National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1886-06-04

A discussion upon the subject Of the at
titude Of Canada toward this country, as
evinced In the seizure Of fishing vessels,
arose upon petition presented by Senator
Dawes, in which It was prayed that this
government should retaliate upon Canada
for lite offenses. An outline Of the debate
is published in another part Of to-day's
NATIONAL REPUBLICAN,.
On motion OF Mr.. Edmunds, the bill
indemnifying the Chinese for loss sus-
tanned IN the Rock Springs (Wyo.) riot was
taken up, and Mr.. Mitchell addressed the
Senate on It, arguing at length against any
legal or moral obligation to pay the money
provided for in this bill. In the course OF
his remarks he characterized the bill as ian
insult to American citizenship"
The bill providing for the taxation Of rail-
road grant lands was taken up.
Mr.. Plumb, while sympathlzing with the
purpose Of Mr.. Hoar's amendment limiting
purchase under the act to GAO acres, feared
IL would embarrass the operation OF the bill,
and suggested that Mr.. Hoar withdraw his
amendment and embOdy It In separate bill,
with proper detailed provisions, In which
form Mr.. Plumb would support II.
Mr.. Hoar, not wishing to embarrass the
bill, withdrew his amendment, taking occa-
sion also to reply TO the remarks made in
utUutt ny hTs Oh wednesday, III
erence to the "base feen aud feudal tenure
referred to by the senator from New York.
Mr.. lloar said nothing Of that kind was in-
volved In his amendment.
Mr.. Evarts fully agreed with Mr.. Hoar
that the proper aud more desirable relation
Of men to the land they held was as OWL
ers rather than as rent payers, but failed to
see what that had to do with the question
involved In the bill upder consideration.
lie insisted that the liability to forfeiture
which which ~. ~ hill wcald attach to lands af
i,iorrecitI, !, 1io amount to base fee, and, to
8 IINS.Stht, would relegate us to feudal
methods Of land holding.
Considerable debate on this and kindred
points ensued between Mr.. Evarts and Mr..
Hoar, concluded by the latter senator with
the remark that he did not believe the peo-
pie of this country would be contented to
have the wind of any rhetoric, no matter
from what Holian harp 1t might come, In.
stead of solemn facts.
Mr.. Plumb protested against discussions
that had nothing to do with the bill before
the Senate.
After further debate by Mr. George, Mr.
Call, and Mr.. Blair the bill was passed.
Mr.. Van Wyck then called up the House
bill on the same subject and ON his motion
the committee on public lands was dis
charged from Its further consideration.
He then moved the Senate bill as an amend
ment in the nature Of q substitute to the
House bill.
The motion was agreed to, and the House
bill was amended accordingly.
In the "disagreeing vote' Of the two
houses thus brought about, the Senate, on
motion Of Mr.. Van Wyck, ordered COM
mittee of conference. This has the effect
of avoiding the delay which would result
from the consideration of the Senate bill as
an original proposition IN the House OF
Representatives, and puts 1t at once in the
hands of a conference committee.
Mr.. Evarts called up the bill to indemnify
the Chinese for the losses incurred by the
riots at Rock Springs, Wyo.
The bill being placed before the Senate
Mr.. Evarts addressed the Senate on 1t. He
characterized the acts complained Of as dis
graceful to any community In which they
occurred, and disgraceful to any govern
ment that would not punish the guilty
parties and repair the damages done. This
he repeated, and would not qualify. The
persons perpetrating the wrongful act, be
said, were subject to our laws, and we were
responsible for their conduct. The question
was not complicated by any question d
state laws interfering with the Jurisdiction
Of the United States laws. sour people,
he said, "must rescue itself from this fou
blot on our ciyllzation.'' '
Mr.. Call regarded the outrages com
planned of as constituting barbarlsm 81
foul that language failed to adequately de
scribe 1t. He supported the bill.
The matter then went over until to-day
On motion of Mr.. Evarts Cat 1850 p. m.
the Senate went into executive session, and
when lat o'clock) the doors were re
opened the Senate adjourned.