr.. Beck-Providng for the 70.
moval of all disabilities imposed by the
fourteenth amendment to the constitu.
ton, also authorizing American citizens
to purchase foreign built ships to engage
in the foreign carrying trade.
BY Mr.. Blair-A bill to establish a
bureau of statistics of labor under the
department of the interior, also a bill to
regulate the hours of labor of workmen
and mechanics employed by the United
States, limiting the number of hours to
constitute a days work to 8.
By Mi. Edmunds to amend sections
1756 and 1857, revised statutes. 1t
abolishes the ironclad oath and fixes an
oath for all officers alike, saving, how
ever, all provisions against rebel claims
and all penalties, etc. Also a redraft of
the bill posted by the committee of the
judiciary some years 60, dealing in gon
eral with the right of colored citizens, es-
pecially with n view to securing them n
free vote and fair count of all votes.
By Mr.. Logan-To appropriate and
expend $40, 00O, 900 derived from inter
nal revenue taxes and the sale of public
lands for the education of all children
living in the United States.
By Mr.. Hoar-To provide for the per-
Torrance of the duties of the office of
president in case of death, resignation or
inability of both president and vice presi-
dent; also to fix a day for the meeting of
electors of president and vice president
and providing for and regulating the
counting of votes for president and vice
PRESIDENT; also a bill providing a uniform
ryatam of bankruptcy. 5LoN,fil billy
BY MIR. L"aNo, ~ 8 ins 9s.pen-
:. 52a.g prisC ers TX War coynS.d in COG
siederate PRISONS during tie late war =
BY MIR. Brown-To -4steIrl tbe 1ime
i'll which actions car oe brovanG in the
court of claims under the provisions of
the captured and abandoned property
act, for 2 years.
BY Mr.. Van Notwithstanding rail
road corporations, shall pay within 60
days the costs of surveying and locating
lands to which they are entitled, other
wise to be subject to state and local taxa
ton; also %preemption and homestead
entry; also to restore to the public do
main lands donated but not earned
by railroad corporations when
roads are not finished within
the time specified in the grant; also to
protect all pre-emption and homestead
entries made after forfeiture or failure to
build the road within the time specified;
also for the relief of settlers III public
lands in Nebraska and Kansas, OF the
line of the Denver, st. Joe d Western
railroad. 1t provides for the payment of
So 90 per acre to settlers whose lands,
by a recent decision of thesupreme court,
reverted to the railroad company under
a grant which was supposed to have been
forfeited.
BY Mr.. Slater-To repeal the North
Pacific laud grant. 1t confirms to the
company all lands earned by the con
struction Of any portion of the road. but
restores to settlement and sale several
million acres in Washington territory and
Oregon, being applicable to that portion
of the line west Of Wallula Junction.
The right of settlers on odd sections is
preserved by allowing themto enter, under
the homestead or presumption laws, or
by purchase, not more than lGO acros at
$l.25 per acre.
The resolution offered by Mr.. Vest was
agreed to calling npon the secretary of
the interior for copies of all leases, con
tracts, orders, regulations or CORES
pondence, had by the department
with any parties since the last session re,
lating to Yellowstone park, including a
statement of all special privileges granted
and all applications for privilege of build,
ing hotels, etc.
Messrs. Sherman and Bayard, The
committee appointed with the committee
of the house to wait upon The president,
and inform him that both houses were or
ganized and ready to receive any commu'
nication he might wish to make to the
senate, reported. Mr., Sherman nm,
nounced that the committee had per
formed its duty, and the president, III his
reply, requested the committee to convey
to the two houses in his behalf the com
pliments of the season II congratula.
ton on the organization, and said he
would Immediately communicate in writ
ing.
Within u few minutes the message wal
received and read, and the senate ad
journed,
HOUSE.
When the house assembled this morn
ing the Manning case, which prevented
an organization yesterday, was resumed
and finally resulted in the adoption of {
resolution, referring the matter to thu
committee on elections, when appointed
to report Immediately whether Manninl
or Chalmers is entitled to be sworn anC
not effect the final right to the seat.
The democratic caucus nominees fol
minor offices were elected and sworn in
A committee consisting of Messrs
Curtin, Blackburn and Hiscock was ap
pointed to wait upon the president an in
form him that the house was organized