The Portland daily press., 1884-12-03
XLVITIth Congress---2d Session


WASHINGTON, Dec. 2.
After the reading of the journal MIR. W. P. Shelf
field, the rev Senator from Rhode Island, was
sworn in.
The chair laid before the Senate the annual re
ports of the Secretary OF the Treasury and Comp
troler of the Currency also the report of the clerk
OF the Court of Claims containing the statements of
all judgments rendered by that court during tie
past year.
The chair also laid before the Senate as a memor-
ia joint resolution of the general assembly of Yer
nont urging Congressional action looking to the
tional contro. OF interstate commerce.
h1r. est offered resolution directing an inVesti-
CATION by the committee Indian affairs into all
leases OF land in the Indian territory for grazing
other purposes by Indian Tribes.
A debate on the subject of the leases ensued, in
which Senators Vest, Dawes Maxey and Beck r. k
part. The debate broadened into a general disaus
sion of InOian lands and supplies Mr.. Beck stsltag
That the government paid $40 head for cattle
worth only $l2.
MIR. Dawes said that these leases of Indian lands,
while wrong, were no more outrageous than the au-
thorized enclosure by wire fences of thousands of
acres of the public lands of the United states. Of
one tract of 102 600 acres of Indian lands as many
az $1,000 acres were in he absolute and exclusive
possession OF outsiders, whose herds consumed eY-
erythlDg that grew on it, when the Indian bureau
had been obliged to advertise for beef TO support the
Indians on whose reservations these herds
feeding. Had the Indians used their reservations
Tor themselves they could bay3 supported them
selves In one instance mentioned by Mr.. Dawes
Indians had IN one year been able to sell 1900
bushels of wheat from a reservation nov occupied
almost entirely BY private individuals without any
power on the part of the government to dispossess
them. he evils conseq lent this leasing of In
dian lands aud fencing in of public lands, Mr.
Dawes continued, imposed grave du y on Congress,
and ii remedial actions were taken in tiMe the
public domain would pass irrecoverably into the
possession OF large landowners, foreign and native
He hoped that The matter would not be allowed to
end in talk or be eontined to Indian lands alone.
VT Conger hoped that the resolution would BE-
sufficiently comprehensive to afford full projection
TO the indians and desired the nattert 90 over for
one day. and the matter went over accordingly.
The Senate then entered 90 consideration Of bills
upon the calendar, but without result at Las ad-
Journed until tomorrow.
HOUSE.
In the House of Representatives to-day Mr.. Vii
son Of Iowa presented the credentials of H. g.
Smith as membsr-elect from the 7th Iowa district
to fill the vacancy oceasioned by the resignation Of
John A. Kasson. Mr.. Smith took the oath Of
Office.
Mr. Follett of Ohio, as a question of privilege
presented resolutions in which he personally inn
peaehed Lot Wright, United States Marshal of the
southern district ot Ohio, OF high crimes and mis-
demeanors, charging him with the usuruation If
power and violation OF law in that he appointed
large number of general and special deputy mar
shas TO serve at the several voting precincts in
Cincinnati at the election for members of ngress
on the l4th OF October and armed the said deputy
marshAls with pistols and other deadly W apans
said TO have been furnished by the War Department
OF the United states government; in that the said
deputy mafsnals, acting under his orders and dirac-
tlous, aided and abeted and encouraged fraudulent
voting, Intimidation of voters and gross outrages
upon the elective franchise and rights of the honest
voters. The resolutions provided for an investiga
ton by the committee OIL expenditures in the De-
pirm of Justice.
MIR. Kiefer Of Ohio made point of order against
the reception of the resolutions.
Mr.. Reed OF Maine c0ntended that in substance
the resolutions were merely for the purpose of in
vestigating cefIan specified matters The COM
mlttee Nas directed to discover certain facts but
not to base upon them articles of impeachment. If
the resolution looked toward impeachment, it
saould go t. the judiciary committee but il the in
vesugaiion simpiy hsd reference he expenditure
III the Department OF Justice the committee on
That subject had charge OF it properly.
Ihe speaker thought under all previous rulings
tina the resolution presented matter OF privilege.
The House could determine for itself how far ihe
investigation should be proceeded with anu what
committee should have charge of it. Therefore he
overrued the point of order.
After long discussion Mr.. Folletts resolution
was adopted.
The House then proceeded to the consideration Of
the Interstate commerce bill,
Mr.. g. D. Wise OF Virginia asked unanimous CON
sent to offer resolution for investigation of the
con uct OF the United Sites Marshal for the East
ern district OF Virginia during he election.
Mir, keed of Maine objected.
Mr. Reagan of Texas then called up the inter-
state commerce bill, kuown the s'Rtagann bill
aud entered INTO an exhaustive comparison Of the
two measures At the conclusion of his remarks
the House adjourned.