Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-03-09
AT THE CAPITOL TO-DAY.
MR. BLAIRS CREDENTIALS DISCUSSED - THI
BACKBONE RAILROAD GRANT.

The chair laid before the Senate to-day com.
munication from the Secretary of State, being
notice that he (Mr. Bayard) had forwarded to
the legislature of Delaware his resignation of
bis position of Senator. Also, communications
from the Secretery of the Interior and the At
torney General. notifying the Senate Of their
acceptance of cabinet positions, and requesting
the President Of the Senate to so notify the
legislatures of their respective states.
THE CREDENTIALS OF MR.. BLAIR
as Senator to fill a temporary vacancy were
laid before the Senate and read.
Mr.. Vest moved that they be referred to the
committee on privileges and elections:
MIR. Edmunds objected, also did Mr.. Hoar.
Mr.. Hoar called attention to the fact that pre-
in the ease Of senator Bell, Of New Hampshire,
when the Senate decided after full discussion,
In 1avor of seating that Senator
Mr.. Edmunds said the Bell case was exactly
similar to the present, and that it had been
settled fairly and fully without party division.
Mr.. salisbury said he was aware that the
same same question arose W on a similar case rom
New Hampshire, ,.but Senators who were then
present would remember that the right of Mr..
Bell was very strongly contested, and on that
occasion, for the first time, he believed, in the
history of the Senate, it was decided that a
governor Of state might appoint Senator
under such circumstances.
MIR; Dawes suggested that the proper and
usual course was to receive the credentials and
tlons to be settled they might 60 to the commit
tee on privileges and elections.
Mr.. Vests motion was lost without division.
Mr. Hoar moved that Mr.. Blair be sworn in
Mr. Vest objected. Some discussion ensued
regarding the bearing of the rules of the Senate
upon the right Of Senator to send a motion of
this character over under objection.
Mr.. HOar read the record in the case of Mr.,
Spofford, of Louisiana.
minister the oath but Mr. Edmunds had offered
objection. The chair, Mr.. Wheeler, ruled that
the question was one of the highest privilege
and that an objection would not carry it over.
Mr. Hoar offered formal resolution that the
oath be administered to the Senator from New
Hampshire.
lay over till tomorrow. Granted.
THE BACKBONE RAILROAD.
The resolution offered On Friday by Mr.. Van
Wyck, making inquiry of the Secretary Of the
Interior with regard to the issuance of patents
Vae hs
Said ut would be considered a matter of sincere
regret that an administration which succeeded
to break the power of organized capital and
check the aggressions of the greatest monopoly
which ever cast its blight upon the continent
day of its existence more than could be done by
any word or act of its enemies-that its final
se have snd n Ssen the Of Of
grown grown to be omnpotent whose aggressions 4s
slavery had been broken, but the nation had
been abjectly surrendered to the more tyran-
nizing monopoly Of corporations. The mysteri-
remarkable chapter. Mr.. Van Wyck then went
into the history of the grant at length,
% me sad ATT was Claimed has hs there %as
special meeting of the cabinet-its last-to
lsgalze this fraud. Did the actual settlers on
this land have any advocate there, and were
their rights prOtected?"
MR.. TELLERs REPLY.
Mr.. Teller took the floor just as Mr.. Van Wyck
at down. Mr.. Teller pronounced the resolution
of Mr. Van Wyck to be offensive in its tone and
terms towards the executive department of the
government. He said the question enabled the
mover of this resolution to appear as he had on
previous occasions, as the special champion of
the laboring. classes and the down trodden
people, ana the nitter opponent OF corporations
Mr.. Teller said that Senator Van Wyck had
lands but in the quiet of the committee room,
where legislation for the protection of the peo-
pie. If it was needed. could be framed and
the grave. 1t only in the open sessions that
Mr.. Van Wyck declaimed in places where he
could have the hearing OF the press and be her
aided to the country as the friend of the down.
trodden people. Mr.. Teller then proceeded to
explain the Backbone land grant.
Important Nominations.
The President sent the following nominations
to the Senate to-day:
Charles S. Fairchild, of New York, to be AS
sistant Secretary of the Treasury.
John G. Black, of Illinois, to be commissioner
of PENSIONS
Judge French, Assistant Secretary OF the
Treasury, rendered his resignation today, to
take erect upon the appointment and qualifi-
cation of his successor.
Capitol Topics.
THE MISSOURI DELEGATION IN CONGRESS
at a meeting decided to refer the numerous ap-
plicants from that state for foreign missions and
consulates to Senators Cockrell and Vest for
them to select from the list certain names for
fnt VN1no i. t~nt = tIDC
shall select such plac1 as they think Missouri
can procure. and then the delegation will con-
centrate their entire efforts upon these places.
THE ALABAMIANs DENY.
A prominent member of Congress from Ala
bama, the most distinguished member of the
delegation from that state, was asked by
STAR reporter to-day about the story published
in different papers, that that delegation pre-
sented to the President a list of names selected
to fill the federal offices in Alabama,
and asked the immediate appointment Of
the men: that the President curtly responded
to the effect that the members of the delegation
had not, apparently, read the civil service and
tenure-ot-ofiice laws, and he would send them
copies of these acts The Alabama Congress
man replied that the members of Congress from
his state had not not Bresfntsd any names, or even
office. He said the delegation called ON the
President to pay their respects, and were most
pleasantly received and courteOusly treated.
Their visit was not about Office, and the honor
able NJ. c. said in conclusion, referring to
the story: There is not a word of truth in it,"
THE VACANCIES IN TIE SENATE JUDICIARY
COMMITTEES.
Three democratic members of the Senate judi-
ciary committee-Messrs Bayard, Garland and
Lamar-were selected for the cabinet. This
leaves Senator Pugh as the first on the list of
the democratic minority, and should the demo-
Gratis get control of the Senate during his service
he will become chairman Of the COMMITTEES.
The prominence OF the judiciary committee
and the fact that the President took three out
of the four members belonging to his party for
his cabinet, have rendered places on that COM
mittee more desirable than ever, and there is
no little competition among democratic Sem
ators for the vacancies. The republicans think
Senator Evarts ought to be on the judiciary
committee but the only vacancy existing in the
majority membership is the one created by the
expiration of Gen. Logan'S term. There is q
diSinciinatiOn, however, to I'LL this yet as it is
deemed probable that Gen. Logan will be re-
turned.
The Change at the u. s. Supreme Court.
Ex-ATToRNEY GENERAL BREWSTER INTRO
DUCES HIS SUCCESSOR.
Attorney General Garland, accompanied by
ex-Attorney General Brewster, entered the Su-
preme Court chamber about twenty minutes
before 10 to-day. They took seats at the front
while waiting for the meeting of the court the
new Attorney General received the congratula-
tions of his friends among the members Of the
bar. Immediately after the formal meeting of
the court Mr.. Brewster arose and presented Mr.
Garland his successor. In this connection
Mr.. Brewster took occasion to make his CRATE
full acknowledgements to the court for the uni
form kindness which it had extended to him
Mr.. Garland arose, and after thanking Mr..