Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1886-04-07
AT THE CAPITOL TO-DAY,
LAND GRANT FORFEITURES.
Mr.. Call Addresses the Senate.
MIR. Hawley on the Army Bill.
The River and Harbor Bill Reported
In the House.
The Senate.

| ceeded to address the Senate on his resolution
| instructing the committee on public lands to
| report bill to forfeit all railroad land grants
| not earned within the time specified in the
| granting act or acts extending the time. The
general subject of land grants, Mr.. Call said
was one offs great Importance Over SO, 900, OOO
acres of public lands had been granted 10 rail
road companies to aid in building their roads
In some respects Mr.. Call would not object to
such grants. A great public object had been &C
compished, though 1t might have been &C.
the people. Some portion of the receipts from
the property might have been reserved to the
government to aid education or to relieve the
people from the burdens oftaxation. 1t was
not, however, as to the general subject that Mr.
Cali particularly wished TO address the Senate,
put on the subject of land grants in Florida,
Mr.. Call then gave history of those land grants
and the building Of railroads in Florida, espe
cially In connection with the corporation known
600 nominal capital of that corporation MI. Call
said, not one dollar had been paid in cash, ex.
cept the amount paid by the state of Florida,
by the company, but by means of donations OF
other public lands of the United States. The
company, however, had sold the inchoate right
| to every acre of the land grant, which they had
never earned-a right TO some 7OO,O 900 acres OF
the best lands In Florida. This purpose had
been aided by the United States court. The
courts should not be made the tools OF railroad
corporations. The resolution, on Mr.. Calls re-
quest, was referred to the committee on public
| lands.
MR.. HAwLEY ON THE ARMY BILL.
Mr.. Hawley then took the floor on the army
bill. He supported the measure. He ridiculed
the suggestion that the regular army might be
dispensed with. The idea of force was at the
back OF every transaction of civil government
Wnether the force was seen or not. The bayo-
net and musket were behind the constable and
the Justice OF the peace. In regard to all the
conditions necessary for our national defense
and the maintenance of our rights, with the
sole exception of our little army, (fOr which
Mt: Hawiey had the highest respect,) we had
inf q Of GE,<n
tude" and contempt. Mr.. Hawley reviewed the
military condition of the nation and the several
states. to show that only in a few states had
anything been done to maintain q proper mill
tary condition. Ifit were understood that the
military arm were pOwerless the bad elements
would at once come to the 'front.' Riot theft,
arson and murder would break loose. Mr., Haw
ley, in making this remark had no reference to
the great mass OF the people, wherever found,
Labor or anything else. He referred to tue in
stance In which honest labor met at Trafalgar
square, In London, and in which all the bad ele-
ments at once came forward and almost para
iyzed the whole city of London. A few dozen
biackguards in such a case could do great harm
DE referred to the great draft riots in New York
Mr.. Teller said that was in a case of war.
Mr.. Hawley replied that all riots were a case
AS to the use of the militia to put down riots.
Mr.. Hawley asked how the people OF Pennsyl-
vania, for example, would like the idea OF the
u put down a riot in the latter state. The
UnftedStates forces would have respect in every
state. The result of the want OF sufficient army
was shown in the war of 1912, when
our Executive Mansion became smoking ruin
Referring to coast defenses, Mr.. Hawley said
our coasts were practically defenseless Our
ports were now death traps. Modern missiles
OF war would go through six walls one after the
other, each one of which might be thick as
the thickeSt walls of our strongest forts and
clear through the best of our ships. IT we
should be fairly prepared for war, we would
have no war. live were SO defenseless as now,
hn in Il
believed that the Prussian kings snub of q
French diplomat would lead to the amazing
res results OF the FrancoGerman war, or who in
that millions of cOmbatantS would be needed
within SO short a time? Mr. Hawley alluded
also, to the lamentable exposure of our COAST
cities, especially the exposure OF San Francisco
to the guns of a Chinese war ship. In referring
to the militia of the states, he said Connecticut
In the country,
Mr. Teller said nobody was opposing the
building OF Notifications or the Manufacture
OF guns. The bill was not Tor Notifications or
guns, but for an increase of the army.
Mr. Logan said forts and guns could not be
manned with green men.
House of Representatives.
The Speaker laid before the House the mes
sage of the President on the subject of Chinese
Immigration. Referred to the committee on
foreign affairs.
Mr.. Dibble Is. c. submitted the conference
report on Inc Din providing for a public build
lug DIT San antonio, texas. and 1T agreed n
AS passed the bill appropriates 100000.
THE RIVER AND HARBOR BILL
MIR. Willis (ky.) reported back the river and
harbor appropriation bill from the comnittee
having charge of the subject, and it was referred
to the committee of the whole
THE SHIPPING BILL.
In the morning hour, Mr.. Dunn (Ark.). on be-
half OF the committee on American shipping,
called up resolution setting apart the 22d,
I, n ~,
the free ship" bill. Adopted. "a
Mr.. Holman Qnd.) in behalf of the select In.
dian commission, called up the bill providing for
SIX persons to be appointed by the President to
inspect and report on the condition of indians
ana Indian affairs. Three OF the members of
the commission are to be detailed from the off,
GERS OF the army and the others to be appointed
from civil life or detailed from officers of the
Interior department..
District i'm Congress-.
STREET RAILROADS
The subcommittee of the Senate District ,or,.
mtttee on railroads had a meeting TODAY and
examined the several bills pending to charter
street railroads and amend the Charters of ex
listing roads, No action was taken.
THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF DENTAL sc1rrrr
The bill introduced by Mr.. Teller in the Sem
ate to incorporate the National Academy of
Dental Science, provides that "the academy
shall, whenever called upon by anv denarf
ment OF the government, Investigate, examine
SAPoI.HACh' auu report upon any subject of
Qentai science, the actual expenses of such in
Vestlgauons examinations, experiments and
reports 10 De paid from appropriations which
ma! De MADE for the purpose; but the academy
snali receive no compensation for any services
70 the government of the United States"
among the 1ncorporators named are Edward
Maynard, III. A. Wadsworth and w w. Evans
% o. wasnnlEgton city; John Mahoney, of Rich
mono u b. Peason. OF Lynchburg and Ii M
Wllkerson and IL. II. Keech, OF Baltimore.
MR.. SINGLETON AND THE LIBRARY BILL
Representative Singleton has been the re-
clplent OF many congratulations on account of
the passage OF the library bill by the House.
me result has made manifest the Injustice OF
ing to rush the bill through during the honr it.
nao lew Gays since, which would have been
Impossible to accomplish and would have nro-
NoKed opposition 10 the bill. MIR. Singleton
Says Tue Dill is sure to go through the Senate
pIon ptiy. mere Is no difference whatever
That passed by the Senate last wear.
senator voorhees, told q STAR repOrter this
afternoon that he intended to cali mn the IL
Drary OH before adjournment this evening
debate. eS' "''ou'
IA 1AENT OLE A CLAIM FOR WOODEN PAvEMENTs
NEVER LAID RECOMMENDED.
ihe mousse committee On claims has decided
70 report favorably bill authorizing the Sec
retary OF the Treasury to pay $50, s5s to the
6aiaIo Faving company, In settlement OF
s ~ l growing out OF the contract to Law
s,S,OOU square yards of wooden pnvcments in
ILLS city. Inc contract was made with the
board OF public works, and 1t was claimed that
for were permitted to be laid. For the
WORK which they were allowed to finish fne