Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1885-02-20
FORTY-ElGHTH CONGRESS-.
Second Session.
sen ATE.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 10.
The committee on appropriations reported
the postoftice appropriation bill; placed on
the calendar
Inc same committee reported with only
verbal amendment. the joint resolution appro-
prlahng S250O to defray the expenditures of
the inaugural ceremonies.
The joint resolution as amended was
passed.
Mr. Pike offered resolution which was
agreed to. calling on the secretary of war for
information relative to the improvement of
the Cocheco river at Dover, n. II.
The Des Noines river land bill was then
placed before the Senate, and Mr.. Lapham
resumed his remarks on it.
Mr.. Mcpherson moved an indefinate post
ponement of the bill rejected.
At O'Clock the bill went over. and Mr..
Van Wyck called up the Texas Pacific for
feiture bill
The consideration of the Texas Pacific
forfeiture bill was then entered upon and the
committee amendments agreed to.
Mr.. Morgan offered an amendment similar
to that offered by him in the case of the At
lantic Pacific bill, providing for the refer.
ence to the United States courts of all con-
troversies concerning the rights and equities
claimed by the United States or bv private
parties in the lands forfeited
Mr.. Morgan addressed the Senate in sup
port OF the amendment
Mr.. Blair was in favor of the grant being
forfeited subject to the action of the courts.
He. therefore, supported Mr. Morgan's
amendment.
Mr.. Edmunds, taking the floor, said that
about the time when Judge Thurman was
chairman of the judiciary committee, the
rnft
that committee, and the committee reported
to the Senate the bill which provided at one
stroke for the forfeiture OF every unearned
grant everywhere. and which provided that
it should be the duty of the attorney general
to institute suits to declare the forteitures so
as 10 protect from future litigation the title
of all settlers who might come in under the
United States. 1t did not at the time comport
with the pleasure and convenience of the
Senate in the pressure of business to consider
the bill. TIE circumstance Mr.. Edmuuds
regretted, as had that bill been passed. all
questions now under discussion would have
been disposed of without the poor settlers, as
in the case of the Des Moines people, being
ground to death in contests with great cor
poratiOns
Mr.. Morgan's amendment was rejected
"a to 81.
mittee of the whole, it was reported to the
Senate, whersupon Mr.. Morgan re-offered
the amendment, which was again voted down
The bill was then read the third time and
passed-56 to 2-Messrs Blair and Bowen.
The bill now goes back TO the House for
concurrence or non-concurrence in the Senate
amendments.
The Senate at 635 p NJ. adjourned.
nOIrSE
The House met at 10 o'clock in continue
tion of yesterdays session.
Mr. Holman of Indiana. introduced Joint
resolution requesting the President to open
negotiations with the government of the
French Republic, with view of negotiating
new convention with that government for
the establishment of another French and
American claims commission, which shall
have ample jurisdiction to reopen, examine
and finally determine all claims which were
filed before the late commission under the
convention of Jan. Is, 1880, between the
government of the United States and the
French Republic; referred
The House then went into committee of
the whole on the river and harbor bill
On motion of Mr.. Crosby of Missouri, the
appropriation for the improvement of the
Mississippi river between the Illinois and
Ohio rivers, was increased from S400, 900 to
5000, 900, and it was directed that $50, 900 of
this sum should be expended at Cape Guar
dian.
At ll.55 the committee rose and the House
adjourned and at II the session of Thursday
began.
The committee on elections submitted a
report on the Iowa contested election case of
Frederick VS.. Wilson, accompanied by a res
oution declaring the contestant Frederick
entitled to the seat laid over for future ac-
ton.
At 45 p. NJ. the consideration of the
river and harbor bill was resumed in the
committee of the whole.
large number of amendments were Of
fered to the paragraph relative to the Missis-
sippi river appropriations but they were sew
erallv voted down. Upon one of them, how
ever, point was raised that no quorum had
voted. and in accordance with the arrange
ment with the appropriation committee, Mr.
Willis moved that the committee rise, which
was carried
Speaker Carlisle took the chair, and the
welcome extended to him on his return to
his official duties was hearty one.
At $50 the House went into committee on
the naval appropriation bill.
Mr.. Curtin of Pennsylvania offered an
amendment appropriating s25 900 for testing
American armor made of American material;
adopted
Mr.. Camden OF Illinois made A point of
order against the paragraph appropriating
S400, 900 for the completion of the New York.
and the point being overruled he moved to
strike ont the paragraph. To complete this
old ship which had been lying In the stocks
for 10 wears, was to advance backward and
authorize a waste of money.
Mr.. Dingley of Maine supported the para
graph of the bill. The timber of the New
York was today thoroughly seasoned and
worth double as much as it was 10 years ago.
1t would be the height of unwisdom to throw
awav this partly constructed vessel and not
complete it, to be used As a school ship or
transport.
Mr.. Hewitt of New York regretted that as
the country was about to build a new navy. a
proposition should come from the dem
ocratic committee to complete an old ship.
which, if she was struck bv one of the guns
of one of the discarded ships of other coun-
tries, would go to the bottom.
Mr.. Cox of New York contended that
wooden ships were necessary. Because we
had artillery should we discard the infantry?
Because we had ironclads should we give up
wooden ships:
YES" answered Mr.. Hewitt emphaticallv.
Mr.. Randall of Pennsylvania said that the
committee on appropriations realized that
powerful navy was required, and also that
thA IL