The semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1882-1886, 1886-02-27
NATIONAL LEGISLATION.
Proceedings in both Branches
of Congress Yesterday.
SOLONS AT WORK
Important Financial Document by
Mr.. Hewitt-The Grant Monu-
menr-Bills Introduced.


WASHINGTON, February 23.-Tn the Sen
ate to-day among the bills reported favor
ably from the committees and placed or
the calendar, was one by Mr.. Van Wycl
from the Committee on Public Lands tc
confirm entries under the public land laws
Of the United States. Among the bills in
troduced and appropriately referred, was
one by Mr.. Edmunds to facilitate the ad
ministration of the laws in Alaska. Mr.
Edmunds explained that persons appointed
70 Office in Alaska could not give bonds ir
that Territory and the bill was intended to
enable such persons to give bonds in State
from whi"h they were appointed. Mr.. Nc
Gill Offered a preamble and resolution
which at his request was ordered printed
AID laid on the table for the purpose. The
purpose Of the preamble and resolution is
to show that the Senate Judiciary Com
nittee has not authority to arraigi. the
Attorney General, as it did in its recent re.
port and accompanying resolutions in re.
gard to the refusal Of The Attorney General
to transmit to the committee ce tain pa.
pers in regard to
HOvAI.s FROM OFF CE
which had been a ked for by that committee.
The preamble SAYS: Referring to the re-
cent judiciary Committee resolutions, it
said resolutions is adopted rs being true,
in fact, and as a matter of law. it will,
thereby, pronounce the Judgment OF q ma
inrity of this body without any trial nc-
cording to law That he ATTORNEY. General
of the United Stares, is guilty OF and con-
demned for willuIIv committing an oifense
in the conduct uf his office, which ia in viO-
laton of his official duty, and is bver.
sive Of the fun'la metal principles of the
Government of the United States. The
Attorney -GeneraI if he has in fact willfuIy
committed an, "ffensr that is in violation
Of his official duty. and is subversive Of
fundamental prime pies Of the Government
Of the United States. is only amenable to
Condemnation Of the Senate, when the
Senate s sitting with the Chief Justice of
thu United States as a Court of Impeach-
ment TO hear and decide uEOn articles OF
impeachment presented by the House OF
Representati es.'
VAN wYcK's BILL.
The bill reported by Senator Van Wyck
provides that any entry heretofore made
in cunfnrmitv with the rules. regnla tnns
and decisions nf thr G neral Land Office a +
the time, shall he adjuigeh in the same
manner AS il said rnI,s, regulations and
d-risi"rs had not been reversed or modi-
fed. 1t il ALSO provided that such entry
must have been made in good faith and no
charges uf fraud have been made against
the same. Mr.. Van Wyck says the pur-
pose nf the bill is to quiet the apprehension
OF the settlers who fear that soae of the
rulings oi &" missioner General Sparks
may have the effect of cancelli"g their
claims which were taken in good fait h
nndtr the laws as interpreted by former
Commissioners He proposes, therefore. to
cryst ,liza certain well recognized principles
of practice into Il statute.
NORTHERN PACIFIC LANDS.
Mr.. Dnlph, from the Committee on Pub
lr i.autls reported Il resolution calling on
the Secretary OF the Interior for full infOr-
matian concerning the selection OF parties
Cor surveying and patentng nf the lands
given in ali Of tine construction IL the
Mort hera Pac,G.. Z .iir.,ad. The resolution
was agreed to.
Mr. H"ar called up the bill appropria ting
$3.50. 600 for the erection OF monument
in Washington City to the me nory of Gen.
Grant. The bill was passed. On going to
the ca 'endar. among the bills rostpnned to
a later day, was the WOman's Suffrage
Constitutional Amendment, Mr.. Blair say
ing that although it was II very important
measure it could not be discussed under
the five-tnnnte rule The education bill
was then placed before the Senate and Mr.
Gray took the floor in opposition to the
bill.
QUARANTINE AT SAN FRANCISCO.
WASHINGTON february e3.-Among the
bill introduced in the Senate we're the FL
lowing: BY Senator Stamford, to esta blis,
Quarantine station at the port OF San
Francisco. to be under the supervision OF
the Marine Hospital service. 1t apprOpri-
ates 500. 600 for the purchase Of grounds
and the erection of suitab BILE buildings for
the purpose and provides that the Use
thereof may be from time to time granted
to the authorities Of the health depart
ments of the city and county If San Fran
cisco and OF tn" State of California, upon
the condition that they shall assume the
expense of maintaining the station
Bv Mr.. Collaborating that in all cases
OF homestead entry where the honest eater
or his widow have been residing upon or
cuItivating the land for five wears, a patent
therefor shall be grated, although the final
proof was not made within the time re
quired by law, and such proof may he
made at any time and patent obtained
for the same.
THE PACIFIC RAILROADS.
BY Senator Van Wyck- Authorizing that
the proceeds of the sinking funds created by
the Thurnan act he used In the construc-
tion of branch railroads and telegraph
lines. 1t creates 4 board to consist nf
the Secret ary of the Treasury. Secretary Of
the Interior md the President of the Union
Pacific and Kansas Pacific Railroads which
shall convert into monev the securities now
on deposit in the Treasury as a sinking
fund TO pay at maturity the indebtedness OF
these companies and TO Use the same to
construct branch railroads and teleera ph
lines tn connect with the lines OF said com
pauics. 1t provides in detail for the man
ner "f construction, the ra tes to he cha rQed
and for other matters connected with the
construction and operation OF such roads
and lines. Adjourned.