The Indianapolis sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1880-1904, 1885-02-13
PROCEEDINGS In CONGRESS-.
The Des Moines River Bill to Perfect
Titles Passed By the Senate After
Long Debate.
The House Spends the Greater Part
Of the Day Wrestling With
Postoffice Affairs.
FORTY.EIGHTH CONGRESS.
The Senate.

i've to notify Cleveland and Hendricks OF
their election.
On molten of Mr.. Garland il was referred
to the Committee on Privileges and Elec-
tons. He said the phraseology OF tbs rsso-
luton needed looking at.
The Senate passed the original Joint reso-
luton authorizing he President to return to
the Government OF Great Britain the
steamer Alert, with the thanks OF the
United States.
The resolutions offered yesterday by
Messrs- Ingalls, and Hoar, relating to the
electoral count were, on motion of Mr..
Hoar, referred, without comment, to the
Committee on Privileges and Elections
resolution offered by Mr.. Sherman was
agreed to, authorizing the President of the
Senate to appoint committee OF three SEN
ators to make the necessary arrangements for
The Inauguration of the Presidentelect.
Mr.. Van Wyck inquired of the Chairman
why the bill to forfeit the Texas Pacific land
grant had been displaced from its position at
the head of special orders. He said the bill
mad net been considered by the Senate, bat
whether by mistake Of the Clerk or tor some
disappeared from the special orders.
The Chairman Mr.. Edmunds) said it was
owing to no mistake OF the Clerk. The bill
had been placed before the Senate as a spe.
cisl order IN a technical form, and the SEN
ate, by vote, refused to consider it and
proceeded 70 consider another bill. That re
fusal, the Char said, under the constant rul
ings OF presiding officers Of the Senate, sent
the bill back to the general calendar, and il
ceased to be special order.
Mr.. Van Wyck asked unanimous consent
that the bill be restored 10 it's place among
the special orders. He doubted very mucs
whether Senators, when they decided to take
up the Silver bill. thought they were displac-
ing the Texas Forfeiture bill.
The CHAIR said 1t was In order for any SEN
ator, at any time after the morning business
to move TO proceed to the consideration OF
any bill on the calendar.
Mr.. Ingalls, did not think the Senats had
been properly advised At 10 the interpret
ton Of the rule when it displaced the bill
Mr.. ingalls, had supposed the bill, once
placed among the special orders, remained
there till disposed of. he did not speak
complsiningy, but felt satisfied that il had
not been the purpose OF Senate 10 displacs
the Forfeiture bill.
Mr.. VanWycks request for the unani.
nous consent was acceded to, and the bill
ordered restored to its place among tine
special orders.
The bill to quiet the titles of Des Moines
River settlers was then taken up.
The Chair announced as the committee to
make the necessary arrangements for the
coming Inauguration, Messrs. Sherman,
Hawley and Ransom.
At o'clock the Des Moines River Titles
bill was displaced by the bill repeating the
presumption and timber culture laws
Mr.: Vest read letter from gentleman
residing in Michigan, whom, he said, he did
not know, bat whose responsibility had been
vouched for by q Senator from Michigan.
This letter stated that the bill introduced by
Senator Palmer, apparently for the benefit
OF bona fide purchasers OF public lands WASH not
in reality in their interest, bat in the interest
OF persons who, through collision with Gov
eminent land agents, nave been enabled to
buy great tracts OF public lands at private
sale, contrary TO the law, and thus getting for
sL25 an acre land worth S25 aud 500 an
acre. With the letter we're newspaper clip
pings Stating that Bernhard. Hill and Free.
man, OF Grand Rapids; Case aud Mckinney,
of-Marquette, and others, no@ in Washing
ton, owned 100, 900 acres of these lands
Who ever heard Mr. Vest asked, lot
people bnyiDg 100, 900 acres of public land
without knowing what they were buying?"
With no personal knowledge OF the facts,
Mr.. Vest felt warranted in declaring;this had
been stupendous speculation in public
lands on the part OF men who hoped to come
IN and pose as innocent purchasers" on the
passage Of bill like that now before the
Senate
Mr.. Palmer ssi6 no doubt spectators and
lumber men had invested in lands but these
were not the men that Palmer was seeking
TO relieve. The men he wanted to help were
poor famers. who had put their sweat ana
loil into their lands. The amendment of
Palmer now pending to the bill. would con-
firm and declare valid the titles to lands
withdrawn from sale by reason o; railroad
grants, where lands have been reduced in
price to 81 % per acre and purchased in good
faith, without the lands having been offered
AZ public auction. A cloud, Palmer said,
had come over the titles OF a vast number
of honest Woodworking land owners in
the northern half Of the lower PENN
sula of Michigan. They had bought
lands honestly, and paid taxes on
them for twenty years and were nov liable
10 have their lands taken from them by
bounty jumpers, and jumpers and jscksls OF
every kind. AS to the letter read by Vest
he lPalmer) knew its writer 10 be q respect
sble man. but he could not conceive wins.
"animus" had caused the letter to be writ
ten, unless Il was some private pique. He
lPalmer) hoped the matter would be
thoroughly followed up, and il II wssyae had
bad no doubt that his view would be con-
hrmed. He, for his part, was ready TO al
swer every question relating to his amend
ment without hesitation or delay.
Mr.. Vest said he could not vote for bill
that would include in its measures OF re-
lief men who had banded together and
massed their capital 10 buy public lands on
speculation. He would be always ready to
vote a confirmation OF title in a case Of bona
fde homesteaders. The title of spectators
acquired IN conformation OF law ought not
to be confirmed.
Mr.. Conger said the measure would relieve
thousands of poor men. and If in doing that
il helped also a few rich men, he (Congsrl
would not only on that account vote against
it. 1t would help poor men to protect
themselves against rapacious land sharks.
Dir Vest said that where lumbermen had
bought lands that turned out poor specu-
lstion they could not claim to be relieved by
Congress 1t would be like the claims OF the
stock gambler asking relief from Congress
because stocks were a shade Gown.
Palmers amendment was agreed to-yeas
25; nays %.
Mr.. Morgan offered an amendment pro-
vlcfnp for the eeffleunaut of all uosffona of