Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1884-12-18
PORTY-ElGHTH CONGRESS-.
second Session.
SENATE.
WAsHlNGToN. Dec. II

WASHINGTON, Dec IL.
The chair laid before the Senate a CON-
munication from the secretary of the navy
in response to a recent resolution of Mr..
Vest, which inquired whether any surveying
party has been or was about to be sent to
Nicaragua to survey the route of the proposed
canal.
In reply to the resolution of Mr. Vest, the
secretary of state saws that orders have been
issued 10 civil engineers TO visit Nicaragua in
order to make survey of the rouIe for the
proposed Nicaraguan canal.
Mr.. Dawes presented petition which was
referred, praying that steps be taken to pro-
hibit the carrying into effect of lease for
grazing purposes OF the Crow Indian reserva-
tion, made with the Indians bv syndicate OF
capitalists and cattle men. Dawes said that
it was rumoFed that lease OF 100000 acres
had been made ar one cent an acre. He had
been surprised to find that no information of
such a lease existed in the interior depart
ment In order TO quiet the apprehensions
of the people of Montana, he would state
that no such lease could legally exist without
the sanction or approval of the secretary OF
the interior, and it Gid nor seem 10 Dawes
possible that the secretary could sanction
such a lease.
large number of remonstrances against
the ratification of the Spanish treaty were
presented and referred to the committee on
foreign relations.
bill was pa sed providing that actual set
tiers on land subject to preemption under the
existing laws on the reservation lately occu-
pied by the Uneompshgre and White River
Ute Indians, shall be entitled to purchase
such lands, not exceeding 100 acres for each
settler, in accordance with the general prin.
oil ,f ha ,,raanY,tinn Laws
After an hour spent in debate the matter
was postponed until tomorrow when the
doors were reopened and the consideration OF
the naval bill was proceeded with.
/ 1t was modification of the regular bill
passed bv the Senate last session, and now
Mr.. Mcpherson moved to strike out the
words 1.-The authority TO construct the same
(the new ships) shall take effect at once,
and to insert instead the words provided,
however that the authority to construct the
same shall not take effect until the steel
cruisers now under the process of construc-
ton shall be fully completed and tested"
Mr. Hale said that the present secretary
had no desire to make contracts and could
not do SO if he wanted to, as the bill re-
quired 60 days advertisement for bids, That
the secretary, however, did not want to risk
his reputation with the American people by
doing that which the senrtor from New Jer
sey (McPherson) indicated that he might
do.
Mr.. Hale would consent to strike out the
words objected to, but would not consent to
the insertion of the other words.
The amendment was not agreed to-yeas
10, nays, 35
On motion of Mr.. Hale the words objected
to by Mr.. Mcpherson were then stricken out.
After further debate the bill was passed
substantially as it came from the committee
The chair laid the interstate commerce
bill before the Senate and Mr.. Slater sub
mitted proposed amendment embodying the
provisions OF the Reagan bill.
Adjourned.