The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-06-18
TIE HOUSE.
The Fitz j ohm Porter BilI-Passage of the De-
ffciency Bill.

The Fitz John Porter BilI-Passage of the De-
ffciency Bill
WASHINGTON June I7-Mr Sloeum presented
the conference report on the Fitz John Porter
bill. It's effect is to strike out of the bill the
words together with all rights titles and priv
ileges," and to insert the words, provided that
said Fitz John Porter shall receive no pay COM
pensation, or allowance whatever, prior TO his
appointment under this act,7 instead of the fol-
lowing words in the bill ''But this act shall not
be construed as authorizing pay, eompensa-
ton, or allowances prior to his appointment I'M
der it" The conference report was agreed to
yeas 15s; nays g.
Mr.. Payson, for the committee on public lands,
reported back the bill to restore all lands held
indemnity limit, for railroad and wagon-road
purposes. Placed ON the House calendar.
The House then went into committee of the
whole (dr. Dunn in the ehairl on the deficiency
bill.
Several amendments We're offered and rejected.
When the House reached the end of the bill,
Mr.. Randall moved, as an additional section,
his proposition against political assessments
MIR Cannon made the point that the amend
ment was not in order.
Mr.. Randall admitted that the amendment
was open to the point of order, but expressed re
greet that the point had been made adding that
the Judgment of the people was that political
sessment had been carried to outrageous ex
tent.
Mr.. Kasson admitted that the amendment was
Objectionable, not only as being against law, but
as being against good policy. If an Iowa farmer
sold one hundred bushels of oats to an army
commissary he could not any of the
money for disseminating political informa
ton or for printing tickets. A
member of Congress desiring reelection would
not be permitted to spend any of his own money
for the ordinary purposes of his election. while
his competitor (not being neInber) might ex
pend any amount he chose.
The chairman, while expressing regret that
such wholesome proposition, one conducive
to public morals, was out of order, felt con-
strained to sustain the point of order, and the
proposition was therefore not admitted.
The committee then rose, and the House
agreed, in bulk, to all the amendments reported,
except the one striking out the proviso as tc
compensation Of fourth-elass postmasters. The
vote on striking it out was taken by yeas and
nays, and the result was yeas Isl, nays 91--the
result being IN the interest of postmasters. The
bill was then passed.
Mr.. Hewitt of New York, from the committee
ON ways and means, reported the bill to carry
into effect the convention between the United
States of America and the United States of
Mexico, signed on the 10th of January, 1889.
The report is favorable. The report was ordered
printed and the bill placed ON the calendar.
The bill to prohibit the importation of labor
under contract, being the special order for to-
day, was postponed till Thursday, and that day
set apart for its consideration.
The House then proceeded to consideration of
the biz reported from the committee on Pacific
railroads. to amend the several Pacific railroad
acts. It requires the companies to Rle within
ninety days from the passage of this act, or
within sixty days after completion of
surveys, a list of selections of lands
claimed by them, and to deposit the cost of sur
veying, selecting and conveying the same. The
first question was taken on an amendment Of
fered by Mr. Payson, to one offered by Mr. Han
back. Mr.. Hanbaclls amendment was that all
lands embraced in the notice to be given by the
Secretary of the Interior to railroad companies
to take their patents-shal be subject to
State, Territorial and municipal taxation, after
sixty days from date of the notice. Mr. Paysons
amendment was that the lien of the United
States for cost and expenses of surveying shall
not be affected by sale of the lands.
Mr.. Payson's amendment was adopted and
then Mr.. Hanbaek's las so amended) was also
adopted, on vote by telleFs.
Mr. Crisp demanded the yeas and nays on the
amendment, declaring it was an abandonment of
the security which the government now had in
these lands. A vote by yeas and nays resulted
yeas 49, nays IS, so the amendment was agreed to-
vote was then taken on Mr.. Payson's sub
st ute for the bill and amendment. 1t provides
that if railroad companies shall not, within sixty
days from the receipt of notice, pay the costs of
surveying the land, then their right to such
lands shall cease and the lands shall be restored
to the public domain, for settlement under the
homestead laws. The substitute was agreed to-
and the bill, in that shape, passed
The House then took up the bill to amend the
Thurman act, but without action, adjourned.