Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-02-13
IN SENATE AND HOUSE.
Georgia Representatives Take Part IL
the Postal Appropriations Debate.

Georgia Representatives Take Part in
the Postal Appropriations Debate.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 12.-In the Senate
to-day Mr.. Miller, of California. reported
from the Committee on Foreign Relations,
and the Senate passed the original joint
resolution authorizing the President to
return to the government of Great Britain
the steamer Alert, with the thanks of the
United States.
The Chair announced as the committee this
morning authorized to be appointed to make
the necessary arrangements for the coming
inauguration, Messrs. sherman, Hawley and
Ransom.
At l O'Clock the bill repeating the pre-
emptlOn and timber culture laws was taken
up and a long discussion followed.
Other business was laid aside, and the army
appropriation bill taken up. 1t appropriates
81, ,949,052, being 81, ,437 less than the esti
mates, S5o5,397 less than the appropriations
made for the current year. and $4,000 less
than tile amount of the House bill. The bill
was read by sections, and the Senate commit
tees amendments were adopted without de-
bate except the last one, which strikes out the
provision of the House bill permitting courts
martial TO sit at their own discretion as to
hours of session. This amendment was dis
cussed and finally agreed to. Its eff ect is to
leave the existing law on this subject un-
changed. The bill was then read the third
time and passed.
and timber culture laws was taken up, the
pending question being upon an amendment
offered by Mr.. Morgan providing for settle
ment Of all conflicting claims by the Interior
Department, and giving bona fde settlers,
under the homestead and pre-emption laws,
preference over previous entries made at
81 25 per acre.
A modification of Mr.. Morgan's amendment
offered by Mr.. Harrison was accepted by Mr..
Morgan providing that United States courts
should also have jurisdiction over conflicting
claims. Mr.. MOrgan's amendment thus modi-
fed was agreed to by a vote of 2S to IA.
An amendment offered by Mr.. Sherman
was agreed to, providing that no public lands
not heretofore offered at public sale be sub
jected to private sale, except military reser-
vatiOn and mineral land. The amendments
to the bill being completed, it was read the
third time and passed by vote of s6 yeas to 20
nays, MIR. Edmunds voting with the Demo-
Gratis against the bill, and Mr.. Brown with the
Republicans for it. The Chair then laid before
the Senate the bill which was this morning
restored TO the list OF special orders, namely,
the bill to forfeit the Texas Pacific land grant.
Mr.. Blair attempted to bring up the anti-for-
eign contract labor bill, but on learning that
this would displace the forfeiture bill, Mr..
Van Wyck declined to yield. After an execu-
tive session, the Senate adjourned.
IN THE HOUSE.
In the House to-day Mr.. Randall from the
Committee on Rules, reported resolution pro-
viding that on and after Monday next the
daily hour Of meeting Of the House shall be
IL o'clock. 1t was adopted
ON motion of Mr.. Burns, the Senate amend
ments to the consular and diplomatic apprO-
priatiOn bill were nOn-cOncurred in and
Messrs. Burnes, TOwnshend and Washburn
we're appointed conferees.
+ ON motion of Mr. Hancock, the Senate amend
mepts to the pension appropriation bill were
non-concurred in and Messrs. Hancock, Fol-
LETT and Washburn were appointed con-
ferees The House then proceeded to consid-
Grafton of business under the special rule.
Mr.. Willis moved that at the close OF to-
da,-5c eaesiOn the House shall take recess
untiI 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 approprlat-
ing 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 Office appropriation bill.
The paragraphs relating to the change OF
the method Of compensating railroads for mail
transportation having been read, Mr.. Blount,