Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-02-01
IN SENATE AND HOUSE.
Detailed Report of the Proceedings in
Both Bodies.

detained Report or the Proceedings in
Both Bodies.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 31.-In the Senate
this morning a flood of petitions was pre-
sented from dozen or more States pray
ing for prohibitory liquor laws in the Dis
trict of Columbia and the Territories.
The petitions were referred to the Com
mittee on Education and Labor.
The Senate refused, by a vote of 20 to
p, to concur in the report of the commit
tee of conference on the Greely relief bill,
and resolved to appoint new conference
committee.
Mr.. Platts resolution, introduced and
telegraphed on Tuesday, the Doth instant
directing an investigation into the cost of
telegraphic correspondence, was agreed to.
No further decisive action was reached.
and, after brief executive session, the
Senate adjourned until Monday.
IN THE HOUSE.
In the House to-day Mr.. Reese, of Geor-
gia, from the Committee on Public Build
ings, reported bill for the erection of a
public building at Augusta, Ga, the ulti-
mate cost OF which shall not exceed $780,
GOO. 1t was referred to the committee of
the whole.
At the conclusion Of the morning hour
the House proceeded to the consideration
of the business of the House calendar,
precedence being given to bills reported
from the Committee on Public Lands.
The first bill taken up was that declaring
forfeited certain grants of land made to
certain States to aid III the construction
of railroads. 1t forieits all lands granted
to Mississippi under the act approved
Aug. II, 1886, except the grant in aid of
the railroad from jackson to the State line
of Alabama; and also lands granted to
Alabama under the acts of June 3. 1856,
and March 3, 1851, to aid in the construc-
tiOn Of a road from Elyton to the Tennes-
see river, the Memphis and Charleston
road and the Savannah and Albany Rail-
way; also lands granted to Louisiana to
aid in the construction of a road from
New Orleans to the State line: also lands
granted to Arkansas to aid in the con-
structi0n Of a road from point where
the Iron Mountain Railway intersects the
southern boundary to point near the
town of Helena.
Mr.. Cobb, Of Indiana, made a brief ex-
planatiOp Of the provisions of the bill.
Stating that the lands which it was pro-
- 70 forfeit had not been earned by
~. toeC, '>anies, and declaring him.
self in favor of forfeiting every acre
granted to railroad companies which had
not been earned in strict accordance with
the law. None of the lands affected by
the bill were patented either to the
States or companies, and In its second sec
tiOn the bill fully protected settlers who
had entered upon lands.
Messrs. Van Eaton. Singleton and
Barksdale endeavOred to have excepted
from the provisions of this bill the Gulf
and Ship Island Railroad grant, Mr.. Van
Eaton offering an amendment to that ef-
fects but without avail, and the bill passed
as reported. The next bill on the calen-
| dar was that decl2ring a forfeiture of the
/ lands granted to the EeXas Pacific Rail-
road Company, under the act of Congress.
/ approved March Sd, 1871, and the acts
| supplemental thereto. They are lands in
/ New Mexico, Arizona and California. ap-
pertaining to the line west of Ell Paso.
/ which was subsequently built upon by
/ the Southern Pacific Railroad Company
/ The present claimants report accompany
ing the bill being very long, it was ordered
to be printed in the Record, and without
| any debate the bill was passed by 259 yeas
| to / nay, MIR. Barr, of Pennsylvania.
The Speaker laid before the House q
message from the President transmitting,
in response 70 the resolutions of the
House, the report of the Secretary Of