Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1884-02-05
WRTY-BIGHTR CONGRESS.
SENATE.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 4.
The chair laid before the Senate mes
SAGE from the President, which was laid BE-
fore the House Friday, transmitting the re-
mort of the commissioner Of Indian affalrs.
on the right of vsy of the Chicago, Ailvau-
kee ST. Paul Railroad, through the Lake
Traverse Indian reservation, also Q COM
munication from the secretary of the interior
transmitting letters from Rufus Hatch rela-
tive to the lease for hstel sites in the Yellow
stone Park, and from the officer in charge OF
the roads and bridges in the same park. re-
lating to the condition of such roads and
bridges rs hereinafter provided.
Resolutions were presented from the Ohio
Legislature, transmitted BY the governor Of
that State. favoring the tariff for revenue,
limited to the necessities of the government.
economically administered in IFS application
as to encourage industry At home and afford
protection to labor; not to create or foster
monopolies; tabled.
Mr.. Logan presented . protest of citizens
against the passage Of the proposed bill tor
the relief of Fiiz John Porter; referred.
The following bills were reported and
placed on the calendar:
By Mr.. Hoar, favorably, from the commit
tee on judiciary, an original bill to establish
q uniform system of bankruptcy throughout
the United States.
By Mr. Blair, favorably, from the commit
tee on education and labor, a bill to estab-
lish bureau of statistics of labor.
BY Mr.. Groome, from the same committee,
Q bill to fix the hours of labor in government
workshops at 8, and providing that in case of
pressure of work. for the employment Of
extra men rather than permission for over
time work by regular employees.
By Mr.. Call, favorably, from the same
committee. joint resolution introduced by
him. providing for the payment of wages for
legsl holidays to laborers in the government
employ.
ileges and elections, reported adversely Sem
ator Garland's bill. relating to the creden-
tials of United States senators.
The following bills were introduced and
referred:
BY Mr.. Brown, an amendment in the form
of a substitute for the bill reported from the
| committee on private lands relating to the
Mexican land titles; intended also as a sub
stitute for Mr.. Conger's amendment to the
same bill.
Mr. Browns amendment provides that q
person or corporation claiming title to real
estate of which the United States has not
Issued patent, may commence in court of
competent Jurisdiction q cause In equity to
quiet the title to such real estate: to define
| and settle the extent and boundaries of the
same and determine the nature of such titles
as to whether the same includes agriculture
or mineral rights or both. The United
States may be made party respondent, and
all proceedings may be conducted as near as
may be, according to the practice and rules
of courts of equity in the States or terrific
ries where causes are commenced. Appeals
may be made to the supreme court Of the
United States. 1t is made the duty of the
attorney general to institute proceedings and
to reform the boundaries of any grant here
tofore confirmed by Congress, upon beidg
satisfactorily informed that such boundaries
we're unlawfully and fraudulently extended
beyond the area described in the original
grant before such combinations were had.
Mr.. Butler offered a resolution directing
the secretary of the treasury to transmit to
the Senate the testimony taken last summer
relating to the administration of the super
vising architects Office BY Supervising Arch
itect Hill. Under objection it went over till
tomorrow.
A resolution by Mr.. Van Wock was agreed
to, calling upon the secretary of the interior
for information as to where the Union Pa
cifc Railroad company has issued any new
stock or made any mortgage, lease, running
arrangement or other traffic contract in vio-
| lAtlOd Oh the INV Slice M8Ecu D, 1910.
The Senate then resumed consideration OF
the Mexican land grant title bill
Mr.. Hawley could not support the bill.
When the United States acquired the terri
| tory in question, he said, covenants usual in
such cases were made with Mexico. Quaran-
teening to Mexicans in the territory the right
to hold or dispose of as they might choose.
| Mr.. Hawley said that a commission was
better adopted under the circumstances of
the case, to deal with the titles than the
courts, and even if the courts we've to be
tribunal, objection should take iniative, but
occupants should be treated 40 holding of the
right until the contrary should appear. They
| should not be treated as trespassers on the
land which perhaps their grandfathers had
spent their lives.
Mr.. Edmunds stated that under the forms
Of human society, justice could not be ad-
ministered without producing some incon-
venience to somebody, In this case every
| one of the small settlers had not merely re-
quested, but implored Congress to protect
them against the great combinations which
threatened their rights.
Without reaching a conclusion the Senate
went into executive session and afterwards
adjourned.
Mr.. Hammond of Georgia, who has been
i'll since the converting Of Congress, appeared
this morning and took the oath.
The speaker announced the following COM
mittee appointments and changes, stating
that where changes we're made they were
at the request of the members concerned
Rivers and Harbors, Mr.. Thomas, in place
of Mr.. Chase of Mississippi; naval affairs,
Mr.. Wise in place of Mr.. Eaton; foreign
affairs, Mr.. Eaton in place of Mr.. Wise.
The following bills were introduced and
referred:
By Mr.. Eaton of Conn.,. for the punish
ment of officers Of the United States for
illegal use of money or other things of value
in elections.
By Mr.. Belford of Colorado, authorizing
| preliminary survey of the passes between
the afiuents of the Upper Missouri and
Columbia rivers for the purpose of ascer.
tanning the practicability of uniting these
rivers by canal or otherwise and appropriating
$40, 900 for that purpose.
By Mr.. Anderson of Kentucky, to prevent
| the sale of certain Pacific railroads before
United States bonds with interest shall have
been fully paid. 1t provides that in case
| any Of the Pacific railroads shall fail to pay