Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-12-12
A BIG LAND GRAB F0lLED.
THE ONTONAGON Ora So BLlA OK
LISTED IN THE HOUSE.

MIR. Payson Declares the scheme Piece
Barefaced Robbery From the Start
photographs of Butnpbs cked Bridges
and Cross Eyed Rails Laid on a Tieless
Road-Bed OF snowbaHs.
ARLINGTON, Dec. 11.-ln the Hons e
today, on motion Of Mr.. Peters, Of Kan.
GAS. the bill was passed extending the
laws of the United States upon certain
unorganized territory south of the State
Of Kansas know as the public land strip,
and providing that this land shall be SUBJ
,act to entry by actual settlers under the
homestead law.
The Speaker announced the appoint
nent of Messrs. Morrison, Harris and
Mckinley as conferees on the fractional
gallon bill, and of Messrs. Cobb, Van
Eaton and Payson on the alien landlord
bill.
MIR. Randall moved that the House pro-
coed to consideration of the sundry civil
appropriation bill, but the motion was
lost bv vote of 119 yeas to 12l nays.
In the morning hour Mr.. Payson, OF
illinois. on behalf of the Com mittee on
Public Lands, called up the bill declaring
forfeiture of the Ontonagon and Brul Q
river land grant,
CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE GRANT.
In detailing the circumstances of the
grant Mr.. Payson declared that from the
srqaniZation of the Ontonagon and
Brule River Company no step had ever
been taken by it which did not indicate
that that organization had been purely
speculative and effected for the purpose
Of getting land from the general govern
ment. 1t had been an attempt
at barefaced robbery from
lis commencement down to the present
time, Referring to the statement made
bv persons interested in the road that it
mad been accepted by commissioners and
reported upon as having been built in
frst-class style, he asserted that miles of
road had no other ballast than ice and
snow, which, melting in the spring, left
rails held in suspension eight inches
above the ground.
PROVED BY PHOTOGRAPHS,
In support of his assertion he produced
nhotogra phs of various sections of the
road and commented upon them. much to
the amusement of the House. A bridge,
as depicted by a photograph, he declared
TO be bumped like camel and backed
like a whale. A section OF mile in
length showed but one railroad tie, while
a 250-tOOt cut was shown as being filled
with logs and brush. The bill was passed
without division. 1t forfeits $4,000
acres.
SUNDRY CIVIL APPROPRIATIONS.
The House then went into committee of
the whole on the sundrT civil approprla-
ton bill. In the course of the general
debate Mr.. Lanham, Of Texas, made an
appeal IN favor OF the redemption of the
trade dollar, and abiding to the standard
silver dollar he declared that its coinage
would never be suspended, no matter
who might recommend 20 the contrary.
Mr.. Herbert, of Alabama, said that
while the sundry civil bill appropriated
less than the bill of last year, the de-
crease was attributable to the fact that
the Committee on Appropriations had sur
rendered jurisdiction over the items for
The navy yards and new naval observ "a
tory, maintaining that those items could
be provided for in the regular naval APP
bropriatiOn bill. .-.--
SHOULD BE IN THIS BILL.
He commended on the contrary that the
appropriations for the objects named
should be made in the sundry civil appro-
priation bill, which would then, instead
OF showing decrease, exceed IN amount
appropriations the bill of last year.
Mr.. Randall argued that the Naval
Committee had proper jurisdiction over
inc subject OF navy yards. but pointed out
that even were tney provided for in the
pending measure the bill would still carry
less money than that of last year. Pend
Ing further discussion the committee rose
and the House adjourned.