Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1885-02-13
FORTY-EiGHTH CONGRESS-,
sen ATE.
WASHINGTON. Feb. |

luton authorizing the President TO return IL
the government of Great Britain the steamer
Alert, with the thanks of the United States
The resolution offered yesterday by Mr..
ingalls, relating to the electoral count, was
referred without comment to the committee
on privileges and elections.
resolution was adopted authorizing the
president OF the Senate to appoint a commit
tee TO make the necessary arrangements for
the Inauguration of the President-elect on the
4th of March.
Bv unanimous consent the bill to forfeit
the Texas Pacific land grant was restored to
Its place among the special orders.
MIR. Wilson took the floor and spoke at
some length upon the bill on the quit titles
of the Des Mones river settlers.
The chair announced the committee this
morning authorized TO be appointed to make
arrangements for the Inauguration, consisted
of Messrs. Sherman. Hawley and Ransom.
At o'clock the Des Moines river title bill
was displaced by the bill repeating the pre-
emption and timber culture laws
MIR. Vest felt warranted in declaring that
there had been stupendous speculation in pub
lie lands, on the part OF she men who hoped
TO come in and pose as innocent .'purchss-
ers on the pas sage of a bill like that now
before the Senate.
WI. L amer >alu tnat he Da1 no uOuDt spec
ulators and lumbermen invested in the lands
but those were not the men that he was seek
ing to relieve. The men he wanted to help
poor farmers who had put their sweat and
toll into their lands.
Mr.. Vest said that he could not vote for a
bill that would include in its measures of re-
lief, men who had banded together and
massed their capital TO buy public lands upon
speculation. Titles of spectators acquired
in contravention of the law ought not TO be
confirmed.
Pending debate on the amendment offered
by Mr.. Morgan, joint resolution was sub
mitted by Mr. Van Wyck for reference TO the
committee on public lands, providing it shall
be unlawful for any railroad company claim
ing an interest in any grant of land in the
United States to sell, or offer to sell, or mort
gage or pledge any of such lands while bill
for the forfeiture of the same is pending in
either House of Congress, or before patent,
in conformity with the law, shall have been
issued for the same and any person or per-
sons selling or offering to sell or mortgage
or pledge such lands, shall be guilty of mis-
demeanor, and on conviction shall be fined in
a sum not exceeding 81 900 or imprisonment
not more than one year. The resolution " ss
referred as suggested by Mr.. Van Wyck
The bill to repeal the preemption and tim
Der culture laws was then, on motion of Mr.
Allison. temporarily laid aside and the army
appropriation bill taken up. The bill was
read by sections, and the Senate committees
amendments were adopted, and the bill was
read three times and passed
The chair laid before the Senate the un-
finished business, it being the bill for the re-
peal of the preemption and timber culture
laws.
The amendments to the bill being com
pleted it was read the third time and passed
Yeas, 26; nays, 20.
Mr.. Edrnunds voted with the democrats
publicans for it.
The chair then laid before the Senate the
bill to forfeit the Texas Pacific land grant
Mr. Blair attempted to bring up the anti
foreign contract labor bill, but on learning
this would dsplace the forfeiture bill Mr..
Van Wyck declined to yield.
On motion of Mr.. Harrison the Senate at
$50 went into executive session and five
minutes later adjourned.
HOUSE.
In the opening prayer this morning, the
chaplain of the House invoked divine protec-
ton upon him who had been elected Presi-
dent, and beseached God to direct him in the
ways of wisdom.
A resolution providing that on and after
Monday next the House meet at IL o'clock,
was adopted.
The Senate amendments to the consular
and diplomatic appropriation bill, were non
concurred in.
After the expiration of the hour allowed
under special rule, Nathan F. Dixon of
Rhode Island appeared at the bar Of the
House and took the oath of office as represent
a..
Mr. Tucker of Virginia, from the commit
tee on judiciary, reported a bill providing for
the payment of judgments rendered by the
supreme court in the District of Columbia,
in the case of Hallett- t-kilbourne against J. G.
Thompson; referred to a committee of the
whole.
A motion that at the close of today's pro
ceedings the House shall take a recess until
10 o'clock tomorrow, was agreed to.
The House at l 80 went into committee of
the whole on the post Office bill
On motion of Mr.. Hancock of Texas, the
Senate amendments to the pension appropria-
ton bill were non-concurred in.
The House proceeded to the consideration
of business under special rules.
After some debate the new legislation con-
cerning railroad mail compensation was
stricken from the bill.
fen1l0g tne UeDdtP on Ine Amendment DN
Mr.. Horr of Michigan, that gentleman took
occasion to saw that the President who had
been elected for the next four years bad not
called upon him for advice as to his admins
tration or as to the composition of his csbi-
net, but if he was called upon he would be
able to say to Cleveland that there vas one
man in the democratic party (referring to
Mr.. Morey Of Mississippi who understood
this posto flee business and had shown that
fact in this debate. He Mr.. Horn was glad
to find one democrat who not only understood
it, but who was willing to stand up and say
so to the House.
Mr.. Bayne Of Pennsylvania, arraigned the
democrats for deliberate attempts to force an
extra session by proposing new legislation
on appropriation bills, when the Senate had
already given notice that it would strike il
out. Why was it done? He could not see
any other purpose than that the democratic
members of the House should be here when
the President took his seat in order that they
might make applications for Office, and thus
obviate the necessity of pilgrimage from their
homes.
After further debate. Mr. Horr's amend
ment, which which was that the aLpropria-
ton for inland mail transportation be fixed at
sl4 ,0l0,0 900, and that 81, ,765, 900 be aPpropri-
ated for the railway post Office car service,
was adopted.
An amendment by Mr.. Nichols of Georgia,
appropriatlne S266,764 for necessary and
special facilities on trunk lines WAS adopted.