Morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven [Conn.]) 1848-1894, 1885-02-25
4Sth Congress- Second Session.
WASHINGTON. Feb. "a.

SENATE.-The question of Mr.. Allison 3
dual credentials from the provisional and
regularly organized Iowa legislatures was re-
ferred to the next Congress.
Mr. Cullom presented a memorial from the
legislature of Illinois for settlement of the
Oklahoma difficulty. This suggested the
taking up and passing of the bill offered by
Mr.. Dawes, authorizing the President to ne
kee Indians for the sale of their unused
lands
The naval appropriation bill was laid be-
fore the Senate and referred to the Commit
tee on Appropriations
It was agreed to take up the pension bills
on the calendar under the five minutes rule.
One was SO taken up and passed, but on the
next motion to consider was lost.
The Senate then became sntangled in
somewhat nl-tempered wrangle over the
order Of precedence of House bills or Senate
bills, which was finally adjusted by an
agreement to take up in their order all the
pension bills that were favorably reported,
whether House or Senate bills.
Among long list of pension bills thus
taken up and passed was Senate bill grant
ing pension to Mrs. Caroline Brainard
Thomas, widow of one of the victims of the
Modoc massacre.
On motion of Mr.. Cockrs1l the Senate
passed the House bill providing for the set
Element OF the claims of officers and enlisted
men for loss of private property destroyed in
the military service of the United States
through no fault of their own.
Mr.. Cockrel1 called up the House bill linn
iting the time for the presentation and pay
ment of claims against the United States.
Pending discussion of this bill the Senate at
ADO went into executive session and at 5:45
adjourned.
HoUsE-Mr. Randall of Pennsylvania,
moved to go into Committee of the Whole
on the deficiency appropriation bill, which
was antagonized by Mr.. Willis, of Kentucky,
who desired to call up the river and harbor
bill, and the yeas and nays were ordered, re-
sulting in victory for the river and harbor
bill. MIR. Henderson, of Illinois, addressed
the House on his appeal from the decision of
the chair ruling out the Hennepin canal
clause on point of order. After discussion
the House finally at 2:45 p. m. sustained the
decision of the chair, 100 to 95.
The reading of the bill was then contin-
ued. Mr.. Browne, of Indiana, moved to
strike out the second section of the bill look
ing to the requirement of State or private
improvements on which tolls are charged,
and took occasion to call attention to his
prophecy of some years ago that the proposed
lower Mississippi improvement would prove
eto be a stupendous failure, which he said
seemed now to be pretty generally admitted.
To put limit to the debate, Mr.. Willis
moved that the committee rise, which mo-
ton was carried.
In the House series of dilatory motions
were interposed by Messrs. White, of Ken
lucky, and Anderson, of Kansas After
half an hours delay compromise was eff
fected and half an hour allowed for debate
on the second section.
After debate the motion and amendment
were rejected.
Mr. White attempted to offer an amend
ment to the third section, but the clerk read
ing rapidly had begun the next section be-
fore he could obtain the chairn1an's atten-
ton and his amendment was ruled too late.
Mr.. White earnestly and persistently re-
sisted what he termed Being deprived of the
floor amid much confusion and many pro-
tests from the friends of the bill, considera-
BILE time being consumed in the squabble.
Mr.. White appealed from the decision of the
chair, but the appeal was overruled.
Mr. Holman, of Indiana, offered an amend
ment restricting the operations of the Missis-
sippi river below Cairo to the work on Plumb
Point and Lake Providence reaches to the
mourning any further outlay: adopted, 164
to "a.
MI Hepburn, of Iowa, offered further
amendment that the Secretary of War shall
withhold sufficient sum from contractors
until it be satisfactorily shown that the
laporsrs have been paid; adopted.
The fifth section, providing harbor com
mission, was read and met with storm of
objections and finally went over on a point
of order.
Mr. Holman, of Indiana, offered new
section providing that the money appropri-
ated by the bill be expended under the direc-
ton of the Secretary of War and upon plans
approved by him; adopted, ayes 1873, nays
81
Mr.. Coolh of Iowa. offered an amendment
like Mr. Holman's, that the money appropri-
ated for the Mississippi commission should al
so be expended under the direction of the Sec
rotary of War; adopted, 115 to 80.
There were numberless amendments Of
fered to the section providing for surveys
which were generally adopted. The bill
was reported to the House, the previous
question ordered on the bill and amend
ments and at TAO p. m. the House adj
journed.