The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-02-17
THE FoRTY-gINTH CONGRESS.
Routine Business in the Senate-The Debate
on the Blair Educational Bill.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 16-A memorial was pre-
scented in the Senate, to-day by Mr.. Plumb. be-
ing concurrent resolution of the Legislature of
Kansas, praying that Congress may provide for
rights of way for railroads through the Indian
Territory Referred.
A petition of bankers merchants lawyers.
etc, OF Savannah, Ca. was presented by MIR.
Brown, which prayed for the repeal of the silver
coinage act He felt it his duty, Mr.. Brown
said. to present this petition of such highly intel
hgent men. but also felt it his duty to say that
he could not agree with the statements of the Pc
tition to the effect that the law had been injuri
GUS to the country. ETC. Mr.. Brown added that.
If it were desirable. he could secure petitions
signed by hundreds Of thousands of the people
of that State against the repeal Of the coinage
act The potion was referred.
Mr. Morrill,, from the committee on finance,
reported favorabiy the House bill providing that
the Treasurer of the United States may, with
the consent of the Treasury authorize the As
sistant Treasurer to act in the place and dis
charge the duties of the Treasurer. and that in
the necessary absence of either the Treasurer or
Assistant Treasurer the Treasurer may, with
like consent designate clerk of the Treasury
Department to be acting Assistant Treasurer.
The bill also provides that the official bond of the
principal of the Office should be held to cover and
apply to the person appointed to act for the time
being Mr. Morrill, said the passage of the bill
was urgently needed at this time. as the Assist
ant Treasurer was sick, and the Treasurer had
been working so hard that his hands had become
disabled. and it was with difficulty that he could
sign papers.
Mr. ingalls, inquired whether the Assistant
Treasurer was not an officer to be appointed by
the President and confirmed by the Senate.
Mr. Morrill, replied. Yes"
Mr. ingalls, said this bill would permit Of the
appointment of an Assistant Secretary. or per-
son to act as such indefinitely, and without the
consent of the Senate
Mr. Morrill, said the committee had thought of
amending the bill to limit the appointment
to period of ten days, but that any amendment
would send the bill back TO the House
Mr.. Ingalls, did not think legislation of this
character at all wise.
Mr.. Allison thought the powers conferred
by the bill should be made to expire in ninety
days.
Mr.. Morrill, thought sixty days would be suf-
hcient.
a corresponding amendment, which was agreed
TO-
Mr.. Wilson, of Iowa, did not believe the bill
would properly protect the United States in the
matter of the official bond.
Mr. Beck said the finance committee had sent
to the Attorney general to ascertain that point.
He Mr. Beck believed that the government was
amply protected.
Mr.. Hoar thought the bill unnecessary. He
construed the laws already existing to cover the
present emergency.
After further discussion, Mr. Wilson, of Iowa,
again urged his point that the provision relating
to the official bond was defective and added
that the passage of the bill in its present shape
would be setting most dangerous precedent.
He moved the recommittal OF the bill to
the finance committee for further consideration.
The motion was agreed to, and the bill recon-
mitted.
A resolution offered by Mr.. Maxey was agreed
to, directing the committee on the Judiciary to
report what legislation was necessary in order
to subject property removed into the Indian Ter
ritory to attachment or to levy and forced sale.
In Offering the resolution Mr. Maxey explained
that much property had been run over the lines
into the Indian Territory by debtors in Texas
Kansas and Arkansas thus defrauding creditors
No civil process was in operation In that Terri
tory and great frauds were the result.
The education bill was then taken up, and
Mr.. jackson took the floor and addressed the
Senate in favor of the bill.
Mr.. Pugh said he had voted for the bill in
obedience to the instructions of his Legislature.
His colleague [Mr. Morganl had offered an
amendment short time ago, in an appropria-
ton BILL by which several Thousand dollars were
to be devoted to the work of arrestng the raw
ages of the caterpillar Mr.. Pugh could not
see how Congress could have the power to arrest
the ravages of the caterpillar in certain localities
of certain States and not have the power arrest
local evil, and the other was great national
pest.
Mr.. Blair declared the bill CONSTITUTIONAL and
added that it was useless for anybody to say that
the people Of the South did not want this meas
ure passed. He had received letters from teach
ers in Texas favoring the bill.
Mr.. Coke said the teachers did not represent
the people of Texas. The State was almost
solidly Democratic, and the last Democratic
convention denounced this bill
Mr.. Hawley said the State Board of Educa-
ton of Connecticut believed this bill unwise.
Eere the debate closed for tho day The
Chair laid before the Senate the resolution here
tofore offered by Mr.. Plumb, calling on the Sec
rotary of the Interior for information as to the
number land the names) of the special agents
employed by his department for the purpose of
detecting frauds in the entries of public lands,
etc. Some amendments, suggested by Mr. Cock
rell extending the scope of the inquiry, having
been made to the resolution, it was agreed to.
The credentials of reelection Of Senator A. P.
German were presented by Mr.. Wilson, of Mary
land. and were read and filed.
The Senate then adjourned.
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