The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1884-12-12

XLVIIIth Congress--2d Session
SENATE.

WARRINGTON, Dec. IL.
After some routine business was transacted, Mr..
Van Wyck offered the following:
Whereas commercial treaty Of great import
ance has been negotiated between the United States
and Spain which was made public by the King Of
Spain to such extent that it was cabled from
Madrid by the Times Of New York city and given
to the American people by that journal before the
same was presented with becoming solemnity and
secrecy to the Senate and whereas the provisions
of said treaty materially affect the subject of
nues and taxation and involve serious questions
OF diplomacy and state secrets, discussion thereof
should be In open SESSION so that the people may be
fully apprised of the reasons why said treaty should
be ratified or rejected; therefore
Resolved That the committee on rules be direct
ed to report an amendment or additional rule re-
curing that treaties which concern matters Of
revenue shall be considered in open session.
On objection of Mr.. Wilson the matter went over
one day.
Mr. Blair's resolution, offered yesterday, dir ect-
ing the committee on naval affairs to examine
Captain Ericsson's inventions in relation to guns
torpedoes &c. was agreed to.
Consideration of the Oregon Central land for
feiture bill was then resumed.
An amendment was agreed to providing that all
settlers in good faith on lands forfeited who are
otherwise qualified shall be entitled to preference
right to enter the lands in accordance with the
homestead or pre- emption laws and shall be re-
garded as having legally settl ed such lands from
the date of settlement and in such settler be
not so entitled under the existing laws he should be
p6fm1bteu Wll0l0 u year purchase not 10 oAce0u
100 acres at 81 25 and reducing to $l26 the price
of even-numbered sections along the line OF the
une0mpleted portion Of the road. An amendment
was agreed to repeating the act which allowed set.
tiers on railroad lands subsequently forfeited to
locate to an amount equal to the original entry
without additional cost.
Mr.. Morgan moved to recommit the bill in order
that the rights of all parties might be ascectaned,
which was debatea until o'clock, when the mat
ter went over and the Dakota admission bill was
taken up and MIR. Harrison addressed the Senate az
length IN support Of the bill
Mr.. Sherman introduced a joint resolution
which vas passed, appointing the 2lst of February
for ceremonies connected with the completion Of
the Washington monument.
The Senate then went into executive session and
when the doors we're re-opened, adjourned until
Monday.
The desks of half dozen Democratic members
were surmounted this morning by roosters of bril-
liant plumage.
Mr.. Hancock of Texas from the committee on
appropriations reported the invalid pension appro
priation BILL and it was referred to the committee
of the whole.
Mr.. Mills of Texas made an unsuccessful effort to
have passed the Senate bill for public building at
Waco, Texas, Mr.. Brumm of Pennsylvania being
the objector.
The House then resumed consideration of the
interstate commerce bill.
Pending discussion general understanding was
arrived at that the debate shall close the next day
be taken as between the substitute and the commit
tee bill, and whatever measure shall be successful
will then be open TO amendment and debate under
the five minute rule.
MIR. Willis of Kentucky. offered resolution call
ing on the secretary of war to inform the House
whether the amount appropriated for He'll Gate,
New York, had been diverted from the purposes
therein set forth. Referred.
Adjourned until tomorrow.