Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1884-06-27
AT THE CAPITOL TODAY.
DULL DAY IN THE SENATE.
LIVELY BREEZE IN THE HOUSE OVER
THEBACKBONE FORFEITURE BILL

LIVELY BREEZE IN THE HOUSE OVER
THEBAOKBONE FORFEITURE BILL.
The Senate.
Tae Senate was presided over to-day by Senator
Sarland, OF Arkansas, who had been designated by
the president OF the Senate for that purpose under
inc rule The chair laid before the Senate letter
irom the Secretary OF the Navy, transmitting
ihormauon In regard to the Suez canal
THE SIGNAL SERVICE
The resolution offered yesterday by Mr.. Pendle-
eon' calling on the Secretary Of War to collate the
laws affecting the signal service bureau, and to
poTt as to the status in the army Of the chief Of
Inat oureau was after discussion laid for the
pIesent, TO be called up Ii deemed desirable after
consideration OF the sundry civil bill-that bin
So coveIing provision intended to accomplish the
same purpose
read third time, and passed without amendment
Cne JOINT resolution providing for the settlement OF
accounts with the Mobile and Ohio railroad COM
Mr: Butler gave notice that on Monday he would
ASH LOT vote on his resolution OF inquiry into the
conaitl0n on. OF the New York banks
M. Mitchell introduced bill which was appro-
pIiaIeiy referred, to incorporate the national
encampment of the Grand Army Of the Republic.
THE MC'GARRAHAN BILL.
Mr. Bayard, from the committee on private land
calms reported adversely the bill for the relief OF
WIN; McGarrahan- The bill was, however, placed
=. On motion Of Mr.. Cameron, of Wisconsin, the
alr Tn 10 grant the right OF way through the Indian
IerrltOry To the Southern Kansas railroad company
was read third time and passed.
Mr. voorhees,, firm the committee on the library
bll appropatlng $4,000 for the purchase of copies
OF the original portraits OF George Washington by
,so mnanoerh b Bryan Johnston to be distributed to
on motion OF Mr. Riddlebereer the House bill
al;n aHltaornng the extension Of the Chesapeake &
,oaSs ratiWay company to point In the military
time and passed
The Senate then proceeded to the consideration
VI PiAVate pension bllls on the calendar.
The House.
Mr.. wellborn rTex.) submitted the conference re-
port on the bill granting a right Of way through
the Indian Territory to the Gulf Colorado and
santa Fe railroad company, and it was agreed to-
MI. Hancock fTex.) presented the conference re-
port on the pension appropriation bill, and 1t was
agreed to.
MI. Turner Gay called up the election case OF
Thomas G. Skinner, from the second district OF
North Carolina The question at issue in this case
Is whether Nh: Skinner was elected from the proper
District and the hnal Determination OF the contest
MI. Mcmillan CTenn) raised the question of con-
Soerat1on In favor OF the private calendar and the
House declined to consider the election case.
CONFERENCE REPORT on THR ARMY APPROPRIATION
Mr. Forney fAla) submitted the conference re-
port on the army appropriation bill. The report
announces an agreement upon all items except
upon the Senate amendment striking out that por-
tlon OF the bill which regulates the compensation
10 oe paid to subsidized railways for army trans
pOrtat1on The other sections OF the bill as agreed
upon appropriate $24.454 45O, being $4,000 more
than was carried by the bill it originally passed
the House. The report was agreed to; the disa-
gfeement to the amendment indicated was insisted
upon, ana Messrs- Forney, Townshenc and Keifer
were appointed as confereeS
Mr.. Henley (Cal) made an unsuccessful ATTEMPT
10 secure consideration for the Northern Pacific
feture bill, and the House, at 1890, on motion Of
MT Mcmillan, went into committee OF the whole
(Mr Cox, OF New York, In the chair on the private
calendar
THE BACKBONE" FORFEITURE BILL AND TILE DIG
NIFTY OF TEE HOUSE.
All O'Clock the committee rose for the purpose
OF permitting the House to dispose Of the HBack-
bone" forfeiture bill
Mr. White (Ky), rising to question which he
said affected the dignity Of the House, sent to the
CLERKS desk and had read the following letter pub
Asheo In the Washington Republican OF this morn
ing:
"HoFFMAN House. NEW YORK, Nov. 2, 1881.
NY Dear Captain: Your favor Of the 5th inst.
mand, &c. to Mr.. B. for his consideration. He
PROMISED me an engagement last Friday week, and
failed to keep It. few days after he went home
to Connecticut sick. / have been very busy with
my own affairs, and shall leave in day or two for
New Orleans From what learn, though, Affairs
bought some backbone stock honestly, and through
some other parties s who were In Congress and the
| sent stock that was paid as bribeS
"AS the road is now an assured fact care but
| little about the matter, and would, above all
tion and they do not spoil the chance by settle
menI 1 shat more an t,cestigation in December
II they settle Of course they viii all way
and in that case you and Newell would be OF vaiu,
able assistance. am only sorry for Mr.. Wheelock
dues. suppose Mr. B; will give you direct answer
as soon as he is Well But from the shape OF things
think there Will be no settlement at all. but that
devl Of row will be kicked up, and that when
Congress meets that resolution OF final forfeiture
Will be passed / shall leave here in day Or two
for m home Very truly yours, E JOHN ELLIS.
| Mr. White said that he thought full investiga-
tion OF all the facts connected with this land grant
| or land grab from beginning to end should be
The Speaker did not think. that the matter pre-
sented question OF privilege It simply appeared
the impression that there had been some improper
| means used to obtain the grant originally.
MI. White thought that the letter cast reflection
| upon Congress-; and the gentleman who wrote 1t
was member OF the present House.
The Speaker.-There is nothing in the letter to
OF improper conduct. On the contrary the gentle
man states that unless certain cOnttn-
gency happened, he would move an Investigation,
MI. Whte.-That Is exactly what am asking
| now-thnt something should be done
The Speaker.-The chair decides that there Is no
| matter OF privilege whatever presented.
Mr. White.-That letter affects the dignity and
integrity OF the House.
The Speaker-HOw?
MIR. Wnite-If the chair does not see It, cannot
explain how. leave 1t to the country
The Speaker-That letter seems to relate on.
trely to things which have transpired In previous
Congresses
Mi. Ellis Ia.) expressed his regret that the gen.
temen who were endeavoring TO forfeit this earned
land grant should have been driven by stress of
weather to the poor eXpedent OF directing a ner.
sOnal attack upon him.
Mr.. ELLIS SAYS THE LETTER WAS ALTERED AND GAR
While don't desire, he continued to interrupt
the vote on this question by any matters personal
to myself arising from the publication OF a letter
in this mornings Republican, purportlng to have
nounce to be materially altered and garbed to suit
the purposes Of the publisher thereof, desire now
to state that at an early day shall claim from the
House, as o matter OF personal privilege an
opportunity to expose the an1muS, the falsehOOd
and the malignity OF the unwarranted innuendO
directed against myself In the publications alluded
to. which are intended to warp and bias the tudg-
equity. All desire now to say Is that 1t is the
last vndictive thrust OF professional blackmaier
whose disappointed greed and avar1ce have di.
rected this blow at me, whose unfortunate connec.
ton with him originated In desire to do him q
kindness rApplausel
The Speaker announced the question to be on the
motion 70 table the motion to reconsider the vote
by which the House yesterday defeated the ~Back-
bone" forfeiture bill.
TEE BILL KILLED.
The motion to table was agreed to-yeas 1N. nays
HD&aH, 1Vu.O0 Lost