The semi-weekly miner., 1886-01-30

| iutlOn Gaining on Ine secretary Ot CDe In
terror for copies Of all contracts or lease.
which are to be found on file in his depart
ment between the Southern Pacific and an,
railroad to which land grants have beef
made, or which has received any subsidies
from the United States, also a copy of the
charter OF incorporation of the Southern
Pacific Company and also coDies of all con
tracts on tile between the Pacific Steam
ship Company and any land grant or sub
sidixed railroad.
Adopted.
| MONUMENT FOR GENERAL GRANT.
Mr.. Viele from the Committee on Military
Affairs, reported bill TO aid in the erec.
tion OF a monument to Gen. Grant in New
York City. Referred to Committee Of the
Whole.
Mr.. Peel, from the Committee on Indian
Affairs, reported bill granting the right OF
way through the lands oi the Choctaw and
Chickasaw Indians to the st. Louis and
San Francisco Railroad Company. Placed
ON the calendar.
NAVAL RETIREMENT BILL.
The House resumed in the morning hour
the consideration of the bill for the volun-
tary retirement Of certain naval officers.
It was vigorously advocated by Mr.. Nc
Ado and Mr.. Sayers. Mr.. Thomas gave
notice that he would move to recommit
the bill. He was led to this course by the
discovery that the bill was not perfect and
not by the oratory OF the storm tossed
mariner from Tennessee. (McAlillan) nor
by the communistic doctrine advocated by
the gentleman from Texas, (Reagan) who
had bid for votes by denouncing the heroes
OF his country; by demoninating them
aristocrats and talking of II privileged class
| and the down-trodden people. This kind
OF talk would prove Intellectual, for around
those heroes had closed the love OF co..
| OOO, 900 OF people. Mr.. Thomas moved to
recommit the bill pending which Mr.. War
ner moved to lay the bill on the table. The
latter motion was lost, yeas los, nays
| 157, but, before the motion to recommit
was put, the morning hour had expired.
RAILROAD LAND GRANTS.
The House then proceeded to tho consid-
[ Grafton OF the bill declaring forfeited GER
| tain land grants to the States of Mississippi,
Alabama and Louisiana to aid in the con-
with that passed by the House in the
! Forty eighth Congress, but the Committee
Oh Public Lands recommend an amend
ment, excepting the Gulf & Ship Island
Road OF Mississippi from the operations OF
| the bill. The question being onthe ameud-
ment OF the committee, excepting the Gulf
| & Ship Island Road, it was rejected-yeas,
S3 nays, It's. Mr.. Holman, of Indiana,
offered all amendment, that the lands re-
stored to the public domain shall be sub.
ject to entry and settlement under the pro-
visions of the homestead law, provided
however, that il the sales OF any such
lands have heretofore been made by the
United States such sales are hereby con-
firmed. The amendment was adopted and
the bill us amended passed. The House
then adjourned.
Committee Work.
The House Committee on Military Al
fairs to day instructed Viele to report
favorably the bill introduced by Mr..
Dowdney for the erection OF monument
in New York to the memory OF General
Grant. The bill appropriates S5OO,OOO
for the purpose, the ground to be donated
by New York City. The President is au-
tn rrized to appoint AM officer, or engineer OF
the army, and five commissioners to serve
without pay, who, with the executive com.
mittee of the Grant Monument Association
OF New York, shall expend the money under
the direction OF the Secretary OF War. It
is provided that no part Of the money
shall be expended until the sum of $780,
900 shall have been subscribed and paid
into the fund of the Grant Monument As.
sociation, and is available for the purpose
OF erecting said monument.
SILVER LEGISLATION.
The House Committee on coinage, weights
and measures to-day began consideration
OF the silver question. The whole subject
was discussed in an informal way and
while members spoke more freely than here.
tofore they did not state their views spe-
officially, but IN very general terms. The
discussion tn,s; ii wide range, reference be-
ing made to the French monetary system
nI fO1l
resolution was introduced by Mr.. Lanham
during the session:
Re olved, That it is the duty Of the Com
mittee on Coinage, Weights and Measures
at as early Il day as practicable to report
to the house bill looking to free coinage
OF standard silver dollars.
Mr.. Scott introduced as substitute
the following:
Resolved, AS the sense OF this commit
tee that the best interests OF this country
cannot be promoted by any bill now before
the committee looking to the free coinage
OF silver.
COIN CERTIFICATES SUGGESTED.
Mr.. Bynum introduced resolution as
follows:
Resolved, That 1t is the sense OF this
committee that the laws regulating and
providing for the issue OF gold and silver
certificates should be SO amended as to
provide for the retirement Of the same
and for the issue OF coin certificates in their
stead.
No action was taken by the committee
upon any OF these resolutians, nor did
they illicit any distinct expression of views
from any Of the members. 1t was resolved
that the question should be further dis
cussed and an opinion sought from the
different persons interested in the question
II L.,l, I n
will proceed to consider the distinct propo-
sitions now before it.
The Civil Service Commission were before
the House Committee yesterday and point
ed out some OF the beauties of the system
Among other things they said that five out
OF every twenty applicants examined had
received appointments. and there had only
been 600 changes out OF 5000 places SUBJ
ject to the civil service rules.
The second game OF the billiard tourna-
ment between Schaeffer and Vigneaux took
place last evening and resulted in favor of
Schaeffer. The score was, Schaeffer 600,
Vigneaux SCI. making the total for the
two nights, Schaeffer 1,2OO, Vigneaux S35.
In the trial OF Gen. Shaler, in New York
for accepting u bribe, the de-
fendant took the stand and swore that all
the allegations of the prosecuting witnesses
were false. The case was given to the Jury
at p. M, and at IL p. IN. they had not
agreed.
The Committee on Military Affairs have
bill for the restoration OF Ger.
tain officers OF the army. 1t will cover the
case Of Fltz John Porter.
The House Committee on Agriculture
nave agreed to report favoraby a bill to
:reate the Department OF Agriculture and
Labor, under the charge OF a Secretary Of
Agriculture and Labor to be appointed as
'ther Cabinet Secretaries. In connection
With the Department there shall be a
Bureau of Labor. which shall secure and
'eport the labor statistics OF the country
The House House Committee on Private
land Claims have agreed to report a bill to
onfirm title to claims in Arizona known
IS the Tree Almes." "San Juan de Las
5oquilos de Noyales," San Rafael del
|alle, San Jose de Sarota," and DOS
togales de Elias" land grants.
Confirmed by the Senate.
WASHINGTON, January 27.-The Senate
I e-n