Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1885-03-19
CONGRESS.


COMMUNICATIONS from the Secretary OF State.
the Secretary OF the Interior, and the Attorney
General. conveying notification Of their accept
ance OF Cabinet positions and requesting the
President OF the Senate TO 30 notify the Legis-
latures Of their respective States, were read to
the Senate on the 9TH inst. The President sent
Falrchild, OF New York, TO be Assistant Score
tary OF the Treasury; John q. Black, OF Illinois,
TO be Commissioner OF Pensions. Mr.; Van
Wyck's resolt ton making inquiry OF the Secre-
tary of the Interior regarding the issue OF
patents TO the Backbone" Railroad was taken
up. Mr.. Van Wyck detailed the mysterious o1s
that Gould and Huntington were at the
bottom OF scheme to get possession OF the
special meeting Of the Cabinet 70 legalize the
fraud; but the settlers did not have any adj
yocate there. The Cabinet did not protect
to the tender nercies OF the CORPORATION.
The whole history Of the land bu-
reau of the Interior Department
grant corporations and DEGREES OF the depart
ment in obedience thereto. When the demand
was too exacting as In this case. the opinion
of the Attorney General was sought behind
which to hide By what mysterious power,
Mr. Van Wyck asked. could this company
s and comps Se teoT Don
partment to work nights and Sundays in or
der to secure action foreclosinR CONGRESS
and the people from rending the spoiler from
his prey? Mr.. Van Wyek gave notice that the
patents issued would be contested. Ex-Secre-
tary Teller in his reply said that Mr.. Van Wyck
was a professional anti-monopolist, and that
his object was to pose before the public and to
gain notoriety. Mr.. Tellers speech was an
elaborate legal argument to show that the
Backbone" Company was entitled to the grant.
A RESOLUTION offered by Mr.. Hoar that Mr..
Blair be sworn I'm IA Senator 10 All the vacancy
from New Hampshire. was taken up in the Sem
ate ON the 10th inst, and a very long argument
4 "a IN ali fhA
Senator from New Hampshire viii not meet un-
til June next, and the debate turned upon
the point whether, In this emergency, the Gov
ernor had the right to appoint Blair to NIL the
vacancy and whether a vacancy had really oc-
| Cured which the executive could provide for.
| Nothing of particular interest was developed In
the debate except the point made by Ingalls, that
| the question at issue had Significant bearing
| upon senatorial vacancies In Illinois and Oregon
After further debate the resolution was agreed to
yeas SO, nays 20. The only departure from d.
vision upon party lines was in the case OF Jones,
OF Florida who voted in the affirmative with the
Republicans. The oath was then administered
| to Mr. Blair The Chair laid before the Senate q
memorial from the Governor OF Arizona asking
| the appointment OF fourth Judge OF the United
States District Court. Referred
THE "Backbone" resolution offered by Mr.. Van
wyck was laid before the Senate. ON the 18th
| inst, as unfinished business. Mr.. Van Wyck
said the Senator from Colorado CTeller) had gone
to New York to be absent day or two, and
|
ferred for couple OF days. Mr.. Van Wyck then
offered the following resolution, and asked that
1t lie upon the table for the present: ~Resotred,
! That the Secretary Of the Interior and the
| they are hereby directed, respectively, to take
| such action as each may deem necessary, TO pre-
| vent any sale Of the Atlantic and Gulf West
India Transit Company, or by any company or
person claiming under them, of any OF the lands
described In the act approved May II, 1856,
entitled An act granting public lands in alter
nate sections to the States OF Florida and
ma IN nj In ha nafr nQftn Of nj
| railroads in said States, 81 far as the same
| lies within the line of said railroads between
shall have aathorIsed tbe samoa U The PTesiaent
| sent To the Senate the names OF Edward ID.
| Clark, of Mississippi, to be Assistant Secretary
| OF the Interior, and Sidney ID. Jackman, 10 be
Marshal of the Western District of Texas.
| Republican Senators, at caucus, pre-
pared the allotment OF places on the
| Is to be Chairman of the Committee on POST
| offices and Post Roads, Mr.. Pike takes the chair
Of the Committee on Claims, and Mr.. Sewell
| Military Committee. Mr.. Teller is made Chair
man of the Committee Mines and Mining
and member OF the Public Lands Committee.
| Mr.. Evarts is placed upon the Jud iciary and
Foreign Relations Committees.
THE principal topic Of interest in the Senate
on the 18th inst, was the consideration of Sem
ator Van Wycks resolution, offered by him on
$500 fs.~ $685. s-"-s.
Interior and the Attorney General to take such
/
| by the Atlantic and Gulf West India Transit
Company of the lands dc scrbed in the act of Nav
~ 1856, anttng lands In alt ornate section to the
| States OF Florida and Alabama TO aid in the COM
struction of certain railroads in said States so far
as the same lie within the line of said railroads
| between Waldo and Tampa Bay, Florida, until
| Congress shall have authorized the same SEN
| ator Van Wyck said the land grant was made in
| 1856 in order That the railroads might develop
| the country; that from that time until the
| present nothing has been done in that direc:
| ton; that the land has increased from 10 cents
10 $40 and SIS per acre, and now the road
asks the Government to recognize it's title
Mr. George, of Mississippi presented the Gre
dentials of T.. G. Walthall, appointed by the
| Governor TO succeed Mr.. Lamar. After the
reading OF the credentials, Mr.. Walthall was
sworn, and took his seat. written MESA ge
was sent TO the Capitol by the President for the
| purpose OF withdrawing the Nicaraguan and
| Spanish treaties The Senate, however,. had
| adjourned.