The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-01-29
THE HOUSE.
A Feeble Attempt to Secure the Passage Of
q Bill FORGETTING o Land Grant

A Feeble Attempt to Secure the Passage of
q Bill FORGETTING q Land Grant
WASHINGTON, Jan. 28.-Mr. Clay, from the
committee on presidential laws. reported a con-
current resolution providing that the two houses
shalt assemble in the hall of the House, at noon,
on the 18th of February, 1885, pursuant to the
requirements of the Constitution and laws rela-
tive to election of President and Vice president
or the United States, and the president of the
Senate shall be the presiding officer: that one
person shall be appointed teller on the part of
the Senate, and two as tellers on the pert of the
House, 20 make a list of votes as they shall be
declared; that the result shall be delivered to
the president of the Senate, who shall Announce
the state of the vote and the persons elected by
the two houses assembled, as aforesaid, viii CHI
shalI. be deemed a declaration Of the persons
elected President and Vice-president.
Mr.. Reed made a point of order that the sub
jeos- matter of the resolution had never been re-
ferred to a committee, and the point having been
sustained by the Speaker, Mr.. Clay asked leave
to have it referred.
To this Mr.. Reed objected, in order that he
might have opportunity to examine the resolu-
tion.
The following bills were introduced and re-
ferred:
By Mr.. Curtain: appropriating $25, 900 for ex-
periments with American made steel armor for
Eaval vessels
BY Mr.. Patton: To promote the efficiency of
the army by the voluntary retirement of officers
who entered the service during the late war.
Mr.. Page offered a resolution reciting that no
official notification had been made to the House
of the resignation of j. S. Robinson, now Secre-
tary of State of Ohio, as representative from
the Ninth District of Ohio. and directing the
committee on elections to investigate and report
upon the status OF Mr.. Robinson as a member Of
this House. Adopted.
Mr.. Slocum, from the committee on military
affairs, reported back the resolution requesting
the President to transmit to the House a copy of
khe recent appeal of Fitz John Porter, together
with accompanying papers.
Mr.. Steele moved to lay the resolution on the
table. Lost-59 to 116-and the resolution was
then passed-yeas 179, nays II.
The Speaker laid before the House a message
from the President transmitting a commuuica-
ton from the Secretary of the Navy recommend
ing action by the government in recognition OF
services, official and personal, extended in Rus
STA to the survivors OF the Jeanette, and to the
search parties subsequently to Siberia. Re
ferred.
Mr.. Holman presented the conference report
on the six months naval appropriation bill, which
was agreed to.
Mr.. Cox. of North Carolina, presented the Gre
Fifth district of North Carolina, to succeed A.
NJ. Scales, and Mr.. Reed took the oath Of Office.
The morning hour was dispensed with, and Mr..
Hewitt, Of New York, moved that the House go
InIO COlumlIUeG OI JnC " " Viz PuTHOoo VI
considering the bill to carry into effect the Mex
loan treaty. Lost-yeas 81, nays 10.
A contest then arose as to the precedence of
business. Mr.. Singleton pressed the library bill,
Mr. Townsend presented the claims of the Mex
lean pension bill. Mr.. Stockslager thought the
public buildings measures entitled to considera-
ton, MI. Hunt suggested it was time the House
should take action on the bill for encouragement
Of the American merchant marine, which had
been a special order for nearly a year, and Mr..
Henley wished to take up the Northern Pacific
land forfeiture.
On motion of Mr.. Henley the House proceeded
yeas 139, nays 105-to consider the land grant
bills on the calendar. The first bill on the cal
endar was one to declare the forfeit of certain
land in Michigan granted in aid of construction
of railways. The question of consideration
raised, and the House refused-yeas S3. nays
1872 to consider the bill. A similar question
was raised against the next bill to forfeit the
Marquette and Ontonagon land grant, and the
House refused-yeas so, nays 16l-to consider
this measure.
Mr.. Willis, from the committee on rivers and
harbors, reported the river and harbor appropria-
tion bill, which was referred to the committee
on rivers and harbors.
In ommitt of the whole Mr.. McComas Of
fered u resolution, which was adopted, reciting
that Julius r. Santos, an American citizen, who
was long an instructor in the Univer-
elty Of Virginia-but recently a mer-
chaat In Bahia, had been imprisoned
III that country since Nov. s, 1884, for alleged
completely in rebellion; his speedy execution is
apprenended, and it is alleged that he is inno-
CENT and the resolution desires the Secretary of
State 70 inform the House what measures have
been taken and what further action he intends
TO take to secure his release or the speedy trial
of Santos.
Mr. Van Eaton then submitted various fill
clustering motions to adjourn, to adjourn over,
end TO take q recess, and several roll calls were
taken. During one of the calls Mr.. Bland asked
II it would be in order to read the platforms pre-
pared at both the Republican and Democratic
as1"1 - sa,ernf fanss;t,.n .no pianh'
land grants Finally, after successive r~oll-calls,
the House adjourned.