The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1885-03-12
THE WORLD AT LARGE.
4. Summary Of the Daily News
CONGRESSIONAL.

In the Senate on March a communica-
ton was received from the Secretary of the
Interior in response to an inquiry from the
Senate calling for copies of certain reports
of Inspectors of the Land-ofice, which re-
ports, ii was stated, exposed great land
frauds in New Mexico involving the integrity
of the Register of the Land-office in Santa Fe,
and persons in still higher places. The Sundry
Civil bill was reported and Immediately
taken up for consideration, and thG whole
day devoted to the bill. An amendment was
made appropriating $4,000 for public build
ing at Fort Scott Kan, and after midnight
the bill was read a third time and passed. a
conference report on the Indian Appropria-
fiOn bill was submitted-.-.1n the House
Mr.. Randall, from the Committee on Approprl-
ations, reported back the Naval Appropria-
tiOn bill with the Senate amendments, recon-
Inending concurrence in some and non-con-
:urrence in others. Mr. Mills moved to sus-
pend the rules and and adopt the resolution
that 1.-The committee appointed to arrange
for the inaugural ceremonies having de-
clined TO give to Representatives in Congress
their proper place. we will decline to take
part in any of said ceremonies at the Cap
itoI." This provoked a lengthy discussion
but was voted down. The Iowa contested
election case of Frederick VS.. Wilson was
then taken up ana the fun commenced.
After sitting until four o oclock in the morn
ing recess was taken until nine o'clock.
THE Senate on the Sd, in session of the
day before, refused to recede from its amend
ments to tie Indian Appropriation bill and
Also INSISTED on lIS amendments 10 I0c sun
dry Civil bill. After further debate On the
Indian bill in relation to the Oklahoma lends,
the Senate adjourned, and the legislative
day of the Sd commenced, and the General
Deficiency bill was taken up. The House bill
continuing an appropriation of S5,OOOOO for
river and haTbOr improvements was slightly
amended and passed. A resolution of thanks
10 Hon. George +. Edmunds, President of
the Senate, was unanimously adopted The
Senate then agreed to the new conference
on the Indian bill. and adopted the House
x-fSfn in ar1 to fhs rlalr annG
This provision favors the opening of the
lands to settlement. The House bill for the
return of the Chinese Indemnity Fund was
passed without debate, and the House
pension bills taken up for pasSage.....In
the House new conference committee
Tas appointed on the Sundry Civil bill The
<ouse refused to concur in the Senate
amendment to the POst-office Appropriation
bill relative TO the ocean mail transports.
The report of the Committee on the Pension
Appropriation bill was adopted. The House
finally receded from its disagreement to all
Eenatc amendments, and as finally agreed to
the bill appropriates S6j,0OOOOO. The De
fciency Appropriation bin was received
from the Senate. The Senate amendments
were non-concurred in. and n new commit
tee appointed. At midnight the conference
report on the Indian Appropriation bill was
submitted and agreed to. At two o'clock in
the morning the House was still discussing
the disagreement on the POst-ofiice Appro-
priation bill.
In the Senate on the 4th a committee
was appointed to act with like committee
from the House to inform the President that
the two Houses were ready to adjourn. A
message was received from the House that
that body had passed the Senate bill author
iZing the President to place one person Gen
eral Grant, on the retired list of the army
A communication was received from the
President nominating Ulysses S. Grant to be
General on the retired list, with full pay of
such rank and in open Senate the nomina-
ton was unanimously confirmed. The Sem
ate reccded from its amendment to the Post
Office Appropriation bill, the House having
agreed to all except one amendment. The
final conference report on the Deficiency
bill was agreed to. The President
of the United States, President-elect
and Nice-President-elect having entered
the chamber, the presiding officer admins
tered the oath of Office to Vice-President
Hendricks and adjourned the Senate sine die,
and Mr.. Hendricks Immediately called il to
order in extra session Sc The House, after
being in session all night finally agreed to
all the appropriation bills on which the two
houses had been disagreeing, and after pass
ing vote of thanks to Speaker Carlisle, the
bill retiring General Grant was called
up and passed. The Iowa contested election
case was decided in favor of Frederick. At
twelve O'Clock the House adjourned sine die.
EXTRA SESSION.
In extra session on the 9th the Senate
unanimously confirmed the Presidents Cab
met nominations. Senator Van Wyck offered
q resolution that the Secretary of the In
terror be directed to inform the Senate
whether patents have been issued for lands
granted in 1871 to the New Orleans, Baton
Rouge & Vicksburg, popularly known the
backbone" Railroad, If so for what num-
ber of acres. to what corporation or
sndiyidual, whose receipt was taken for
Ihe same, when signed, whether un-
usual means were used to hasten the
preparation and execution of said patents:
whether the clerical force employed worked
nights and Sunday so they might be com
plcted before March 4, what day they were
ready for the signature of the President, |
what necessity existed for any special eXer-
tion to secure their completion and sigma !
ture before the 4th day of March, and whether |
anything was done to protect actual settlers |
in their rights to such lands. Also whether |
previous to the 4th of March, anything was !
done or written in regard,to any other I'M I
earned land grants The resolution went |
over to Monday, to which day the Senate ad- |
jOurned.