St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1884-12-18
The House Resumes Its Co nsideratiOn Of tn,
Interstate Commerce Bill and
Amendments,
Which After Long Debate and the Offer
ing OF Many Amendments is
Finally Passed.
THE FoRrY-E1GHrH CONGRESS.
The senate.

The secretary's reply is as follows:
Sir: Responding 10 the resolution Of the
senate, have the honor to state orders have
been issused Civil Engineer A G. Menoeal,
Civil Engineer r. Z. Peary and Ensign
Washington L Chambers TO visit
Nicaragua, or make survey Of
the route for the proposed
Nicaragua canal The order has been issued
in the exercise Of the general power OF this
department under the president TO issue such
orders TO all officers Of the navy as may be
deemed for the public interest The arrange
ments which have been made contemplate
the revision OF survey made on a former
occasion by Civil Engineer Menacol, and the
investigation Of any change in the route
which has been suggested as possibly avail
able for shortening the canal aud diminish
its cost. The cost Of the arrangement made
and contemp plated in addition to the pay and
mileage of naval officers is expected TO be
81, 600 as an outfit, and about 81, 600 a month
during the stay Of the party in Nicaragua.
WM. a. CHANDLER, See'y OF Navy.
On Senator Vests motion the letter was
laid on the table. II said: h. would call it
up at an early opportunity with a view OF
discussing the proposition advanced by the
secretary Of the navy that the right was
in any department of the government TO
order such an expedition without action by
congress.
Senator Dawes presented a petition which
was referred, praying that steps be taken
10 prohibit carrying into effect the lease for
grazing Purposes OF the Crow Indian reser-
walton made with the Indians by a syndicate
of capitalists aud cattle men. Senator
Dawes said il was rumored lease Of 8, 3,000,-
900 acres had been made for one cent an
acre. He had been surprised 10 find no in
formation Of such lease existed in the Indian
department. In order TO quiet the appre-
tensions Of the people Of Montana, he would
state no such lease could legally
exist without the sanction or approval Of the
secretary of the interior, and it did not seem
TO Senator Dawes possible that the secretary
could sanction such lease. 1t was not pos
sible the interior department would consider
its duty performed If it kept itself ignorant
of the existence of such lease. Whatever
might be wrong in the administration could,
Dawes thought, be excused by saying that
the lease did not actually have the approval
or positive sanction OF the department. He
did not mean 10 reflect on the interior de-
partment, but to emphasize the fact that the
responsibility rested with that department.
Senator Vest said he had offered resolu-
ton, which the senate had agreed to, calling
on the interior department for information
as to such lease, hut no reply had been
made. 1t was extraordinary, he thought,
that transaction involving three million
acres of Indian land should be published in
the press without attracting the notice OF the
interior department.
A large number Of remonstrances against
the ratification OF the Spanish treaty were
presented and referred.
Senator Brown, from the committee on
railroads reported favorably the bill to extend
the time of building the st. Louis & San
Francisco railroad through Indian lands.
Senator Dawes offered resolution which
was agreed TO, calling on the secretary of the
interior for all information in his department
relating TO the leases of Crow Indian Ian ds
for grazing purposes, and his action thereon.
Bills were introduced and referred as fol:
lows:
BY Senator Van Wyck, To fix the rates of
transmission OF message bys telegraph west
of the Missouri river not 10 exceed the aver
age rates east Of said river TO the seaboard
Also, TO fix the passenger and freight rates
on railroads running west Of the Missouri
river. not to exceed the average rates east
of said river TO the seaboard.
Senator Butler introduced resolution to
authorize the president to- send to the pro-
posed exhibition Of American arts and man
ufacturers to be held in London, England,
in 1856, the government exhibits now at
the New Orleans exhibition, and appropria-
ting $500, 900 to defray the expense. Referred
TO the committee on foreign relations.
Senator Morgon, from the conference CON-
mittee on the Atlantic & Pacific railroad land
grant forfeiture bill, submitted report stat
ing the committe had been unable TO agree
Ordered printed.
Senator Pendleton, from the committee on
foreign relations, reported fayorably, and the
senate passed bin authorizing the president
TO suspend the exercise Of extra territorial
authority Of the United States in Tunis when
he shall be notified that the republic of France
has established proper courts in that terri
tory.
Senator Garland reported favorably from
the committee on judiciary and the senate
passed bill detaching Greandy county, Ten
nessee, from the southern division Of the
district Of east Tennessee, and attaching il to
the middle Tennessee district.
The senate passed a bill relating 10 the
lands in Colorado lately occupied BY the Un-
compahgre and White River Ute Indians.
II provides that actual settlers on the land
subject to pre-emption under the existing
! laws, on the reservation OF the Indians
named, shall be entitled to purchase
such land not exceeding l60 acres for each
settler, in accordance with the general prin-
eiples of the pre-emption laws. The pay
ments may be made in three instalments.
Senator Hale represented the importance
of taking up the navy appropriation bill at
the earliest moment. He explained the
status Of the bill, and said as IT came from
the house il renewed for the coming half
year the lump appropriation made last ses-
sion for the first half year. This method Of
appropriation be deprecated, except in cases
where the time at the disposal Of congress
made it impossible TO avoid it. The regular
appropriation bill had passed the senate and
was in conference at the close Of the last ses-
sion. new conference committee had
been appointed by the senate at the opening
of this session, and the house was invited 70
Join in the new conference. No notice had
been taken blythe house Of this courteous
request of tie senate. The senate was not,
however, by this estopped from bringing be-
fore the senate and sending TO the house the
regular sppr lpriation bin giving the detailed
items OF appropriation.
On the motion Of Senator Morrill, and
against the objection of Senator Hale, who