Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1886-07-21
THE FoRTY-NlNTH CONGRESS.
Senate.


When tho bill for tho relief Of the settlers
Of the public domain in the States of Kansas
and Nebraska was reached, Van Wyck COM
menced to look around, and fastened his eyes
upon Senator Platt OF Connectcut who
arose slowly from his seat and asked that tho
bill be read 1t had been reported by Mr..
Van Wyck from the COMMITTEES on public
lands, and provided for the appropriation Of
$3.50 0OO to reimburse settlers Il lon the lands
of the Northern Kansas railroad. Mr. Platt
observed that he would like some intorma-
ton about the bill, and started to speak upon
it, when the chair announced that the morn
ing hour had expired, and the bill went over
until tomorrow. Van Wycpl drew n long
sigh of relief, picked up his hat and left the
chamber.
The secret of this extraordinary conduct
was this. While the senate was considering
the river and harbor bill, Senator Hawley
was in the chair and Van Wyck was speak
ing. The latter closed q sentence with the
words "This is all | desire to say" whercupOn
General Ilawey attempted to put the ques-
ton. Van Wyck turne around sharply and
said that he could not he driven off the floor
in that way.
General Hawley answered: ",rhe chair
heard the senator from Nebraska remark
that that was all he desired to say, and,
thinking tnuu nB WIS uDOlU W DIV uONli, plO-
ceeded to state the question"
Van Wycli replied: Il do not think tho
chair thought 50. He knew differently"
General Hawley-Tho senator from Ne
braska, the chair takes the liberty to say,
has no right as n senator or gentleman to
make such a remark.
Mr.. Van Wyck-That does not interfere
with my making it,
At this point Mr.. Hoar called Van Wyck
to order and sharply reprimanded him.
General Hawley'S friends are very indig-
nant at the insult, and his colleague Senator
Platt proposed this morning to give Van
Wyck essen that he would remember He
claimed to have discovered in someway that
the senator from Nebraska has u pccuniary
interest to the extent of 5000 in the bill,
VII Oh he himself had reported from the COM
mittee on public lands, aud proposed to
cross-examne him about it Some
was being constructed Van Wyck
learned that change of route had been de-
terniled upon AMI with lot of his friends
located upon the lands which the track
would pass over with the expectation that
tho company would buy them Off. Van
Wyck, himself, got about 20)0 acres Of the
land, but the railway company, contrary to
his expectations, went into court, got writ
Oh pletlllltllI, anu ulSIOSScSSctt Illl Nh
friends of their claims. The bill proposes to
pay these settlers 50 an acre for the property
which they failed to get,
House.
The senate took up the river and harbor
bill, and Mr.. Mcmillan (who has charge of iu
moved an order that the bill bo recommtted
to the committee on commerce. with in
structions TO amend it as voted by the senate
-, la ,,bnIn that in,
each item of the bill and in the aggregate
there be reduction of 80 per cent; that the
committee amcAd the bill according and not
otherwisc) and report the same complete
forthwith.
A long and spirited discussion followed, in
which many senator's took part
Mr.. McNilnn finally withdrew tho motion,
and the senate proceeded TO vote on the va.
rious amendments to tho bill
Each amendment was agreed to without
challenge until the item for Cumberland
Sound Georgia and Floridal was reached.
1t was reduced from $4,000 to 100000.
Mr.. Call made an appeal i'll favor OF tho
larger sum.
The amendment was rcjectcd-19 to g.
The next important amendment on which
q yea and nay vote was taken was ono reduc.
ing the appropriation for improving the Ten
ncSSce river at MuSSelS Shoals from $50 OO)
to $3.50, 600. The amendment was rejected
10 to 81.
Mr.. Elmnds made an argument against
thcamendmcnt which proposes to appropriate
$50, 900 for the purchase of the Portage
Lake Canal. His argument was replied to
by Messrs Conger and Palmer.
Mr.. salisbury argued against the purchase
of artificial works belonging to individuals
or States
The amendment was agreed to.
When the amendment in rcsation to the
Calumet River was reached, Mr.. Edmunds
said it was evident that majority of
the senate was determined to adopt tho
five or SIX different measures looking
to transferring to the United States
works which the government had already
paid for in pub ic lands. He was bound to
suppose that each of them would 90 through
if it were alone: but he was also bound to be-
lieve that each one wouldg 20 much faster and
better when supported by the comfortable
backing of all the Others 1t was Useless,
therefore, for a senator who did not wish to
delay or impede the action of tho senate, to
take up time in resisting that which could
not be resisted. And So il he were silent all
the rest of the time he did not want the
senate or the people of his State to suppose
that these other provisions of tho bill were
suitable and proper.
The amendment was agreed to.