National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1884-02-06
TOILING LEGISLATORS.
The Senate Wrestling With the IntriCaCies
Of Mexican Land Grant Titles.
A Proposed Junketing Excursion to
the Hot Springs Rejected
Mr., Dorshemer's Copyright Bill Favorably Re-
ported to the House.
The Bill for the Suppression OF PIcuro-
Pneumonia Under Confederation.
THE SENATE.

THE SENATE.
Mr.. Wilson, at his own request, was excused
from acting as chairman OF the committee on
mines and mining.
Mr.. Dolph, on like request. was excused from
acting on the committee on further accommoda-
tlons for the library.
Mr.. Lapham, ON like request, was excused from
acting as chairman of the committee on woman
suffrage.
Mr.. Jones, of Florida, on like request, was OK.
cused from acting on the same committee.
Mr.. Coke presented as memorial, joint reso.
luton OF the legislation of Texas, now in session,
instruct ng the senators and representatives OF
that state in congress to endeavor to secure such
legislation by congress as may reopen the western
trail through the Indian territory, which has been
leased for grazing purposes.
Also, concur emit resolution OF the same legls.
iature requesting congress to provide bylaw for
the holding Of term of the federal court in the
northern border of that state.
Bills were reported fayorably from committees
and PLACED on Ihe calendar Fro s 0l0Es On ro
buildings and grounds, a bill to authorize the
erection of q public building in San Francisco,
Cal.
By Mr.. Cockrel With an amendment. the bill
authorizing the secretary of the treasury to exam
Inc certain vouchers of claims said to be due TO
the state of Missouri by the United states.
By Mr. ingalls,: From the committee on Indian
affairs, with an amendment in the nature of sub
stitute, the bill to grant right of way through
way company.
BY Mr.. Hampton From the committee on mill
tary affairs bill authorizing the secretary of the
treasury TO settle the claim Of the state of Flor
Ida on account of expenditures made in suppress
ing Indian hostilities.
By Mr.. Coke. From the committee on Indian af-
fairs, TO provide for the allotment of LANDS in
severalty 10 the Indians Of the several reserva.
TONS
BY Mr.. Allison: To authorize the location of
branch home for volunteer disabled soldiers in
one of the states of Arkansas, Colorado. Kansas
Iowa, Minnesota Missouri, or Nebraska.
By Mr.. CALI To authorize the construction of q
public building at Jacksonville, Fla.
BY Mr.. Hawley: To amend the pension laws.
war to audit the claims Of the state Of South Caro-
lima for arms and for rent of the citadel ut Charles
ton.
the United States district court for the district of
Nevada at $1,000 instead of 500.
Mr.. Hawley offered q resolution, which was
agreed TO, directing the committee on printing to
inquire into the eXpedioncy of publishing an
official gazette of the United states to contain the
advertisements for proposals for contracts, and
general orders and announcements by the heads
OF executive departments, tho more important
appointments, and such other matter as is now
published by the different branches of govern.
ment as advertisements or in special Sheets and
directing that in the report of said committee the
expense of the present methods, OF publishing
such information be given III detail. =,
The chair laid before the senate the resolution
OF Mr.. Morgan, calling upon the attorney general
for copies of correspondence between the depart
case Of johnson Foster, " Creek Indian, accused
of killing an Arrapahoe Indian and for a copy Of
Jurisdiction OF the United States courts In the
matter. The resolution was agreed to.
Mr.. Buffers resolution, offered yesterday, was
flso agreed to, directing the secretary Of the
treasury to transmit TO the senate the testimony
laken last summer relating to the performance of
Auty by Supervising Architect Hill 4fHJpI
sent for immediate consideration of resolution
requesting the President, If not incompatible
WIN public Interest 10 communicate 10 ne senate
OF the court OF inquiry relating TO the loss OF the
steamer Proteus
on the objection of Mr. Hale the resolution went
over till tomorrow and will be printed.
Mr.. Sherman called up the bill reported by him
some days ago, from the committee on finance,
suspendng, for further period of five years, the
section of the revised statutes which prohibits the
taking of guano, except for use IN the United
States from guano islands under the protection Of
Mr. Sherman stated that these guanos had come
TO form an important feature of our commerce
when mixed with the phosphates of South Caro-
lima for export TO Germany and other countries.
Mr. salisbury objected to the passage of the bill.
Congress should remember the wants of the farm
ers OF the United States. For ten years our people
had been deprived OF the advantages which the
protection of the United States over these islands
ought 10 bring " the agriculture Of the country by
the suspension of this section, and q further sus-
pension was now asked. The government gave
these discoveries the exclusive right TO work the
islands, with the understanding that it was 10
cheaper guano in the United States.
Mr. Ransom favored the bill. He thought these
people ought 10 have the privilege OF sending
their guano here TO be mixed with the phosphates
of South Carolina and sold abroad
Mr. Mcpherson inquired whether the privilege
OF United States protection was waived by the
parties benefited during the proposed suspension
D. Mr.. salisbury said 1t evidently was not.
Mr. Sherman stated that the United States gov
eminent had passed in 1856 an act to encourage
our merchants to search Tor these guanOs, and
promising protection whenever they should make
a discovery which had not theretotore been
case, The law required. however that the guano
should be sold only TO citizens OF the United
States, and for use here. II turned out that these
euanos when mixed with the phosphates of South
Carolina made IL profitable article of commerce
for export, being better adapted 10 the lands OF
the old world than OF the new
Mr.. Conger objected TO the bill, lie thought
the farmers complaint that they had no repre-
sentative in congress apparently well founded,
but for his part, he should insist on reminding
the senate that the interests of the farmers needed
attention. This was very ingenious and shrewd
method of securing protection for the products OF
Carolina, without gentlemen being committed to
Mr.. Butler protested that he had not said u
word ON the subject Of the bill, and did not see
should seem to indicate hun (Alr, BuIler).
Mr.. Conger said he wanted TO draw the gentle
man out.
Mr. Butler said he would speak out when, if at
all II became necessary.
After further debate the bill was PISSED.
Mr.. Bayard asked that the bill recently re.
providing for the issue of circulating notes Ia
national banking associations. be made the special
order for Wednesday, Fob. 10, at o'clock.
The request was unanimously agreed to.
The senate then resumed consideration of the
unfinished business, being the method provided
by the bill reported from the committee on
private land claims Tor setlllng the incomplete
titles TO the lands acquired by the United States
from Mexico.
An extended debate ensued, participated In by
Messrs. Garland, bayard, Vest, Call, COnger,
Plumb, Maxey, and Dolph,
Mr.. Garland though not fully satisfied with the
bill, favored IL IN the main. IL was an important
bill, he said involving some OF the most delicate
questions which could be presented to the senate.
He reviewed ut length the legal phases OF the
question involved, and cited cases related in gem
eral TO the subject matter. ltanything in the his
tory of the country could show the necessity OF IL
bill of this character, Mr. g. continued, IL would
be the case OF McGarruhan, which had been for
thirty years before the Judicial or quasi Judicial
tribunals of the county. Commissions had been
tried in cases similar 10 those involved here, aud
did not in all respects answer the purpose; The
courts were the proper authorityto deal with such
matters.
MIR, Call favored the amendment, which re.
strcted the operation OF the scrip contemplated
by the act 10 the territory in which the land was
situated.
MI. Dolph stated that there was no land in Utah
10 which the scrip could apply,
Mr.. Call thought that in such case an indem-
nifty ought to be provided IN money.
Mr.. Plumb said that ii that were true of Utah II
was no doubt true of other territories affected.
and the consequence would be that congress
would never hear the end OF claims for indem'
nifty. II would afford ground for fraud Of the
greatest magnitude.
Mr.. BayGrd stated that the whole system OF
commissions In dealing with lands Of this charac-
contounded. He explained in detail the working
OF the bill ana remarked that congress had here