The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-06-25
THE FORTY-NINTH CONGRESS-
The Senate Passes the Bill Giving Dis
trict Judges $4,000 a Year.
Representative Long Defends Charles Francis
Adams Against the Charges Brought by
Mr.. Henlcy-The Sundry Civil Bill.
THE SENATE.
Salaries of District Judges Increased--
Fitz John Potter Bill.


Fitz John PoflsS BIN.
WASHINGTON, June AFTER routine morn
ing business, the bill repeating the pre- emption
and timber culture laws was laid before the SEN
ate On the request of Mr.. Puch it was in
formally laid aside to permit consideration of
the bill providing for the appointment and COM
pensation of United States district judge for
the Southern district of Alabama.
Mr. Logan moved, as an amendment, the pro-
vision of the bill, heretofore passed by the SEN
ate fixing all district judges salaries at s., 900
year
Mr.. Kenna and Mr.. George opposed the
amendment so far as it related to the increase
of salary, Mr.. George maintaining that when
cotton was down to seven cents pound, wheat
to seventy cents bushel, and all other indus
tries depressed it was no time to increase the
salaries of gentlemen who had life places.
Mr.. Conger inquired how much longer we
were to wait for the great benefits TO business
prophesied from the change or administration.
Mr.. George replied: 1--WE have been very
sick, and are endeavoring to recover"
Mr.. Logan advocated the amendment, which
was agreed to- the first division relating to sal
aries), by vote of 80 yeas to 20 nays; the sec
ond division prohibiting nepotism), by viva
voce vote The bill, as amended, was then
passed.
The bill repeating the presumption and timber
culture laws was then proceeded with
Mr. George addressed the Senate on the bill.
In the course of his remarks, he denounced the
frauds committed on the public lands
Mr., Mitchell thought the department had been
| mistaken In many cases as to what was called
fraud"
IT, 90.
transactions in public lands In 1884 there were
55.945 entries under the homestead law, en-
bracipg nearly 5000, 900 acres. The figures for
1885 were nearly the same. In this enormous
aggregate of entries there had. no doubt, been
some frauds-meaning thereby failure to make
strict technical compliance with the regulations
made by the government. In referring to the
recent order of the Land Department suspending
execution of the presumption and timber culture
laws, Mr.. Plumb remarked that whatever pur-
pose there was in that order was the purpose of
the Land Department, and not Of the Secretary
of the Interior. With regard to the absorption
of the public lands in the South, Mr. Plumb in
quired why the Land Department should single
out the poor settler in the wilds of Dakota
while ignoring the organizations that are absorb
ing the public lands in the Southern States. II
seemed singular to Mr.. Plumb that officer Of
the government should be 80 seriously affected
by what Mr.. Plumb could Only denominate a
political, geographical and isothermal stra.
DlSmuS.
Mr.. George said the absorption" referred TO
in the South, so far, at least, Mississippi was
concerned, was not in violation of law, but in
pursuance of law.
Mr.. Stanford stated that the provisions of the
bill as amended in the Senate would absolutely
prevent the reclamation of the desert lands
There were enormous quantities Of such lands
he said, not worth penny an acre, and they
could only be reclaimed by the expenditure Of
large sums of money
The Fitz John Porter bill was then laid before
the Senate.
Mr.. Sewell said it was the same bill that had
passed before There was nothing to DO said
now that would throw any new light on its sub
ject-matter mere statement Of the facts
would be sufficient. Mr.. Sewell then recited
the salient facts in the military history of
General Porter. He had the Clerk read a num-
Der of resolutions of Grand Army posts urging
the passage of the bill. The people, he contin-
ued, had finally come to see that instead of be-
ing criminal Genera! Porter was a martyr
"He comes now before you," said Mr. Sewell, in
conclusion-'he comes now before you, trust
the last time to ask for justice; nay. MIR. Pres-
dent, to demand. The time has gone by to ask
that favorS may be granted TO this man that has
been wronged. IL, who know him as a citizen
of my State and as man whom [ have seen in
the forefront of many a fight now demand
justice of the Senate of the United States for
this man who has been so grossly wropged."
Mr.. Logan obtained the floor to reply to Mr.
Sewel and after an executive session, the SEN
ate adjourned.