The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1885-03-05
XLVIIIth CONGRESS.
The End Of Two Years Legislation.
a Rush of Business.

| ize the President to negotiate for the purchase
| of the remaining rights of the Seminole, Creek
and Cherokee nations of Indians to those lands
known IS the Oklahoma lands.
Imam imous consent was given 70 take up tho
| bill, and in less than five minutes it was read
| in full and passed 1t now goes to the House
for action in that body.
motion was then made to take up in their
order all pension bills favoraby reported, and
they were accordingly proceeded with.
The pension bills upon the calendar and
| fayorab ly reported having been disposed of, Mr.
Cockrci called up the House bill, already
| favorahly reported by him from the Committee
on Military Affairs, TO provide for the settle
| ment of the claims of officers and enlisted men
of the army for loss of private property de-
strOyed in the military service Of the United
States.
Mr.. COclIreIl said il was bill 10 provide, by
general law, method of settlement for claims
which are constantly coming before Congress,
and which are uniformly passed by Congress.
1t would not, however, include any losses suf-
fered in war. Neither would it cover such
things as carpets, watches, etc, but only arti-
Giles deemed useful necessary and reasonable
| for officers and soldiers to have when on duty.
On the suggestion of Mr.. Sherman the time
for presenting such claims was limited to two
years. As So amended it was passed.
MIR. Cock reil also called up a House bill,
| heretofore reported favorahiy from the Com
mittee on Claims, limiting to three years the
| time of presenting claims for bounty or back
pay for services in the late war or previous
! wars and limiting to six years the time for
presenting all claims originating hereafter
against the United States. except cases OF PEN
siODs The bill also provides that 1t shall rot
| be construed to extend the power of the Court
| Of Claims nor to include claims now barred by
| the statute of Limitation.
| Mr.. Sherman offered an amendment proyid-
;,,U OF ha Of IN
other securities of the United States.
Mr. HoaT offered an amendment excluding
also from the operation of the act the claim of
any State against the United States.
No action was taken on the bill, the Senate
going into executive session and adjourning on
the rcopening of the doors.
In the House bill was passed for the alot-
ment of lands in seyeralty to the Indians on
the Umatilla Indian reservation.
The bill, after ali0ting lands in seveTalty 70
the Indians, provides for the survey and ap-
praisemeut of the surplus aud for their sale IN
tracts of 100 acres of untimbered lands aud 10
acres of timbercd lands at public auction at the
Land Office to the highest bidder, if an actual
settler, and at price not less than the ap-
praised yalue, the payment to be part in hand
and balance on time.
The fund realized is 70 be used to aid the In
dams in improving their severalty lands, and
for the education and future welfare OF the In
dams. ltaPpropriates $4,000 to carry the same
into effect, $4,000 OF which can be used in es-
tablshing an industrial farm and school. 1t is
subject TO the approval of a majority of the
male adults and head men and chiefs before
going into effect
The remainder OF the session was taken up
in the discussion of the River and Harbor Bill.
WEDNESDAY, Feb. 25.-In the Senate there
was quite o heated debate on the conference
report on the Army Appropriation Bill and
the House provision TO enable courts martial
to control the hours of their own session in
stead of being limited as now, TO the hours from
a. m. TO 3 p. NJ, was finally stricken out.
Mr.. Allison, from the Committee on Appro-
priations, reported the Legislative, Executive,
and Judicial Appropriation Bill, aud asked its
immediate consideration. Considerable discus
sion arose on the question of putting on the an
nual rolls the per diem clerks, and Mr. German
expressed the hope that the expenses of the
Senate would not DO further increased The
amount now paid for clerks and messengers TO
committees of the Senate, he said, was So, 900,
against $3S, 900 for similar services in the
House of Representatives. The total expenses
for officers, clerks messengers, etc, OF the Senate
was $34S, 600.
Motions to adjourn and to go into executive
session alternated for half an hour or more, the
roll-call sometimes disclosing the absence of
quorum. Finally, at 7:15 p. m, it becoming
apparent that the bill could not be disposed of
adjourned.
In the House the session, which lasted until
II O'Clock at night, was consumed in wrangle
over the River and Harbor Bill.
THURSDAY, Feb. 26.-In the Senate the Leg
isative Appropriation Bill was passed. de-
bate followed on the silver bill, but the matter
went over without action.
In the House Mr.. Cobb moved TO suspend
the rules and take from the Speakers table for
reference to the Committee 0n Public Lands
the House bill repeating the presumption, tim
Der culture and desert laws, with Senate
amendments thereto.
After debate. the motion to suspend the rules
and refer the bill was lost
FRIDAY, Feb. 27.-The Senate passed the
Naval Appropriation Bill substantially az re-
ported by the Senate Committee on Appr0pria-
tons. The remainder of the session was de-
voted to the consideration OF pension bills
By unanimous consent it was decided TO con-
slider bills favorably reported from the Pension
Committee, and number were passed. House
bill was also passed, giving pension of $50
month 20 Mrs. Emily l.. Alyord, widow of Gen.
Benz. Aivord.
In considering House bill to grant an in
crease Of pension, from $50 to $50 TO Mrs So
phia A Morgan, widow of Brig. Gen. Chas II.
Morgan, u. ). A, Mr.. Gr0Ome said he was OPP
posed TO doing by retail what could be done by
wholesale, and he moved an amendment pro-
ylding that the pensions of all widows receiy-
ing $50 month be increased to $50. This
amendment was not agreed to-yea /, nays IL
The affirmative vote was that Of Mr.. Voor-
hees. Dir. Groome voted against his own
amendment. The bill to increase Mrs Nor.
gan's pension TO so was then passed
The House substitute for the River and Har-
Dor Bill, appropriating gross sum, was laid
before the Senate, and having been read once |
Mr.. Cameron, of Wisconsin, objected to its sec. |
ond reading, SO the bill lies on the table, not
having been referred 10 committee
Dir. Morgan asked unanimous consent to |
take Up the bin for the relief of Letitia TYLER
Semple, daughter of the late President Tyler |
The bill would give her pension of $50 |
month. The lady named, Mr.. Morgan said, is |
now blind and dependent On the charity of |
Mr. w. w. Corcoran, in the city of Washing |
ton.
Mr. Riddleberger objected. He saw no res. |
son for pensioning the Presidents daughters.
Mr. C0ckrell also objected. He thought it |
crime against the people to pass such bills. It |
was the beginning of civil pension list.
A vote on the bill resulted-yeas IL nays IT, |
No quorum having voted, no decision was |
reached.
In the House the sundry Civil Appropria- |
ton Bill was passed, intending sn appropria- |
ton of 100000 for the New Orleans EXPOSE |
ton bill was also passed appropriating
5000 600 for the continuation and completion |
OF works designated in the last River and Har-
Dor Bill An evening session was held for the |
consideration Of pension bills 50 Of which were
passed.
90 A.