Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1885-02-20
coSGREssIozAl
GE4AII.

iAr 70 that o1sred oy him In the ease o
the Atlantic ard Pacific bill. pvov,diri
for references 70 the United States Cour
OF all controversies concerning th
rights and equities claimed BY u
United States or by private parties il
the lands forfeited. Morgan addrssse,
the Senate in support Of his amend
ment. In order that be might not b,
misunderstood. be desired ct once EN-
phstiaaIly 10 announce his conviction
that this Texas Pacific grant should b,
forfeited, and his determination TO vot,
for the bill whether she Senate adopteC
his amendment or not. Tbs compau,
bad never earned a foot Of land. anS
Morgan did not believe any valid trans
fer Of it could have been made vithou
the express sanction Of Congress- Hav
ing said this mach as IN his persona
position, be addressed himself to til.
merits Of the legal question involve.
and the ouarss of Congress generally
With regard to land grants.
Morgan explained the circumstances
surrounding this special grant. The
Texas Pacific Company, be said, which
had got the grant, had made transfer
or sttempted TO make a transfer, of il
land grant to the Southern Pacific Rail.
road Company, and Evarts and other
influential lawyers had maintained tina,
the company bad perfect right 10
transfer that land. whether BY mortgage
or sale.
Van Wyck asked whether Morgan
understood that there was mortgage
en- these lands.
Morgan said it had been 50 argued BY
counsel.
Van Wyck said that was q mistake.
Morgan said that the contention and
claim made by the company, as be
understood 1t, was that their mortgage
affected all their lands. He was not
presenting his 0wn view, bat merely
What Was claimed. IL il were disre-
pusable TO present il to the Senate let
the blame rest or such gentlemen as
Evarts. Morgan had no reason to
doubt that such eminent counsel had
gives their honest convictions in that
opinion. He (Morgan) had asked
Evarts. when that gentleman was before
the Senate Committee on Public Lands,
do you ask Congress for any afirma-
tive legislation to ratify this grant,
which you claim you have bought from
the Texas Pacific Company And
y
We have a good title" Morgan agreed
with Evarts in that respect.
Blair Supported Mor9an's amend
ment.
Lapham proceeded at length to argue
the legal aspects of the case. In the
course of his remarks he referred to
mortgages on the lands forning the
subject Of the bill under consideration.
Van Wyck said the lands had never
been mortgaged by any company.
Lapham said il WA claimed that the
lands we're mortgaged, and that the
bondholders claimed that the bonds of
the company are lien on the land.
Van Wyck said that no person bad so
claimed before either OF the committees
Of Congress.
Lapham replied that the failure so to
do was because the committee could not
have tried the question II II had been
brought up.
Van Wyok repeated that there was no
mortgage on the land.
Morvan's amendment was rejected I;
yeas -, nays 81.
Sherman offered an amendment with
holding lands from settlement for two
years. Rejected.
The bill having been perfected In
committee Of the whole, was reported
in the Senate. whereapon Morgan re-
offered bis amendment. which WAS again
voted down by yeas 26, nays %. The
bill was then read third time and
passed, yeas IS, nays 2. Blair and Bow
sn voted nay.
Adjourned.
Before the Senate adjournment Howe
to get up the Pacific Rail
road bill amending the Thurman act,
but the chair announced the next spe-
cial order TO be the bill for the improve
meut OF Galveston harbor, and this was
laid formally before the Senate prior to
HOUSE.
WASHINGTON, Feb. l9.-The House
met In continuation Of yesterdays ses-
sion.
Holman Introduced ieint resolution
the President TO open neRe
tiations with the French Republic with
a view of negotiating new convention
With that Government for the establish
ment 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 January 18th,
1880.
The House then went into committee
o. the whole on the River and Harbor
bill.
A large number Of amendments we're
offered 10 the paragraph relative to the
Mississippi river appropriations, bat
we're seysFally voted down. Upon one
of them, however, the point was raised
that n. quorum bad voted, and IN 90
eordanee with arrangements with the
Committee, Willis moved
that the committee rise. Carried.
Speaker Carlisle then took the chair,
and the welcome extended 10 him upon
his return TO his official duties was q
hearty one. Both sides OF the House
broke into generous roand Of applause,
in which the galleries joined.
The House went into Committee Of
the WheIe on the Naval Appropriation
bill. There was no general debate,
though il was agreed that some general
discussion would be permitted
When the clause was reached which
provides for q bsard 10 examine into
the subject Of the reconstruction Of the
navy as the bill vas read by paragraphs
for amendment, Curtin offered an
amendment appropriating $500 for
testing American arnlor mace Of Amer
lean material. de hoped the nev ad-
uinistraiiou woaid be committed 70 the
polioy Of building up the navy, and he
wanted that navy built In this country
cut of material manufactured in the
United States. No man whe had 10
ticed the unrest In Europe could bat
fear that there vas var impending
which might shake the eoEnnerce and
trade and civilization Of the world. II
such q calamity should fall upon hu
mantty, this Nation shoald be prepared
20 take her part, ". In the wisdom OF
Providenee, the Government shoald be
drawn into the struggle. He was in
favor of bailding navy which would
be formidable in time OF war and re-
spected in peace. and eqaal N character
and force % the dignity and power OF
this GrsAs people. The amendment was
adopted.
Cannon made point Of order against
the paragraph sppropriating 10000
for she compilation Of the New York,
ana the point heinR 0verFnisd, moved
% strike out the paragraph. To CON
plese this old ship. wAish has been lying
IN shs stocks for ninsteen years. was 90
advance back GAFds and aashoFizs Q
waste Of Eoney.