Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1886-06-24
CONGRESSIONAL.
MONDAY, June IA.

fixture bill was taken up and Sen. Call
resumed his remarks in support of the
proposition to forfeit all lands not earned,
within the time prescribed by congress.
Sen. Mitchell offered an amendment, to
exclude from the forfeiture lapds coter-
minous with the completed portion of
the Canada branch. If the company
could not complete the Cascade branch
the farmers and producers of the Pacific
Northwest would have to remain at the
mercy of the Oregon Railway & Naviga-
ton Company. In the course of the
debate Plumb offered a resolution
which was agreed to, calling on
the postmaster general for informa-
ton as to the expenes of the inland
water routes of the United States.
and the amount OF mail transported over
them. At o'clock George having the
floor on the forfeiture bill the senate adj
journed.
House-In the House Mr.. Cobb, of
Indiana, called up the report of the COM
mittee on public lands recommending
concurrence in the senate amendments to
the Atlantic d Pacific land forfeiture bill.
Mr.. McRoe, of Arkansas, vigorously OPP
posed the senate amendments, contend
ing that notwithstanding the title of the
would convert the bill into confirmation
act. The report of the committee was
then agreed to and the amendments con-
CURED in. Under call of the states
several bills were introduced and re-
ferred, after which the floor was accor-
ded to the district of Columbia committee
The bill was passed prohibiting book
making of all kinds, and pool selling in
the district. The bill to incorporate the
Washington Gable railway company of the
district of Columbia, gave rise to con-
siderable discusoussion, but no action was
taken. The house then adjourned.
TUESDAY, June Is.
SenGte-In the senate The Northern
Pacific forfeiture bill was taken up, and
Sen. George resumed his remarks on it.
He made an elaborate legal argument to
show that the company is not entitled to
lands not earned strictly within the terms
grant. He argued that the action of the
government In accepting sections of the
road after the time presented by the act
was not in accordance with the law,
and their action was therefore void.
The amendment of Van Wyck was then
brought to vote. That amendment de-
clares forfeited the lands co-terminous
with that portion of the Cascade branch
not completed at date of the passage of
the pending bill. The amendment was
agreed to, yeas "a, nays Is. Eustis then
formally submitted his amendment pro-
viding for the confirmation of titles of
actual settlers; rejected, yeas II, nays 3d.
Sen. Van Wyck offered an amendment
repeating the clause of the granting act
which made the right of way exempt
from taxation in the territories. He said
that under all circumstances the road
should bear its share of the taxation
The amendment was agreed to; yeas,
&c; nays, 20. The bill being brought to
a vote, it was passed yeas, Al mays, l (Sen.
Blair. On motion of Sen. Dolph, the bill
repeating the presumption timber culture
and desert land acts was then laid before
the senate and is unfinished business for
tomorrow. Adjourned.
House-In the house Mr.. Frederick,
of Ia, from the committee on invalid
pensions, reported back with amendment
the senate bill for the relief of soldiers of
the late war hOnorably discharged after
three months service, who are disabled
and dependent on their own labor for
support. To committee of the whole.
The house then went into committee
Of the whole on the appropriation bill.
The pending amendment was that offered
by O'Neil restoring the salary of the as
sistant treasurer at st. Louis to $4,000.
The amount appropriated by the bill
being $4,000. Mr.. ONeils amend
ment was agreed to, as was also an
amendment offered by Mr.. FELTON,, in
ereasing to $4,000 the salary of the
assistant treasurer at San Francisco
On motion of Mr.. Throckmorton, the
Of hn Of
was fixed at $4,000. The committee then
rose and the house adjourned.
WEDNESDAY, June 16.
Senote-Almost Immediately after the
opening of the senate Edmunds moved an
executive session, but yielded for re-
quest of the transaction of the morning
business. Sen. Wilson addressed the SEN
ate on the postal bill. He said the pres
ent law relating to postage on merchan-
disc was a most effectual fundamentally
for centraizing. Figures showed that a
package carried over 200 miles by mail at
present rates, brought loss to the gov
eminent, and at the same time it tended
to destroy the business of local dealers all
over the country. The senate then pro-
ceeded to the consideration of the house
bill repeating the pre- emption timber Gull
ture and desert land act. The senate
committee on public lands have amended
the house bill by substituting the pro-
visions Of the senate bill. Sen. Blaire
offered an amendment providing in effect
as to the desert lands, that on the expen-
diture of three dollars for improvements
the government should part with the title
and that none of the lands should be held
in larger bodies than $40 acres in a single
ownership. Senator Plumb did not agree
that there had been such gross frauds as
had been genrally supposed with regard
to the desert lands on any other form of
public lands. After further debate the
senate adjourned without action on the
bill, or the pending amendments.
House-On motion of Mr.. Throckmor-
ton, of Texas, the senate bill was passed
authorizing the Denison & Washita rail
road company to construct road through
Indian territory. The house then went
into committee of the whole on the APP
preparation bill. The salary of the com
missioner of patents was fixed at $4,000
instead of $4,000, as recommended by the
bill. Mr.. Cannon, of Illinois, offered an
amendment, which after a short debate
was agreed to, increasing the appropria-
tions for the bureau of labor in the aggre-
10 Ok 4hao