, 1884-01-22
WASHINGTON.
The Solons of the Senate Gel
Down to Work.
The Bills introduced and Dis
cussed at Length.
The House Equal to the Emer-
gencies Thrust Upon 1t.
XlYlH. CONGRESS-.
The Senate.

Washington, January 2l.-The chair
laid before the senate bills from the
house; n making all public roads
highway post routes; another to enable
The courts of the United States in cases
where patents have been obtained
through fraud. to annul the patents on
application of the attorney general.
Several petitions were presented
praying for investigation of divorce
legislation of the different states and
to arrange a collection of divorce sta
%tistics.
Logan presented petitions from the
ex-soldiers of the Union army, praying
for the passage of laws giving ex-pris-
oners of the war the benefit of public
lands.
Edmunds to amend an act granting
aid in the construction of railroad and
telegraph line from the Missouri river
to the Pacific ocean; to secure for the
government the use of the same for
postal, military and other purposes; ap-
proved July l, 1862 and bills amenda-
tory thereof. one of which provides for
the settlement of claims against the
United States and secure thes United
States indebtedness from the companies
to them. In presenting the bill Ed
munds said it was prepared by the com
missioner of railroads and was very
important, its object, if possible, being
to bring a termination to the contro-
versy, which appears to be perpetual
between the United States and these
railroad companies, as to what they
should pay In, and provide for the open
ing up of transactions by the new ar
rangement on the long bond which has
taken place for the obligation of the
companies to repay the United States;
also to provide legal securities for such
repayment of methods for the enforce
ment thereof.
The president nominated A. S.
Worthington for United States attor-
ney for the District Of Columbia.
Gibson submitted the following reso-
luton, which lies on the table to be
hereafter called up:
Resolued, That the committee on for
eign relations be instructed to ascertain
and report to the senate what discrlmin-
atoms, if any, are made by foreign gov
ernments against the people of the
United States by allowing drawbacks
in favor of their own expectations to
come in competition with ours In the
open markets Of the world. Or by subsi-
dies or special bounties in favor Of their
steamship lines, or impose duties upon
commodities largely consumed in the
United States, or prohibit or restrain
the Importation of productions of the
United States by unusual laws and reg
ulations, or by higher rates on Amer
lean vessels, or special reciprocity treat
les OF otherwise, and also the force and
effect of the most favored nation clause
found in commercial or reciprocity
treaties, with such recommendations as
the committee on foreign relatio ns may
deem necessary and proper.
The following resolution wal offered
and agreed to:
That the secretary of the treasury be
directed to transmit to the senate cop
les of the official reports from treasury
agents and collectors Of customs tend
ing to show fraudulent differentiation
or classification of wool imported into
the United States, and such further in
formation as may enable congress to
provide guards against such frauds.
Morgan offered the following resolu-
ton, which was agreed to: That the
committee on foreign relations be in
structed to inquire into the subject Of
the settlements and trading posts being
established in the valley of the Congo
river, Africa, and report if any action
can be properly taken by congress, or
the executive, in furtherance Of our
commerce in that quarter.
The senate proceeded to consider bills
on the calendar.
The first to engage attention was the
bill reported by the committee on pri.
vate lands. 1t provides for a method
Of perfecting titles to lands lying with
In the limits of the territory received
by the United States from Mexico. II
provides that any person or corporation
claiming lands under such lawful,
though incomplete, Spanish or Mexican
grant, warrant, concession or survey
as the United States ia bound to recog
nize by virtue of the treaties of cession
may petition the United States distric'
court for the district in which the lant
Is situated, setting forth the nature o
the claim, and said court Is vested will
power to hear and determine the mat
ter and fix and complete the title.
Conger wished it to go over until HI
should have an opportunity to examine
1t. 1t seemed to him to contain yer.
Objectionable provisions,
Bayard remarked that it had alread,
been passed twice by the senate, AM
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