The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-04-22
THE FORTY-NINTH CONGRESS.
The House Discusses Rivers and Harbors, and
the Senate Passes Unimportant Bills.

The House Discusses Rivers and Harbors, and
the Senate Passes Unimportant Bills.
WASHINGTON, April 2l.-Mr. Hatch, of Mis-
souri,, from the committee on agriculture, re-
ported resolution calling on the Commissioner
of Agriculture for information as to the amount of
wheat and corn hand in this country. where it is
located the number of acres of winter and spring
wheat now in the ground, the amount likely to
be required for expectation, and other informa-
ton on the subject Adopted.
Mr.. Townshend, Of Illinois, from the COM
mittee on patents, reported bill to limit the
jurisdiction of United States Courts in patent
cases, and to protect persons who without no.
tice, are bona fide manufacturers, purchasers,
vendors or users of articles for the exclusive
or sale of which a patent has been granted.
Placed on the calendar
Mr. Morrill,, of Kansas, from the committee on
invalid pensions, reported bill to pension SOL
diers who were prisoners of war during the late
war. Referred to the committee of the whole.
Mr.. Singleton, of Mississippi, from the COM
mittee on the library, reported bill for the
erection of q monument over the grave of
General Daniel Morgan. Referred TO the COM
mttee of the whole
Mr.. Worthington, of Illinois, from the com
mittee on foreign affairs. reported resolution
correspondence between the State Department
and representatives of the French and Chinese
governments relative to the good Offices exerted
by the United States to bring about an amicable
arrangement of the questions lately in dispute
between these countries.
In the morning hour the House resumed con-
sideration of the bill for the relief of the Ala
bama flood sufferers and it was supported by
Mr. Cannon, of Illinois.
The morning hour expired without action be-
inc tab fhc tic al
the calendar.
The House then went into committee of the
whole, Mr.. Hammond, Of Georgia. in the chair,
on the river and harbor appropriation bill
Mr.. Hepburn. of Iowa. moved to strike out the
paragraph appropriating 100000 for improve
ment of Galveston harbor. He could see DO ma
terial difference between the proposed plan of
improvement and that which had been de-
nounced by the Galveston Representative Mr.
Ochiltreel during last Congress. The points of
difference between the two plans were detailed
by Messrs. Stewart, Reagan and Cain. of Texas,
who also pointed out the great Importance of
Galveston harbor to the commerce of the coun
try.
preparation in the bill for the district repre-
sented by the gentleman from Iowa, and Mr..
Hepburn replied in the negative, stating that
there were no navigable rivers in Iowa.
Mr.. Cain regarded that fact as the milk in
the cocoanut" If the gentleman had share of
pork he would not have made any complaint.
Mr.. Hepburn suggested that the gentlemans
remark seemed to imply that no one had right
to talk about the bill except those who had some
pork in the barrel
The motion 60 strike out was lost-33 to 81
but it was agreed that vote should be taken
upon it in the House.
On motion of Mr.. Markham, of California,
the appropriation for the survey Of San Fran
cisco harbor, San Pablo bay, Suisun bay, and
the mouths of the San joaquin and Sacramento
rivers. was reduced from $50, 900 to $ll 000
This was done in accordance with the recon-
mendation of supplementary report Of the
chief of engineers.
Mr. Negley, of Pennsylvania, raised a point of
order against the clause of the bill which di-
reefs the Secretary of War to negotiate for the
purchase of the works of the Monongahela Nav
igatlon Company; the value of the works to be
ascertained by commission of three engineers
OF the engineer corps. If the company refuses
to sell its works. or demands a price deemed by
the Secretary to be an excessive one, the Secre-
tary is directed TO acquire the works by con-
demnation, or, in the exercise of his discretion,
to take possession of the works.
Mr. Negley regarded the clause extraordi-
nary, unconstitutional and without precedent.
1t proposed to confer on an executive officer of
the government the power to seize private fran
chises and private rights without Cue process of
law. The Chair-Ar Welhorn, of Texas
ruled that the point was not we'll taken, as the
reasons given in support went entirely to the
question of the expediency of the legislation
Mr. Reagan, of Texas, then moved to strike
out the clause. declaring that it was a plain
company, and to ignore its charter rights.
Mr.. Bayne, of Pennsylvania, said that the
Monongahela river was national highway and,
in support of that proposition, declared that the
tonnage of that river was greater than that of
any otner river in the country, or of the harbor
of New York. All this tonnage would have to
pay tribute to q corporation, if the clause were
stricken from the bill. The coal land lying ada
cent to the river worth not less than six thou
sand million dollars, and the tax paid by every acre
an average Of $3.50. Here was nuisance that
ought to be and could be abated The company
claimed that it had made the Monongahela river
a navigable stream. 1t had been a navigable
river before the company located there, because
the tonnage of the river has gone out on the
high freshets at the very time that the tonnage
of the Ohio river went out; and that commerce
would have gone out if the navigation company
had never placed lock or dam on the river
Mr.. Blanchard, of Louisiana, defended the
clause.
Mr.. Keller, Of Pennsylvania, thought the
proposition embodied in the bill was little short
of Infamous. 1t was a proposition to dispose of
the individual rights Of citizens OF Pennsylvania
by town meeting. To adopt it would show
that the doctrines of Socialism controlled Con-
gress and that the rights of individuals were no
to be longer held sacred.
After further debate, on motion of Mr. Willis,
of Kentucky, that portion of the clause was
stricken out which gives the Secretary of War
discretionary powers to seize the works of the
navigation company
Pending further action, the committee arose
and the House adjourned
Proceedings In the Senate.
WASHINGTON, April 21.-The Chair laid be-
fore the Senate letters from the Secretary of
the Interior, transmitting information as to land
grant wagon roads in Oregon, and copy of the
session laws of the Territory of Wyoming. Re-
fnrrad