The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-02-01
THE HOUSE.
The Bill Providing for the Forfeiture OfLand
Grants Passed.


WASHINGTON, Jan. 31.-Mr. Anderson, from
the committee on public lands, reported a reso-
luton, which was adopted, calling upon the Sec
rotary of the Interior to explain by what author
ity 1S9. 900 acres of land were certified to the
State of Kansas for the benefit of the Atchison,
Topeka & Santa Fe railroad.
Mr.. Reagan, chairman of the committee on
commerce, reported back the resolution calling
upon the Secretary of the Treasury for informa-
ton in regard to trade between the United
Safes and Mexico and traffic on the railroad con
Meeting the two countries.
At the conclusion of the morning hour the
House proceeded to the consideration of the cal
endar Precedence was given the bills reported
from the committee public lands. The first
bill was that declaring the forfeiture of certain
grants of land made to certain States to aid in
the construction of railroads
1t forfeits all lands granted Mississippi under
the act approved Aug. II, 1856, except the grant
in aid of the railroad from Jackson to the State
line of Alabama. Also, the lands granted to
Alabama under the acts of June 3, 1856, and
March 3 1851 to aid in the construction of a
road from ElytOn to the Tennessee river Mem
phis & Charleston road and the Savannah &
Albany road. Also, lands granted Louisiana to
aid III the construction of a road from New Or
leans to the State line. Also the lands granted
Arkansas to aid in the construction of a road
from the point where the Iron Mountain road in
tersects the southern boundary to point near
Helena
Mr.. Cobb made a brief explanation of the pro
visions of the bill stating that the lands which it
proposed to forfeit had not been earned by the
various companies and declaring himself in ia
vor of FORGETTING every acre granted railroad COM
panies which had not been earned in strict ac-
cordance with the law. None of the lands affected
by the bill were patented either to the States or
the companies, and the second section of the bill
fully protected settlers who had entered upon
the lands.
Mr. Van Eaton, member of the committee on
public lands, offered an amendment excepting
from the provisions of the bill that the lands
granted to Mississippi to aid in the construction
of a railroad from Brandon to the Gulf of Mexico
commonly called the Gulf & Ship Island rail
road After debate the amendment was rejected
The bill passed.
ing the forfeiture of lands granted the Texas Pa
cifc Railroad Company, under the act of Con
gress approved March 3, 1871, and the acts sup
Elemental thereto The report accompanying
the bill being very long, it was ordered printed
in the Record, and without debate the bill passed
yeas 259, nays Mr.. Barr, of Pennsylvania.
On motion of Mr.. Hatch, of Missouri, the res
oluton adopted making the bill providing
for the establishment of a bureau of animal in
duStry. etc. the special order for Feb. D.
The Speaker laid before the House message
from the President transmitting the report of
the Secretary of State with accompanying pa
pers, relative to the restriction of the importa-
ton of American hog products into Germany
and France Immediately a clash as to iuriSdic
ton arose, as to which committee was entitled to
the report of the Secretary of State, Mr. Towns
bend favorng the committee commerce, Mr.
Hatch, Of Missouri, the committee on agricu-
ture, and Mr.. Curtin the committee foreign
affairs. Finally, matters were compromised to
to the mutual satisfaction of all parties by order
ing the message printed and laying it on the TIA
BILE Adjourned.