Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1884-12-12
XLVIIITH CONGRESS.
Of Work Of Both Houses for the
Past Few Days.
The Senate.

dcuse oil Representatives that the Senate was
ready for business was adopted
The credentials of Mi. Sh5 field, tho senator
from Rhode Island, 10 succeed the late Mr.
An'hony, were read, but he did not appear 10
take the oath.
A recess of half an hour was taken and then
tho Senate proceeded 10 the consideration of
the usual morning business.
u lis were introduced 10 prohibit hereafter
distinctions being made in the military service
OF tho United States against any class Of Ameri-
can citizens; to enable officers of the army
who were promoted for gallant and distinguish
ed services in the war oil the rebellion, to be
retired with thelull rank and pa5 of the grade
TO which they wero so p-omoted to
iiclLtatc promotion throughout the army
by retiring from active service,
upon their own application, officers of
the army who served in the war Of the rebel
lioni to prevent the oh fraction 6f the havgs
able waters OF the United States, and to pro-
lect public works against trespass or injury; to
authorize the transfer of ore of the vessels Of
the Greeley relief expedition to the Treasury
Department for a revenue cutter. and the re-
tention Of the other two for use in the navy.
Mr.. Ingalls, of Kansas, offered a resolution,
which was agreed to, instructing the commit
tee on public lands to !eport such legislation
as may be necessary TO authorize the Secretary
OF the Interior to remove all fences illegally
constructed on the pubic domain Of the United
States.
Another recess was taken and at 135 the
Presidents message was received, and its
reading at once proceeded with.
The message was referred to committee,
and after suitable reference TO the death Of Mr.
Anthony of r. l., the Senate adjourned.
On reassembling the chair laid before the
SeQntp the animal pf tha ntorv pf
the treasury and the comptroller of the cur
rency; also report OF the clerk of the court
ol claims containing q statement Of all judg-
ments rendered by that court during the pass
year, The chair also laid before the Senate, as
memorial, joint resolution OF the Vermont
Legislature, urging congressional action look
ing to national control of interstate COM
merce.
Mr.. Vest, Of Missouri, offered resolution
directing an investigation by the committee on
Indian affairs into all leases Of lands in the
Indian territory Tor grazing or other purposes
| by the Indian tribes, the number of acres en-
braced In the leases, their terms and the per-
sons or corporations becoming the lessecs;
! also directing the committee to investigate all
| the circumstances under which the leases wele
made, the means used in obtaining the leases
referred to and whether the leases were
authorized by law. He said he had information
that over 100000 acres had been leased and
that these leases had been obtained by corrup-
ton, fraud or violence. He would be pre-.
! pared to give tie chairman of the committee
names, amounts and dates.
A debate on the subject of the leases ensued
in which Messrs. Vest ID ives, AIaxey of
| Texas, and Beck of Kentucky took part. The
debate broadened into general discussion of
Indian lands and supplies, Mr.. Beck stating
that the government paid $40 head for cattle
worth only $l2.
Mr.. Dawes Of Massachusetts, said { at these
leases OF Indian lands, while wrong, were no
by wire fences OF thousands of acres of the
| public lands of the United States Of one
| tract of 100 900 acres Of Indian lands, as many
as $1,000 were in the absolute and exclusive
possession of outsiders, whose herds consumed
every thing that grew on it, when the Indian
bureau had been obliged 10 advertise for beef to
support the Indians on whose reservations these
herds were feeding. Had the Indians used
the reservations for themselves they could have
supported themselves. The evils consequent
on this leasing Of the Indians lands and the
fencing of the public lands Mr.. Dawes contin.
ued, imposed II grave duty on Congress. II
remedial action were not taken in time, the
public domain would pass irrevocably into the
possession of large Ind owners, foreign and
native. Congress had power to clothe the ex'
ecuive officers OF the government with ample
authority in the premises and should do so.
Mr.. Conger of Michigan hoped the resolu
ton would be sufficiently comprehensive to af
ford full protection to the Indians, and in or
der to afford time for preliminary examination
and consideration he desired the matter to &
over for one day. The matter went over.
A bill was introduced by Mr.. Hawley of Con
necticut for the relief Of the sufferers by th'
,yrarl- cf fbo nrpvidae that tl,,
lIeutenant-commander the two leutenants
the ensign, the passed assistant engineer anc
the passed assistant paymaster be paid $l00C
each, the three mates, the carpenter and tn
pay clerk 500 each, and to the other surviv
vcrs of the wreck 800 each. 1t also provide
that the legal representatives o. Surgeon Black
seaman O'Donnell and landsman Foster, VIII
lost their lives in the disaster, shall receive
sum equal to the pay of each oil those person
for one year, in addition to whatever sum ma
have been due them at the time of thei
death.
Mr. Vests resolution calling for an invest
cation into leases made by Indian tribes {
lands in the Indian territory was taken up. A
amendment offered by Mr.. Conger OF Michiga
was agreed to, including within the scope {
the investigation leases ol lands in the India
reservation The resolution was then agree
to.
Mr.. Mcpherson of N. J. introduced bill t
, suspend the coinage Of the silver dollar.
Mr.. Slater Of Oregon gavo notice tht
, he would move to take up and would pre-;
to passage tho bill declaring forfeited unearne
lands granted to aid in building the Orego
, | Central railroad
Mr.. Miller of N. Y presented bill providln
a that the words confederate cruisers in th
| net re-establishing the court of commissioner
a | of Alabama claims shall he construed and hel
t to include for all purposes of said act any an
all vessels, officers and crews OF vessels OF O
ganized expeditions acting as such by Ii
authority of the late so-called confederate goy
q ernment, or any of its officers, by which I'll
vessels or cargoes OF loyal citizens of I'll
n United States were captured or destroyed c
4 the high seas; and that the act be construed {
a include any waters within the admiralty juri
e diction of the United States. 1t further pr
a vides that any case already heard INVOLVING I'll
que, tion Of confederate cruisers shall
re-opened and re-heard upon due notice
Mr. Mitchell of Pa, chairman of the pensic
o committee of the Senate, introduced b
d granting a pension TO Gen. U. S. Grant, al
d Mr.. Garland OF Ark, one to provide for an NJ
J ditional Judge of tho United States distri
Il court for the southern district of New York.
S Mr.. Cameron of Pu submitted q resolutic
: which he desired to lie over and be printe
i saying he would take early opoltanily to Gu
it up for consideration. 1t directed the cor
mittee on finance to inquire whether it won
be expodient to expend the surplus revenue
0 allowing rebate from tariff duties on foreig
It goods imported in ships built and owned in Il
t United States.
Q Mr.. Hill of Colorado submitted resolutit
8 declaring that n The existing depressed conc
n ton of the industrial interests of tho countr
y the recommendations of the president al
d the secretary of the treasury that the coinai
of silver dollars and the issue Of silver cori
Gates shall be eimniedateyand unconconditio
ally prohibited nre calculated to create alar
o and thereby aggravate the difficulties OF L
q situation, and that the Senate declare
opinion to be that no valid reason exists at II