The Indianapolis sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1880-1904, 1885-02-25
FORrY.EIGHvH CONGRESS.


WAsHrEGToS, Feb 81 The Chair laid be-
fore the Senate q memorial from the Legis-
isture OF Wis olsin urging the placing of
General Grant on the retired list of the
army.
Mr.. Cullom presented q memorial from
the Legislature of Illinois urging some early
and satisfactory settlement OF the Oklahoma
land question.
Mr.. Dawes asked and obtained unanimous
consent to at once take up tbs bill hereto
fore introduced 10y him TO authorize the
President to negotiate for the purchase OF
the remaining Seminole, Greek and Chero-
kee Nations OF Indians their title to those
lands. In less than i've minutes it was read
and passed. 1t now goes to the House for
the action Of that body.
The Senate then took up the pension bills
upon the calendar, and those favorably re.
ported having been disposed of, Mr.. Cockrell
called up the House bill already favorably
reported by him from the Committee on
Military Affairs to provide for the settlement
of claims OF officers and enlisted men Of the
army for loss OF private property destroyed
in the military service OF the United States
Mr. Cockrell said it was bill to provide
by general law a method OF settlement for
claims, which are constantly coming before
C5ngress. and which are uniformly passed
DY Congress. IL would not. however, include
any loss As suffered in the war, neither would
cover such things as carpet, watches, etc,
but articles deemed useful, necessary and
reasonable for officers and soldiers to have
when on duty.
On the suggestion of Mr.. Sherman the
time for presenting such claims was limited
TO two years. and so amended the bill passed
Mr. Cockrel also called up the
House BILL heretofore reported favora
bly, from the Committee on Claims
limiting to three years the time of present.
ing claims for bounty or backPay fer serv-
ices IN the late war. or previous wars. and
lin4itIng TO six years the time for presenting
al the claims originating hereafter against
the United States, except cases where thu
Pensioners bill. IL also provides it shall
not De construed to extend the power Of the
COurt OF Claims, nor include the claims now
barred by the statute OF limitations
Mr.. Blair thought the bill would exclude
a large number of claims of colored sol
diers.
Dir. Oockrell believed that nearly all the
CLAIM OF that class were already in. though
not all edj listed.
MIR. Blair did not agree with Mr.. Cockrell
as to all being in.
Mr.. Ingalls, said the United States did not
permit the statute of Claims to ruR against
the Government, and be thought an honest
C aim should not be limited in the manner
prescribed by the bill.
Mr. CockrelI said the bill was nc innova-
tiog on the present law, but a general la y to
apply to all cases.
Mr.. Hawley said the United States was the
only civilized government in the world that
old not allow itself to be sued. vet insisted
on suing its own citizens without regard TO
time. He cited g case OF citizen sued by
the United States sixteen years after the clos
ing OF the accounts Of an officer for whom
ne had been securitv
cOlored exs0ldiers OF fhe Union,
many of whom were, by this bill. given only
three years to file their claims. while persons
not soldiers were given six years.
Mr.. Hear thought three years enough for
twenty years.
Mr. Harrison thought ex soldiers should
be allowed six years.
Mr.. Sh, nan offered an amendment pro-
vidiDg that the act should not apply to
bonds or other securities of the United
States.
Mr.. Hoar offered en- amendment e1ciad-
ing also from the operation of the act the
claim of any State against the United States.
Mr.. Dolph said it was impossible to pass
today bill OF so much importance, and
moved for an executive session. Agreed TO,
and the Senate, without action On the bill,
went into executive session, aud when the
doors were reopened I'D 0uraed.
Before adjournment a message from the
House announced q Disagreement with the
Senate on the agricultural appropriation
bill. The Senate insietsd UPON its amend.
ments and the Chair appointed a conference
c0mmittte.