National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1886-03-10
THE HOUSE.

The speaker laid before the House the re-
spouse Of the Secretary Of the Navy to the
Boutclle resolution calling for information
in regard to the Norfolk navy yard.
Mr.. Boutelle, Of Maine, asked unanimous
consent that the document be ordered
printed and laid upon the table, In order
that he might, at some future time, submit
some remarks upon 1t. He believed that
the substantial allegations made in his reso-
luton were sustained by the document.
Mr.. Beach, of New York, and Mr.. Eden,
of Illinois, objected to the request, and the
communication was referred to the COM
mittee on naval affairs.
In the morning hour the House resumed
consideration Of the bill requiring Pacific
railroads to pay the cost of surveying their
lands and to take out patents thereto.
Mr.. Crisp, Of Georgia, said that one Of
the propositions presented to the committee
on Pacific railroads was to require the COM
panies to pay the cost Of survey under pain
Of the forfeiture of the lands This the
committee had considered as harsh plan,
and one Of doubtful legality. Under the
provisions Of the pending bill, the compa-
MES were required within sixty days to Sc
lect the lands to which they were entitled
and to pay the cost of surveying and con-
veying. II the companies failed to do this,
the Secretary Of the Interior was directed
to notify the companies how much land
they are reqlred to pay into the treasury.
Mr.. Hanback,, OF Kansas, favored the bill
as providing remedy for great existing
evil
On motion of Mr.. Holmes, OF Iowa, an
amendment was adopted providing that
nothing in this act shall be construed or taken
| In any wise to affect or impair the right of
| Congress at any time hereafter further to
| alter, amend, or repeal the various Pacific
railroad acts, or TO impair or waive any
right or remedy now existing in favor Of
| the United States
The bill was then passed without oppo-
sition.
On behalf of the committee on labor
Mr., James, of New York, called up the
bill to prohibit any officer, servant, or agent
| OF the government to hire or contract out
the labor Of prisoners incarcerated for vi
olatlng the laws of the United States gov
| eminent.
Mr.. James said that the bill was In the
interest OF the honest mechanic. The sys-
TEN which prevailed at some of the peni-
tentiaries OF the country OF hiring out con-
Wet labor had worked great hardship and
| injustice to the honest mechanic. In his
own district great industry-the manulac-
ture of hats-had been entirely crushed out
because IL could not compete with convict
labor.
The bill was passed-yeas 249, nays 8.
The House then went into committee ol
the whole (Mr, Townshend, Of Illinois, In
the chair) on the Indian appropriation bill
Mr., Wellbom, of Texas, briefly ran ovel
the appropriations made by the bill, and
compared them with those made for the
current year, summing up with the state
ment that the pending bill carried $500,
562 as against S5,777,45l appropriated fol
the current year.
Messrs. Nelson, of Minnesota, and
ThTockmorton, of Texas, continued the dc
bate, and pending further discussion the
committee rose, and the House, at 4i3O p
M, adjourned.