Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1885-12-11
CONGRESSIONAL.
Bills TO Promote Peace Among Nations
and To open the Indian Territory.
xLrx Congress.

/ WASHINGTON, Dec. l0.--After the read
I ing OF the journal Edmuuds introduced a
bill to provide for the establishment of u
postal telegraph. Referred to the com
mittee ON postonices and post-roads.
Ia introducing the bill, Mr. Edmunds
said that the government, differing from
/ It's former position on the subject, should
/ now be willing to purchase at their actual
value the plants OF any telegraphic com.
pany that may wish to sell them TO the
! United States, such value to be appraised
I 10y some tribunal In which the govern.
mcnt mas confidence.
4 At 1850 the senate received a bulky
message from the president, believed to
I be q batch Of nominations.
Mr.. Salisbury said the committee on
postOlllces and post roads at the last
session had given the subject careful at
/ tcntion and examination, and had re-
/ ported on Il bill early as possible.
Mr.. Edmunds disclaimed any reflection
on the committee, but hoped now, that the
committee was in possession of all the
/ history of the subject and the broad facts
\ involved, they would not have to go over
the whole ground again in detail and ex-
pressed desire that the subject be
brought TO a vote as early as possible.
I ~ iNNNluLlOu ny mOiIlll MNS
agreed to directing the payment from the
contingent fund of the senate of the actual
and necessary expenses OF the senate com
mittoc appointed to attend the funeral OF
Gen. Grant.
A resolution offered by Mr.. Dolph was
agreed TO, calling ON the secretary of
war 20 transmit to the senate copy of
the report of Capt. Blxlcy of the United
States engineer corps, relating to sea-
coast Notifications In Europe In 'Sl and
'S2.
Mr.. Mcpherson presented joint reso-
luton of the legislature Of New Jersey,
recommending congressional inquiry into
the fitness of u portion of the territory OF
Alaska for the purpose Of penal colony
for long-tcrm or life.term convicts. Re
lerred to committee on territories.
Mr.. Dolph introduced n bill TO repeal
the law OF the last session providing for
the settlement of claims Of officers and
enlisted men of the army for the loss
OF private property destroyed In military
service OF theUnited States. This is the law
to which the president calls attention in
his message as "indehnite in its terms
ana as to which he says; "lf it is to re-
main in the statute book, IL needs
amendment" The bin was referred to
the committee on military affairs.
Among other bills introduced and ap-
proprately referred were the following;
BY Mr.. Plat: To relieve commercial
travellers from license taxes. The bill
makes 1t misdemeanor for any
officer of 4 state or municipal
corporation to interfere in any way with
n commercial traveller selling goods in Il
state OF which he or the merchants he
represents is not II citizen.
BY Mr. Wilson of Iowa, To promote
peace among nations. IL authorizes the
president to enter into negotiations with
other governments, with view to the
formation OF an international tribunal for
the arbitration of any difficulties that
may occur among the nations, and re-
quests him 10 invite other nations to send
delegates TO Il proposed International
peace convention to be held in Washing
ton at such time as he may Ak, and APP
proprlates 100000 for this purpose.
by Mr.. Plumbi 70 open to home
stead settlement certain portions OF
the Indian Territory, Mr. Plumb said
this measure was literal copy of
one introduced In the last congress and
passed daring the closing hours of the
session. BY that bill the president was
authorlaed-and he thought the word
"authorized' meant "requiredh- open
negotiations with the Indians for the pur-
pose of securing cesslon OF lands. II
had been expected that that would be
done during the last summer and that the
results would be reported to congress
this session. He was informed, how
ever, that no steps had been taken In
that direction and thought IL important
That some settlement OF this question
should be reached. If not settled by con
gress 1t might settle itself In way not
eredltable 10 the country. He expressed
hope that the measure would receive the
carly attention of the committee ON In
dian affairs,
by MIR. Gibson; To transfer the United
States barracks at Baton Rouge, La, to
the Louisiana State university,
by MIR. Call To reimburse the depoS-
itors OF the Freedmcn's Saving and Trust
company for the losses incurred by the
failure OF said company; also, to regulate
the suh-letting of contracts for carrying
United States mails. This bill provides
that contracts for carrying the mails shall
not be sub-et without the consent Of the
acknowledgement
by Mr. Plumb To make an additional
article of war 1t provides that any OH
Ger serving with troops, or any soldier
not on a iurlough, who ggmhles, or any
officer of the army, whether or not
serving with troops, who by gambling
shall win money from an inferior officer
shall be court-maTtlaled, and that any
posi-trader who permits gambling In his
establishment shall have his appointment
revoked. The bill makes 1t the duty OF
every commanding officer 70 enforce the
provisions Of this act. Mr.. Plumb also
introduced bill 10 grant 10 the Rio
| Gnnde and III Paso Railroad companies
right OF way 100 feet wide on such route
as the secretary OF war may designate
through the Fort Bliss military reserya.
ton IN New Mexico.
On motion OF MIR, Allison the senate
went into executive session, and when the
doors We're reopened the senate adjourned
until Monday next.
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