Bismarck weekly tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1943, 1884-12-19

|DAY, DECEMBER 'e, 1884.
Aresolution was passed providing for a
holiday recess from the twentieth of December,
until the fifth of January and the house then
resumed the consideration of the inter state
commerce bill.
A considerable discussion, and action
upon several amendments and substitutes the
house pending further action adjourned.
SENATE.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 1.-THE chair laid before
the senate communication from the secretary
of the navy. in response to the recent resolution
of Senator Vest, which inquired whether any
surveying party had been, or was about to be
sent to Nicaragua to survey route for the pro-
posed canal and if it had been sent, under what
authority of law. The secre: :arys reply is as
follows:
NAVY DEPARTMENT.
Sir: Responding to the resolution of the
senate, have the honor to state that ordershave
been issued to Civil Engineer A. G.. Menacol,
Civil Engineer, R. E. Perry and Ensign Wash
make a survey of the route for
the proposed Nicaragua canal. The
ment of the government to order such expedi-
order has been issued in exercise of general
powers of this department under the president
to issue such orders to all officers of the navy
may be deemed for the public interest. The
arrangements which have been made con-
template the revision of the survey made Oh a
former occasion by Civil Engineer Menacol and
investigation of any change in route which has
been suggested as possibly available for short
ening the canal and Diminishing the cost. The
cost of the arrangement made and contem-
plated in addition to pay and mileage of the
fit, and about s 1000 month during the stay
of the party in Nicaragua:
[Signed. VIM. A. CHANDLER,
Sec'y of the Navy.
On Senator Vests motion the letter was laid
on the table. He said he would call it up at an
early opportunity with view to discussing the
proposition advanced by the secretary of the
navy that the right was vested in any depart-
tion without action by congress.
Senator Dawes presented q petition, which
was referred, praying that steps be taken to
prohibit carryj into effect the lease for graz
ing purposes e the Grow Indian reservation
made with the Indians by syndicate of capi-
talists and cattlemen. Senator Dawes said it
was run.ored the lease of three million acres had
been made for one cent an acre. He had been
surprised to find that no information of
such lease existed in the interior department,
In order to quiet the npprehensions Of the peo-
pie of Montana he would state that no such lease
could legally exist without the sanction or ap-
proval of the secretary of the interior, and it
did not seem to him (Dawes) possible that the
secretary could sanction such lease. 1t was
not possible that the interior department
would consider its duty performed if it kept
ilse If ignorant of the existence of such
lease. Whatever might be wrong in the ad-
ministration could, he thought, be excused by
saying that the lease did not actually have the
approval or positive sanction Of the depart
ment: He did not mean to ref ct on the in
terror department, but to emphasize the fact
that responsibility reste1 with the
department. Vest said be had offered a
resolution which the senate had agreed to,
calling on the interior department for informa-
ticn as to such lease, but no reply had been
made. 1t was extraordinary he thought, that
transaction involving three million acres Of In
dian lands should be published in the press
without attracting the notice of the interior de-
partment.
A large number of remonstrances against the
ratification of the Spanish treaty were presented
and referred. Senator Dawes offered a resolution
which was agreed to, calling on the secretary of
the interior for all information in his depart
ment relating to leases of the Grow Indian
lands for grazing purposes and his action there
on.
Bills we're introduced and referred: By Sena-
tor Van Wyck-to fix the rates of the transmits
sion of messages by telegraph west of the Mis-
souri, river not to exceed average rates east IF
said river to the sea board; alsu to fix passenger
and freight rates on railroads running west of
the Missouri river not to exceed average rates
east of said river to seaboard.
The committee on public buildings reported q
bill extending to $245, 600 the limit of appro
priation for the construction of public buildings
at Peoria, ILL., referred to committee of the
whole. ~
Mr.. Skinner, New York, introduced a bill for
regulating and classifyin the salaries of clerks
in all first apostofices; referred.
The house then resumed consideration of the
inter state commerce bill
The speaker laid before the house a communi-
cation from the attorney general in reply to the
resolu ion asking his opinion whether the eight
hour law applies to letter carriers. The attorney
general says, after reciting the resolution:
10 this must rep'y that cannot furnish
the legal opinion required. The authority of
the attorney-general to give bis official opinion
| is limited by laws which create and define his
Office, and will not permit him to give advice at
the call of either honse of congress or Congress
itself, but only to the president and heads of
executive Departmental. Early in the govern
ment this was established, and suggested to the
house of representatives by Attorney General
Writ, and when the department of justice was
created the Law in this respect was not changed.
! OF vourse, it will be my wish to conform to any
request the house of representatives. may make
but such wish / cannot comply with without
reversing law and precedents heretofore estab.
lished." 3gEf3: s.js aslt& E.. (
Adjourned. saasrs,t& .zasg