Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-03-12
AT THE CAPITOL TO-DAY.
PROCEEDINGS IN THE SENATE.
CENTRAL AMERICAN AFFAIRS.
NIB. VAN WYOK'S RAILROAD RESO-
LUTON.

MIR. VAN WYOK's RAILROAD REsO-
LUTON.
Senator Manderson offered q resolution,
which he asked might be printed and lie upon
the table. 1t calls upon the Secretary Of State
for such information as the department may
have, regarding the rumored attempt Of Gen.
Rufino Barrios, president of Guatemala, to seize
upon the territory or destroy the integrity of
the republics OF Nicaragua, Honduras, San Sal
vador and Costa Rica, and to report what steps
were being taken by the government to pre-
serve the rights of the United States under ex-
1st1ng or pending treaties.
Senator George presented the credentials of
70. =. Walthall as U. $. Senator from Missis-
slpPi, VICE L. 9. Q. Lamar resigned.
MI. Waithall was escorted to the Presidents
desk by Senator George and took the oath of
Office.
MR.. VAN wYCK's RAILROAD RESOLUTION.
Mr.. Van Wyck called up his resolution offered
yesterday directing the Secretary of the In
terror and the Attorney General to take steps
to prevent the sale oflands granted to the state
of Florida to aid in the construction of rail-
roads In that state.
Mr.. Van Wyck sent to the clerks desk and
bad read letter written by H. ]. Simonton to
Hon. Thomas r. Cobb, chairman of the House
committee on public lands, setting forth the
har0ships experienced by settlers upon the
grantees.
Mr.. Van Wyck appreciated the hazards which
operatons of tha lana an ra rad 10 the rhe
Senate was informed a few days ago that Sour
rent of authority was unbrOken" in the Interior
department in legalizing the claims of the land
grant IOads. That was Undoubtedly true. This
grant was made in 1856 to construct a road.
Before 1860 they had constructed from Fer
nandlna to Cedar Keys, but over one hundred
and fifty miles of the line nothing was done. In
1875 application was made to the department
Michigan, was Secretary of the Interior. He,
with all the facts before him, returned the map
to the company and said no title remained in
Van Wyck alluded to Mr.. Chandler action as
one of the eXceptiOns-One of the bright spots in
the history of the Interior departmsnt-yet the
and therein preserved he continuity of pre-
cedents in allowing this plundering of the pub
Schurz had preserved the symmetry of the de-
partment, and that system OF dealing with the
public lands, with few exceptions, had been
grant was made in 1856 when the land
was not worth ten cents an acre. These
ana
they had done nothing upon that portion of the
proposed line in question. In the meantime
esteaders and pre-emptors had gone upon
the land and now when it had increased to five,
ten ana "a fifteen 1eea dollars an acre the grantees
ther recognize their title to the unearned lands.
MI Call said this grant covered the
there was great deal of feeling in the state
In regard to the matter He presented petitions
friar from nd OF the state praying for the for
feiture. He then reviewed the history of the
grant.
Plumb and others.
Upon motion of Senator Cameron, the Senate
at 1880, adjourned.
Capitol Topics.
NO NoMINATIoNs TODAY.
No nominations were sent to the Senate by
the President to-day. The cabinet day was
changed from Friday to Thursday and a meet
ing was held this afternoon. AS result, the
names of the Assistant Secretary of StaIe, AS
sistant Postmaster General and some other ap-
pOlntmentS OF like character are expected to be
sent in tomorrow; AS to the general policy,
with relation to the civil service, that has al
subject of conference. But there are special
cases to be considered, and the policy as to the
post offices has IA ;,. not been definitely settled,
termine to-day not to make any appointments
to postmasterships where the terms Of the
present occupants have not expired, except
where there is good grounds for removal.
POSTMASTER General Villas has practically de-
clans expect to see it carried out.
THE SENATE COMMITTEES.
The republicans completed the arrangement
of the majority membership of the Senate COM
mfttees yestesday. The democratic caucus
committee several days ago completed its work
ofarranging the minority, but the work must
be ratified by the caucus. This could not be
done until the republicans had finally acted
as the minority could not until then tell what
changes the majority might make in the way
Of abOlishing old committees creating new
ones, increasing the membership, etc. A list
Of the committee appointments made by the
republicans was sent to the democrats late YES
terday afternoon, and a democratic caucus was
called for this afternoon to receive the caucus
committees report and act upon it. SO the COM
mltteeS g
SENATOR LAMAR'S SUCCESSOR.
Gen. Walthall as the successor Of Secretary
Lamar in the Senate was sworn in to-day. He
is about five feet eight inches tall, rather sparely
built, and dresses very neatly. He wears his
hair, which is dark brown, mixed with threads
OF gray, long, and is clean shaven with the ex-
ceptiOn of mOustache. He has keen, bright
eye. Senator Walthall received very cordial
welcome from the democrats.
ACCORDING TO THE PROGRAM,
Sergcant-at-Arms Canaday, of the Senate. was
criticised in one or two papers for having taken
position near the President and President
elect on the inaugural platform. In fact he
took the position TO which he was assigned in
the program prepared by the Senate committee
and was simply carrying out his instructions.
-<U<-
District Men for District Offices
THE ATTENTION OF THE PRESIDENT TO BE
CALLED TO THIS POLICY.