The Portland daily press., 1885-02-20
XLVIIIth Congress--2d Session
SENATE.

WASHINGTON, Feb. Is.
A bust of Lafayette S. Foster formerly Senator
from Connecticut and president pro tenn of the SEN
ate was presented by the widow and accepted
The committee appropriations reported the
post cfce appropriation bill. Placed on the calen-
dar.
Same committee reported with only verbal amend
ments joint resolution appropriating $4,000 to
defray the expenses of the inaugural ceremonies.
The joint resolution as amended was passed.
Mr.. Pike offered resolution which was agreed TO
calling the secretary of war for inform alton rel
ative to the improvement of the Cocheco river at
Dover N. H,
The Des Moines river land bill was then placed
before the Senate and Mr.. Lapham resumed his re-
marks on it.
Mr.. Mcpherson moved indefinite postponement Of
the bill which was rejected.
A O'Clock the bill went over and Mr., Van Wyck
called up the Texas Pacific forfeiture bill.
Consideration of the Texas Pacific forfeiture bill
was then entered upon and the committee amend
ments agreed to.
Mr.. Morgan offered an amendment similar to
that offered by HIM in the of the Atlantic and
Pacific bill providing for reference to the United
States courts of all controversies concerning the
rights and equities claimed by the United States or
by private parties in lands forfeited and Mr.. Nor
gan addressed the Senate in support of the amends
ment.
Mr.. Blair in favor of the grant being forfeit
ed subject to action of the courts. He therefore
supported Mr.. Morgan's amendment.
MIR. Edmunds taking the floor said that about the
time Judge thurman was chairman of the Judiciary
committee the matter of these forfeitures was re-
ferred to that committee and the committee re-
ported to the Senate bill which provided at one
stroke for the forfeiture of every unearned land
grant everywhere and which provided that it should
be the duty Of the attorney general to institute
suits to declare such forfeitures, to protect
from future litigation the title OF all settlers who
should come under the United States. It did not
at that time oomport with the pleasure and con-
Yenience of the Senate in the pressure of business
| to consider the BILL a circumstance Mr.. EdmnHds
regretted, as had that bill been passed all questions
now under discussion would have been disposed of
without the poor settlers as in the case of the Des
Moines people, being ground to death in the con-
test with the great corporations
Mar Morgan's amendment was rejected-yeas "a,
nays 81.
The bill having been perfected in committee of
the whole, was reported to the Senate, whereupon
again voted down. The bill was then read third
time and passed-yeas 66, nays 2. The nays were
Messrs. Blair and Bowen
The bill now goes back to the House for concur
renee orlnon-concurrence 1.-The Senate amendment.
The Senate, at 6.35 p. M, adjourned.
HOUSE.
The House met at 10 a. m. in continuation of yes
terday's session.
Mr.. Holman of Indiana, introduced a joint resolu
tion requesting the President to open negotiations
with the government of the French Republic, with
| a view of negotiating convention with that
government for the establishment of another French
and American claims commission, which Shall have
ample jurisdiction to reopen, examine and finally
| determine all claims which were filed before the
! late commission under the convention of January
| 10, 1880, between the government of the United
States and the French Republic. Referred.
| The House then went into committee of the whole
| on the river and harbor bill.
] On motion of Mr.. Clardy of Missouri. the appro-
priation for improvement of the Missi ssipp river
between the Illinois and Ohio rivers, was increased
| from $40o, 900 to $60O,00O and it was directed
that $4,000 of this shall be expended at Cape
| Girardeau.
iourned, and at IL O'Clock the session of Thursday
/ began.
The committee on elections submitted their report
on the Iowa contested election case of Frederjcks
ys. Wilson, accompanied by resolution declaring
the contestant Fredericks entitled to the seat Laid
| over for future action.
at 40 p. m. consideration of the river ana har-
| Dor bill was resumed in committee of the whole
| A large number of amendments were offered to
! the paragraph relative to the Mississippi river ap-
| preparations, but they were severally voted down
| Upon one OF them. however, the point Yves raised
| that no quorum had voted, and in accordance with
the arrangements with the appropriations committee
Mr.: Willis moved that the committee rise, which
Speaker Carlisle then took the chair. and
| Cne welcome extended him upon his return to his
othcicial duties was hearty one.
| At $50 the House went into committee on tho
| naval appropriation bill.
Mr. Curtin Of Of Penn: offered an amendment ap-
| propriating $4,000 for testing American armor
| made of American material. Adopted
| MIR. Cameron of Illinois, made point of order
against the paragraph appropriating S4OO 600 for
the completion of the New York, and the point be-
ing overruled, moved to strike out the paragraph.
To complete this old ship which had been living in
the docks for nineteen years to advance back
| ward and authorize waste of money.
| Mr.. Dlngley of Me-, supported the paragraph OF
| the bill The timber of the New York was TODAY
thoroughly seasoned and worth double as much IS It
was 10 years ago. 1t would be the height of unwisdom
to throw away this partly constructed vessel and not
complete it to be used school ship or TRANSPORT
MIR. Hewitt of New York. regretted that as the
country was about to build new navy the PROPOSE
| tion should come from the Democratic committee
to complete an old ship which, if she was struck by
of the guns of of the described ships Of 9TH
er countries. would go to the bottom.
MIR. Cox of New York, cpntended that wooden
SHIPS were necessary. Because we had artillery.
should we discard infantry? Because we had iron
clads, should we give up wooden ships?
Yes" answered Mr.. Hewitt, emphatically.
Mr.. Randall of Penn. said that the committee on
appropriations realized that powerful navy was
required, and also that these vessels which were
now unfinished, and could be made useful, should
be completed. The completion of the New York
was recommended by the secretary of the navy.
when did you become the authority to this side
OF this Hense?" inquired Mr.. Hewitt. ta4As
"Pd about as soon trust him as trust you" re-
torted Mr.. Randall.
Inc motion to strike out was lost.
Inc COMMITTEES then rose and the House took a
recess until 10 tomorrow.