Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-02-13

U0U inc 44Lumlktet vi IOFc1Bu IstS8r
tons, and tho Senate passed, the origi-
nal Joint resolution authorizing the Pre-
sident to return to the Government Of
Great Britain the steamer Alert, with
the thanks Of the United States.
The resolutions offered yesterday BY
Messrs Ingalls, and Boar, relating to the
electoral count, were, ON motion Of Mr..
Hoar, referred without comment TO the
Committee on Privileges and Elections.
A resolution offered by Mr.. Sherman
was agreed to authorizing the Presi-
dent Of the Senate to appoint commit
tee of three senator's TO make the ncccs-
sary arrangements for the Inauguration
Of the Presidcnt-elect on the 4th Of
| March.
Other business was laid aside and the
army appropriation bill was taken up.
It appropriates s23, 949, 052, being e.
l6l, 437 less than the estimates $685.
397 less than the appropriations made
for the current year, and s470, 900 less
than the amount of the House bill. The
bill was read by sections, and the SEN
ate committees amendments were adopt
ed without debate, except the last one,
which strikes out the provision of the
House bill permitting courts-martial to
sit at their own discretion as to the
hours Of the session. This amendment
was discussed and finally agreed to. Its
effect is TO leave the existing law on this
subject unchanged. The bill was then
read q third time and passed.
The Chair announced as the commit
tee this morning authorized to be APP
pointed to make the necessary arrange
ments for the coming Inauguration
Messrs. Sherman, Hawley, and Ran
som.
The bill for the repeal of the pre-
emption and timber-culture laws was
taken up, the pending question being
upon an amendment offered by Mr..
Morgan providing for the settlement Of
all conflicting claims by the Interior
Department, and giving 6ona.fde set
tiers under the homestead and pre-
emption laws preference over previous
entries made at sl.25 per acre.
A modification Of Mr.. Morgan's
amendment, offered by Mr.. Harrison,
was accepted by Mr.. Morgan, providing
that United Ststes courts should have
also jurisdiction Of conflicting claims.
Mr.. Morgan's amendment thus modified
was agreed to--yeas, %; nays, IA.
An amendment offered by Mr.. Sher-
man was agreed to, providing that no
public lands not heretofore offered at
public sale shall be subjected to private
sale, except military reservation and
mineral lands.
The amendments to the bill being
completed, it was read third time and
passed--yeas, &c; nays, 20--Mr. Ed
munds voting with the Democrats
against the bill, and Mr.. Brown with
the Republicans for it.
The Chair then laid before the Senate
the bill which was this morning re-
stored to the list of special orders
namely, the bill to forfeit the Texas
Pacific Immigrant.
Mr.. Blair attempted to bring up the
anti-foreign- bill; but on
learning that this would displace the
forfeiture bill, Mr.. Van Wyck declined
to yield.
After an executive session the senate
adjourned.
Hionse Of Representatives.
In his opening prayer this morning
the Chaplain of the House invoked divine
protection upon him who has been
elected President" and beseeehed God
- to direct him in the ways Of wisdom
to grant him in health and prosperity
long to live, and, finally, after this life,
to obtain everlasting joy and felicity"
Mr.. Randall, from the Committee on
Rules, reported resolution providing
that on and after Monday next the daily
hour of meeting of the House shall be
ii O'Clock. Adopted.
On motion of MIR. Burnes the Senate
amendments to the consular and diplo-
matte appropriation bill were non-con-
CURED in, and Messrs. Burnes, Towns
bend, and Washburne appointed con-
ferrees.
On motion Of Mr.. Hancock the Sem
ate amendments to the pension appro-
priation bill were non-concurred in, and
Messrs. Hancock, Follett, and Wash
burne appointed conferrees.
The House then proceeded to the con-
sideration of business under the special
rule.
Mr.. Willis moved that at the close of
to-day's session the House shall take
recess until 10 O'Clock tomorrow.
His object, he stated, was to take up
the river-and-harbor bill at that hour.
The bill could be disposed Of in four
hours, as he proposed to ask the House
to limit the debate on the appropriating
portion of the bill TO an hour and
half. The motion was agreed to.
The House then went into Committee
of the Whole on the post-ofiice appro-
priation bill.
The paragraphs relating to the change
in the method Of compromising railroads
for mail transportation having been
read, Mr.. Blount, of Georgia, made the
point of order that while the paragraphs
contemplated change of the law, they
did not on their face rctrench expendi-
lures in any Of the ways required by
the rules.
A long debate ensued. at the con-
clusion of which the Chair oyerruled
the point Of order. The Chair was not
without a doubt as to the correctness
of its ruling, but no thought that that
doubt should be resolved in such way
as to allow the matter to be voted upon
by the committee.
Mr.. Blount appealed from the decision
of the Chair. The committee--52 to
94-refused to sustain the decision Of
the Chair, and the new legislation con-
corning railroad mail compensation was
stricken from the bill. Mr.. Horr then
moved that the appropriation for inland
mail transportation be fixed at sl4,-
Ole, 900, and that 81, 100000 be appro-
priated for the Railway Post-Ofiice Car
Service. This amendment met with
considerable opposition, but was
adopted.
Mr.. Nichols, Of Georgia, offered an
amendment appropriating $266,764 for