National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1884-12-03
YESTERDAYS CONGRESS.


Branches or the National Legislature.
After the reading of the Journal Mr.. W. =.
Sheffield, the new senator nom Rhode Island,
was sworn In.
The chair laid before the sennto the animal
reports of the secretary Of tho treasury aud the
comptroller Of the currency; also, u report OF
the clerk Of tbu court Of claims cOnlnining
statement Of Nll judgments rendered by that
court during The past yea; also. a. memorial,
a Joint resolution OF the genera assembly OF
Vermont urging cOugfcs>ilrI action looking
to national control Of Interstate yIun9rrg.
Mr Vest ollurnd a resolution d.reulnE tu in'
Ncstlgatipn by thr cpuWi,ir. ul luIlun 'tlHGia
into all leases Of lnuis IN Ih, nI.uu iUlr.toI'
for grazing or other pWI hF tho lulbu
tribes, the number VT ucres, tleir terms, ana
the persons or corporations bUcOminH the
lessees, aud all the circumstances under which
the leases were made, the means used IN OBJ
tainiug them and whether they werp author
lied by law.
Mr.. Vest said he had information going to
show that these leases were obtained from the
Indians by corruption fraud, aud bribery lie
criticised the course of the interior depart
mont In protecting such leases, they being In
direct contravention of the Revised Statutes OF
the United States.
Mr.. Dawes remarked that the leases having
been made by the Indians themselves, the
secretary of the interior, while Withholding
his consent, had held II not his duty to inter
frre under the Impression that the leases were
for the benefit Of the Indians lie thought tho
matter should be looked into and remedy
applied for the difficulty complained Of other
wise every foot Of land In tho Indian territory
would be Improperly leased.
Messrs Beck, Maxey Harrison, and Dawes
further discussed the resolution.
Mr.. Conger hoped the resolution would be
made sufficiently comprehensive TO afford full
protection to the Indians and in order to
afford timo for preliminary examination and
| consideration he desired the matter TO go over
for one day. The matter went over accord
| ingly.
The senate then entered on the consideration
| of bills upon its calendar, but, without result
| lat 40 p. m.) adjourned till to-day.
Mr.. Wilson presented the credentials of II.
| q. Smith as member-eect from the seventh
Iowa district, to I'LL the vacancy occasloned by
| the resignation of John a. Kasson. Mr.. Smith
appeared at the bar of the house and took the
| oath of office.
After the Follett resolutions Of impeachment
had been adopted Mr. g. ID. Wise asked unoni-
| nous consent TO offer resolution for an In
| yestigatlon of the conduct of the United States
| marshal for the eastern district OF Virginia
| during the recent election.
| Mr.. Reed objected.
| Mr.. Reagan called up the interstate COM
| merce bill, and the house decided to consider
| II, notwithstanding the effort made by Mr..
O'Neill, of Pennsylvania to postpone its dis
cussion until to-day.
Mr.. Reagan offered as a substitute for the
| bill reported by the committee on commerce
last session the bill generally known as the
| Reagan" bill, and entered into an exhaust
| i've comparison of the two measures.
At the conclusion of his remarks the house
lat 4:l0 o'clock) adjourned.