Morning journal and courier., 1885-02-12
4Sth Congress---Second Session
WASHINGTON, February il, 1885.

SENATE-In the Senate to-day MT. Dolph proposed an amendment reducing the price of coal land to one-hslf of the present figures.
 MT. Harrison said that when this bill was reported from the committee it was under stood that it simply proposed to repeal tim Der culture and pre-emption land laws re- serving public land for homestead entries, but now it is proposed by amendments to revise the land laws of the United States. He thought it unfair to load down the bill with amendments the scope of which Senators could not understand He himself had just voted against proposed amendment simply because for lack of time to examine it he did not understand it's scope
 MI. Morgan agreed with MT. Harrison that the bill covered too much ground.
 MT. Dolph withdrew his coal land amend ment.
 MT. Slater opposed the bill. Tho proposi- tion to repeal the pre-emption land laws was simply monstrous. If he were to put title to this bill he would call it ftAn act to facili- tate the sale of lands of land grant corpora tions." Within twenty-five years land grants to railroads had covered large tracts of the best lands in the western and northwestern States and now to restrict the pre-emption and sale of lands to settlers would oe simply to aid and facilitate the sale of the better lands granted to railroads.
 Pending discussion of this bill the Senate at 4:45 went into executive session and shortly afterwards adjourned.
 Just before adjournment communication was received from the President submitting the second annual report of the civil service commission. In his letter of transmittal the President eongratulates the country up on the success of the committees labor commends the subject to the favorable con- sideration of Congress, and asks for ap- propriation to continue the work of the com mission.
 HoUsE-The galleries of the House were not opened until 1915, this morning, and for long time before that hour a crowd of spectators remained patiently in the corri- dors. When admission was at last allowed, the visitors hastened in to secure choice seats and in few moments the galleries were filled and the steps were utilized for resting places. That portion of the gallery reserved for the families and friends of Senators and representatives was occupied mainly by ladies while the portion given up to the general public almost exclusively filled with gentlemen. The executive gallery was vacant and one diplomat sat in solitary in the gal lery reserved for the diplomatic corps.
 MT. Townshend, of Illinois, offered reso- lution providing that during the remainder of the session the daily hour of meeting of the House shall be Il o'clock: referred
 MT. McMillan, of Tennessee, offered a reso- lution directing the doorkeeper to admit to the floor ladies having tickets issued for the members gallery during the joint session for counting the electoral vote. MT. Hewitt, of Alabama, made the point of order that the resolution changed rule of the House and must go to the Committee on Rules. The speaker pro-tem, (Mr. Blackburn,) overruled the point of order and the resolution was adopted, 134 to 72.
 While the motion was under consideration MT. Springer, of Illinois, remarked that as this was day which let the ''outs' in, no Democrat should oppose it.
 Mr. Follett, of Ohio, from the Committee on Appropriations reported back the Dis trict of Columbia appropriation bill with Senate amendments, recommending con currence in some and non-concurrence in others of the amendments. The recon mendations were agreed to and Messrs. Fol lett Hutchins and Cannon were appointed conferrees.
 MT. Springer, of Illinois, from the Commit tee on expenditures in the department of jus tice, reported bill relating to the compen- sation of marsha1s and other United States officials; referred.
 On motion of Mr. Keller, of Ohio, the clerk was directed to inform the Senate that at 12 o'clock the House would be prepared to re- ceive that body in conformity with the pro- visions of the concurrent resolution relating to the counting of electoral votes.
 MT. Clay of Kentucky, offered concur rent resolution that committee of three Representatives and two Senators be appoint ed to notify the President and Vice Presi- dent-elect that they had been duly elected President and Vice Presi dent for the term of four years from March 4, 1885, and that the president of the Senate make certificates of election for each and that duly authenticat- ed copies thereof be delivered to Messrs Cleveland and Hendricks by the comInit- tee.
 Mr. Holman, of Indiana, said that unless the precedents were uniform he deemed it There was danger, as shown in the expert ence of the past few years, in establishing precedents.
 MT Clay said the precedents were not uni form, but this course had been pursued on the election of Washington, Harrison, Lin coin and Grant on their first terms and per haps others.
 Mr Keller said this, like the resolution just tabled, was not essential, but he thought there was sufficient precedent for it.
 MT. Holman moved to strike out that DOT ton of the resolution relating to the cert1- ficates of the election.
 MT. D Taylor, Ohio, moved to lay the motion on the table. Lost 3S to 109.
 Mir Holmans amendment was adopted without division and the concurrent resolu- tion as amended was agreed to. The regular order was again reached and the House re- sumed consideration of bill appropriating $1O0 000 for public building at Keokuk, Ia. The bill was passed.
 MT Pettibone, of Tennessee, asked the pas sage of the Senate bill amending the revised statutes so to authorize the issue of dupli- cate cheeks when the originals lost ol stolen to the amount of $2.50O. The present law limits the amount of such checks to $1 ,, OO0 Passed without objection.
 MT Maybury, of Michigan, asked the con -. ] -2e4l o4o for h1i building at Detroit not to cost over $9O0, 900 Pending a vote on certain amendments the hour expired.
 After uninlportant business amid mucl confusion the House at 4:10 p. m. went into committee of the whole on the postofice ap propriation bill.
 Mir Horr, of Michigan, moved to increase the appropriation for the letter carrier ser vice from $4, 100, 900 to S4, ,535, ,000. This was earnestly supported by Messrs. Potter ot New York, Money of Mississippi, Cox O New York and Bingham of Pennsylvania and opposed by Mess McMillan of Tennessee and Townshend of Illinois. Mr. Holman of Indiana protested agains the delay on this bill and said if the bills tc come in dragged along this one was drag ging, they could make up their mind to have a called session.
 Mr. Horr suggested that it might be pre- vented by bringing in the bills right.
 MT. Holman-"Oh, certainly, if we ope1 the treasury and let them take all they want" He then proceeded to oppose the proposed amendment.
 At o'clock MT. Townshend apprehensive of the result of vote on the pending amend ment moved that the committee rise. This was resisted by the friends of an increase and the motion was rejected-56 to TT. A vote was then taken on the pending amendment and it was agreed to-100 to GA.
 At 5:20 the committee rose aud the House adjourned
 GENERAL SWAIM'S CASE. The Finding Much in Doubt as