Morning journal and courier., 1885-02-13
18th Congress- Second Session.

committee of the two houses to officially in
form Grover Cleveland and Thomas A. Hen
bricks OF their election respectively was,
on motion of Mr. Garland, who thought the
phraseology should be changed, referred to
the Committee on Privileges and Elec-
lions.
The joint resolution authorizing the Presi-
dent to return to the government of Great
Britain with thanks the Arctic relief steamer
Alert, and one authorizing the loan of tents
to the association of the Red Cross for use at
New Orleans, were passed.
At II 40 the resolution introduced yester-
day by Mr.. Ingalls, dissenting from President
Edmunds' manner of announcing the result
of the electoral contest, well as Mr..
Hoar's resolution on the same subject, were
taken up. Senator Hoar quickly moved
their reference to the Committee on Privi-
lsges and Elections. The motion prevailed,
so that contrary to general expectation the
threatened discussion of the old and unset
tied question as to the right of the Vice
President to declare authoritatively the result
of the counting of the electoral votes was
temporarily averted.
A resolution was adopted authorizing the
appointment of a committee on the part OF
the Senate to make necessary arrangements
for inauguration
Mr. Dolph's bill to repeal presumption and
timber culture laws then came up unfn-
ished business, the immediate question under
consideration being the amendment of Mr..
Palmer proposing to legalize the patents to
lands purchased in good faith where such
ands had not been proclaimed by the Fresi-
dent at public auction. After considerable
discussion vote taken on the amend
ment and it was adopted; yeas 25, nays 90
Mr.. Ingalls, resolution dissenting from Mr..
Edmunds' manner of announcing the cleo
toral count was, motion of Mr.. Hoar, re-
ferred.
The bill to repeal presumption and timber
culture laws was taken up. Mr.. Palmer's
/ L L..
public lands in Northern Michigan dis
| cussed.
Mr.. Morgan offered an amendment intend
| ed to qualify Mr.. Paimers amendment, but
pending discussion of this the bill was laid
| aside temporarily and the army appropria-
| ton bill reported by Mr.. Allison was read
the first time
| Discussion of Mr.. Morgan's amendment
was then resumed It proposes to secure to
homesteaders and p1e-empters their rights
| and an adjudication in their favor as against
previous purchasers of these Michigan lands.
| Messrs. Conger and Dolph opposed it as un-
necessary and superhuous.
Mr.. Morgan in the course of the debate in
| timated that some of those who favored Mr..
| Palmer's amendment and opposed the amend
| ment offered by himself wanted to protect
| spectators who had pre-empted large tracts
of this land against bona fide homesteaders
| who subsequently put in valid entries
Mr. Conger responded quite warmly that
| it was very unfortunate for any Senator to
| call in question the argument or reasoning of
| the Senator from Alabama. Such an unfor-
| tunate was sure to fall into personal at
| tack. No Senator, said he, who advocated
the measure favored spectators and the in
| situation was unworthy of its author and
the place where it was made.
| This ended the discussion and Mr.. Nor
| CANS amendment was adopted, % to IA.
Mr.. Sherman offered amendment which
was adopted, providing that hereafter no
public lands not heretofore offered at public
sale except abandoned military or other
reservations and mineral and other lands,
the sale of which at public auction has been
authorized by acts of Congress, shall be sold
at public sale or be subject to private en-
| try.
The bill as amended was then passed, 20
to 20.
At 5 p. m. the Senate went into executive
session, confirmed the nomination of Ed
| ward J. Curtis to be secretary of Idaho and
| then adjourned.
HoUsE-The House agreed to meet at II a.
N. On and after Monday. The Senate's
| amendments to the consular and diplomatic
appropriation bill and to the pension appro-
7priation bill were non-concurred in. The bill
for 5000, 900 public building at Detroit was
passed. The limit of the appropriation for q
public building at Erie, Pa, was increased
from $50, 900 to $3.50, 900.
up. The pending proposition was the amend
ment proposed by Mr.. Skinner. of New
York, extending the free delivery system to
places having over ten thousand Inhabitants
with postal revenues in excess of SIC, 900;
ruled out point of order.
There was a long discussion on a point of
order against the clause providing for the
compensation of railroads for carrying the
mails by space and speed instead of weight,
which the chair finally overruled.
e L
point, appealed from the decision of the
chair and the decision not sustained
yeas SO, nays 94-and the clause went out on
the point of order.
In order to harmonic the bill in accord
with this action the committee went back
out $15:200,000 for inland mail ser
vice and inserting $14,O1O,O0O and
adding for postal car service
81, 765 200. In the discussion of the amend
ment Mr.. Bayne, of Pennsylvania, attacked
the Committee on Appropriations, charging
that their action looked like contrived plan
to force extra session. They had in the
face of repeated promises to the contrary de-
layed bringing in the appropriation bills and
had engrafted in every one general legislation,
although they had notice from the Senate
that that body would not consider such por-
tions of the bill. It looked to him like
a determined purpose to bring about
an extra session-perhaps that they
might create new offices for their new Presi-
| dent to fill.
Mr. Observation-Disclosures the river and har-
Dor bill out of the way and there will be no
| danger of an extra session." Mr. Town
shend defended the committee from the at
tack made by Mr.. Bayne He said there
} were now two important bills before the
House which had been delayed by the river
and harbor bill and the Senate had now two
appropriation bills which it had not consid
| arad CO the Horsa cornmitfAa cou1d not h
charged with delaying the appropriation bills
| in the Senate.
) During Mr. To&nshends remarks he was
interrupted by cries of f'Vote, VOTE" "Vote
vote, and Mr.. Brown, of Indiana, asked
, | parliamentary question, eff the committee
| talked all the time and did not vote at all
would not they avoid an extra sessions
: Laughter.
, Mr.. Nichols, of Georgia, offered an amend
ment appropriating 1866, 764 for necessary
and special facilities on trunk lines, which
| after debate on point of order was adopted
, Mr.. Horn, of Michigan, moved to increas.
2 the appropriation for Star route service from
So, 100000 to So, 900 900; agreed to.
Mr.. Horr next moved to increase the item
) for railway postoffce clerks from 81, 49,, 3O(
l to 81, 682, 300: agreed to.
, The clause reducing the postage on news
: papers from two to one cent per pound wa.
amended verbally and agreed to and a claus,
inserted permitting the government to bic
for carrying the mails in competition will
private parties.
$ About $50 Mr.. Townshend moved re
cess until o'clock. This was resisted b,
Mr.. White of Kentucky, who moved to ad
journ and failing in that made the point tina
, no quorum had voted for a recess. A call O
l the House was ordered and the roll called
through the first time, when by unanimou
: consent recess was at 500 taken until
S o'clock.
The House spent the evening session il
discussing point of order raised by Mr.. Hol
man against proposition to pay 5000, 900
year for foreign mail service and without
e decision by the chair the House at 10 o'clocl
f took recess until tomorrow.
: The Plans For Renewing The Navy
3 WASHINGTON, Feb. 12.-The naval appro
3 priation bill has been submitted by the sub
f committee to the full committee where tn
t question of strengthening the navy is pend
9 ing. 1t is expected that conclusion will b
f reached at the meeting tomorrow mornin