The Portland daily press., 1885-01-23
XLVIIIth COngress--2d Session
SENATE.
WAsHTNcroN. Tan 9

WARRINGTON, Jan. 2Z
The chair laid before the Senate commu-
nication from the Secretary of War transmit
ting IN response to recent resolution of the
Senate report showing the estimated cost Of
removing Green Jackets shoals in the harbor
OF Providence, r. /. The amount stands at
$112, ,357.
Mr.. Frye from the committee on commerce
reported avorably the bill recently introduced
by himself for encouragement of the Ameri-
Can merchant marine and to promote postal
and commercial relations with foreign coun-
tries. The bill was placed on sthe calendar.
The Oklahoma resolutions OF Messrs. Plumb
ard Vest were placed before the Senate. Mr..
Vest withdrew his resolution, and in doing SO
| be took occasion TO say that there could be no
doubt whatever that as the laws stood the
| Oklahou lands were not at this time subject
| to settlement BY white people, and the Presi-
| dent therefore was unable to do otherwise than
as he had done.
Mr.. Dawes wished to obviate the shedding of
blood, but the supremacy of the law was one
thing upon which there could be no possible
question. It must be maintained at whatever
cost. Hethad observed with regret that west
ern legislature advocated the immediate open
ing up of the Oklahoma lands, and that else
where the President was charged with vioat-
ing the law in the course he had pursued.
This wes simply taking the side of the law
I breakers
Mr.. Plumb believed the most of the people
that went into the Oklahoma country went
there under a conviction that they had legal
right to do so. Mr.. Plumb's resolution calling
on the President for bis views on the present.
status of the Oklahoma lands was then agreed
to.
Mr.. Vest then re-offersd his resolution direct
ing the secretary of the treasury to ascertain
and report upon what terms the Cresk and
Seminole Indians would surrender all their
remaining rights to the land in question. He
requested that the resolution lie over till to-
morrow, when he would make it more com pre-
hensive. The resolution was laid over accord
ingly.
The Senate then went into executive session
and later adjourned.
HOUSE.
Mr.. Cobb of Indiana, presented the confer.
ence report on the Oregon Central forfeiture
bill and it was agreed 10. The House recedes
from its disagreement to all the 6enatssamend-
ments.
The House then at 70 20 went into commit
tee on the whole on the Indian appropriation
bill.
On motion of Mr.. Ellis of Louisiana, an
amendment was adopted directing the Secre-
tary of the Interior to prepare list of all ap-
proved and pending claims against citizens on
accounteof Indian depre dations and to report
the same to Congress on the first Monday of
next December
Mr. Rockwell of Massachusetts, brought up
the matter of the open letter written to Mr..
X lis by q. q. Painter charging that sthe APP
preparations made for the Montana Iudians
were insufficient He criticized the speech
made a few days ago by Mr.. Ellis, in which
the latter decared that the statements made
in the letter were false. He said Mr.. Painter
was gentleman of unstsined record aud of
an Integrity which had never been impeached
He called upon Mr.. ellis to show wherein
the statements made in the letter were false.s
Mr. Ellis replied that when he spoke after
the previous question had been ordered, il he
did not brand q. q. Painter with falsehood, he
wonld make him an ample apology
On motion of Mr.. MAJ tnares of Nav Next
co, au ameL dment was adopted appropriating
1925 600 for the erection of an Iadian industriaI
school at Santa Fe, N. NJ
MIR. Cutcheon of Michigan, offered an
amendment providing that auv Indian COM
mittipg against the person or property of au-
| other Indian Or other person any Of the follow
| ing crimes; Murder, manslaughter, rape, as
| sault with intent to kill arson, burglary,
| and larceny, shall be subjected to the laws of
the territory io which such crime is comm tied i,
| and shall be tried therefor il the same courts
end in the same manner, and shall be subject
| to the same penalties as are other persons
| charged with commission of said crimes, and
| permitting Indians to prosecute in any court
auy civi action al law and equity. Adopted.
| On motion of SIR. Throckmorton of Texas,
an amendment was adopttd d, giving the UDited
| States District Court for the Western District
| of Arkansas civil jurisdiction over the i've
| civilized tribes of tue Indian Territory.
| MIR. Regan of Kansas, offered an amendment
| authorizing the President TO open negotiations
with ths Greeks, Seminole and Oherokees for
the purpose OF opening to settlement under
| the homestead laws unassigned lauds in IndiaL
Territory oeded by them to the United States
These are the Oklahoma lands) Adopted.
Mr.. Ellis of Louisiana, in moving that the
| committee rise, said that in the course of de-
bate on the bill he had been betrayed by in
trinity OF temper into the expression of Ian
guage which he greatly regretted. He with
drew that language and made his acknowledges
ments to the House. Mr.. Ellis had reference to
the controversy yesterday between himself
aud Mr.. Holman, and that gentleman said the
apology was satisfactory, aud that he with:
drew any improper remarks made by him.
The committee then rose and reported to the
| House.
The previous question having been ordered,
Mr.. Ellis took the floor in order to point out
what be termed the msstatements and false
hoods contained i'll ths Painter letter. He had
DO apology to make to Painter. He commend
ed him 10 study the story OF Ananias, and to
Carefully consider the ninth comma ndment.
The bill was then passed aud the House ad