The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1886-07-22
THE FoRTY-NlNTH CONGRESS.
Senate.


When the bill for tho relief Of the settlers
of the public domain in the States Of Kansas
and Nebraska was reached, Van Wyck COM
menced to look around, and fastened his eyes
upon Senator Platt of Connection, who
arose slowly from his seat and asked that tho
bill be read. 1t had been reported by Mr..
Van Wyck from the commIttes on public
lands, and provided for the appropriation of
$780, 900 to reimburse settlers upon the lands
of the Northern Kansas railroad Mr., flatt
observed that he would like some informa-
ton about the bill, and started to speak upon
it, when the chair announced that the morn
ing hour had expired, and the bill went over
until tomorrow. Van Wyck drew a long
sigh of relief, picked up his hat and left the
chamber.
The secret of this extraordinary conduct
was this. While the senate was considering
the river and harhor bill, Senator Hawley
was in the chair and Van Wyck was speak
ing. The latter closed sentence with the
words "This is all desire to say" whereupou
General Hawley attempted to put the ques-
ton. Van Wyck turned around sharply and
said that he could not be driven Off the floor
in that way.
General Hawley answered: "The chair
heard the senator from Nebraska remark
that that was all he desired to say, and,
thinking that he was about to sit down, pro-
ceeded to state the question"
chair thought so. He knew differently"
General Hawley-The senator from Ne
braska, the chair takes the liberty to say,
has no right as senator or gentleman to
make such remark.
Mr. Van Wyck-That does not interfere
with my making it.
At this point Mr.. Hoar called Van Wyck
to order and sharply reprimanded him.
General Hawley's friends are very indig-
nant at the insult, and his colleague Senator
Platt, proposed this morning to give Van
Wyck a lesson that he would remember He
claimed to have discovered in someway that
the senator from Nebraska has pecuniary
interest to the extent of $4,000 in the bill,
which he himself had reported from the COM
cross-examlne him about it Some
wears Tas being ago. Srse the Van ' WSea
learned that a change of route had been de-
termined upon, AMI with lot of his friends
located upon the lands which the track
would pass over with the expectation that
the company would buy them off Van
Wyck, himself, got about 1000 acres of the
land, but the railway company, contrary to
his expectations, went into court, got writ
of ejectment, and dispossessed him and his
friends of their claims. The bill proposes to
pay these settlers s. an acre for the property
which they failed to get.
House.
The senate took up the river and harbor
bill, and Mr.. Mcmillan (who has charge of iD
moved an order that the bill be recommitted
to the committee ON commerce, with in
structions to amend it as voted by the senate
in committee of the whole, except that in
each item of the bill and in the aggregate
there be reduction of 80 per cent. that the
committee amend the bill according land not
otherwise and report the same complete
forthwith.
A long and spirited discussion followed, in
which many senators took part.
Mr.. Mcmillan finally withdrew the motion,
and the senate proceeded to vote on the va
rious amendments to the bill
Each amendment was agreed to without
challenge until the item for Cumberland
Sound Georgia and Florida was reached.
1t was reduced from $4,000 to 100000
Mr.. Call made an appeal in favor of the
larger sum.
The amendment was rejected-19 to 26.
The next important amendment OIL which
yea and nay vote was taken was one reduc-
ing the appropriation for improving the Ten
nessee river at Mussel's Shoals from $3.50 900
to $3.50, 900. The amendment was rejected
10 to 49,
Mr.. Edmunds made an argument against
the amendment which proposes to appropriate
$3.50, 600 for the purchase of the Portage
Lake Canal. His argument was replied to
by Messrs. Conger and Palmer.
Mr.. salisbury argued against the purchase
of artificial works belonging to individuals
or States.
The amendment was agreed to.
When the amendment in resation to the
Calumet River was reached, Mr., Edmunds
said it was evident that majority of
the senate was determined to adopt the
five or SIX different measures looking
to transferring to tho United States
works which the government had already
paid for in pub ic lands. He was bound to
suppose that each of them would go through,
if it were alone; but he was also bound to be-
lieve that each one would go much faster and
better when supported by the comfortable
backing of all the others. 1t was useless,
therefore, for senator who did not wish to
delay or impede the action of the senate, to
take up time in resisting that which could
not be resisted. And so, if he were silent all
the rest of the time, he did not want the
senate or the people of his State to suppose
that these other provisions of the bill were
suitable and proper.
The amendment was agreed to.