Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1886-05-27
AT THE CAPITOL TO-DAY.
SHIPPING BILL IN THE HOUSE.
The Fishery Question Discussed.
LAND FORFEITURE IN THE SENATE.
The Senate.

LAND FORFEITURE IN THE SENATE.
The Senate.
In the Senate to-day a resolution was offered
by Mr.. Wilson Qowa), which was ordered to lie
over one day, providing for an investigation of
the matter of the appointment of Indian trad
ers by the commissioner of Indian affairs. A
preamble to the resolution recites that in the
matter of such appointments, sit is stated"
that "acts have been done permitted to be
done in disregard of law and the rights and
proper interests of citizens"
FORFEITURE OF RAILROAD LANDS.
On motion of Mr.. Doiph the Senate took up
| the bill Restoring to the United States certain
of the lands granted to the Northern Pacific
Railroad Company"
Mr.. Van Wyck said the bill proposed to for
felt from WaIlula to Portland, portion of the
original grant over which the Northern Pacific
| railroad did not now contemplate building a
line. His {Mr. Van Wycks) objection to the
bill was that there were lands along other I'M
finished portions Of the road and some along
portions that had been finished, which should
! be included in the bill. He moved amend
provides tor the forfeiture of all the Northern
rac11c railroad grant except lands for which
and except the right OF way.
Mr.. Call said that the committee bill was
really q proposition to confirm and not to for,
| TO the Northern Pacific railroad company. It
was equivalent 20 a gift by Congress OF two or
three hundred thousand dollars to a few indi-
viduals. He protested.against 1t.
Mr.. Edmunds expressed his regret that Mr..
Van Wyck had moved his amendment at this
time. The bill as it stood, he said, forfeited
| tain lands as to which there would be no differ
ence OF opinion in Congress; while the amend
ment OF the Senator from Nebraska involved
the forfeiture of some lands to which there
was and would be great difference of opinion
on the point whether Congress had the right to
forfeit. 1t was a question involving compli-
n w nirin gnrin dor
alton.
M, Mr.. Cockrell was in favor of keeping such
DIS confined as far as possible to such pro-
visions OF forfeiture would be sure to meet
with support in Congress and become law.
House of Representatives.
THE SHIPPING BILL AND THE FISHERY CUES
TION.
Mr.. Dingley (Me.), from the committee of con-
tee ON the shipping bill.
Mr.. Breckenridge (ky.) thought that the con-
sideration of the report should be postponed
until the members OF the House had an oppor-
tunity to examine the provisions of the bill
carefully. The question involved in the Frye
amendment was broader than, at first blush,
1t might appear to be. 1t not only conferred u
privilege but imposed a duty upon the Presi-
dent to withdraw from foreign vessels certain
commercial privileges when those privileges
had been denied to American vessels in the
country to which such foreign vessels belong.
The supposed need for the provision rose out Of
the recent troubles with Canada, but there was
not word in this bill about fishing vessels.
There was no hurry Tor the passage OF this Dill,
and il could be considered more fully at some
future day than it could now. There was no
danger OF a war; and the executive had under
consideration the settlement OF the Canadian
fishery trouble.
Mr. Dunn (Ark.) said that the provision did
not apply to the fishing question.
Mr.. Breckenridge thought that if that were
true there was the less necessity for haste in
passing the bill He did not believe in retalia-
tory or revengeful legislation, but in diplomatic
mi orr nyir iaU ffr hinr.
ment.
Mr.. Dingley said that the necessity for the
proposed legislation had been suggested by the
recent denial OF certain privileges to United
States vessels in Canadian ports, but the law
ought to be on the statute books without regard
to the fishery trouble. In view of the fact that
Il country was attempting to discriminate
against certain class of American vessels, it
was proposed by this bill simply to extend the
authority given by the act OF 1923, SO that the
President might issue his proclamation with
holding from the vessels of any country which
disseminated against our vessels precisely the
privileges which were denied to US.
MIR. breckenridge inquired whether any cOun-
try except Canada now denied any privileges to
American vessels?
Mr.. Dingley replied in the negative.
MI Dlngley turning to Mr. Breckinridge)-
Did the gentleman think that this country
ought to allow Canadian vessels certain privi-
leges which are denied to our vessels in Canada?
Mr.. Breckenridge replied that he was in favor
OF the most free and untrammeled commercial
relations, and he was therefore in favor OF let
ting Canadian vessels come into our ports as
freely as Canada would allow our vessels to go
into her ports to buy or to sell.
MIR. Dunn said that the Frye amendment did
not pretend or undertake to settle the pending
trouble with Canada. All that the fishery cues,
ton had to do with the provision was that it
had furnished an incident showing that any
country could withdraw privileges from Ameri-
can vessels and that there was no law confer
ring on the President the authority to retaliate
He was not accustomed to make the American
eagle scream, but he was for his country and for
his countrys interests.
After further debate the conference report on
the shipping bill was adopted.
OLEOMAKGARINE.
The House then resumed the consideration
OF the oleomargarine bill.
The District in Congress.
THE DISTRICT APPROPRIATION BILL.
1.-THE net increase OF the amount of the District
appropriation bill, made by the Senate, is SILL
SOS, instead of hundred and ninety odd
thousand, as shown by the Record of the 25th.
THE CITY POST OFFICE SITE.
The House public buildings and grounds COM
will hold a meeting Tomorrow when they may
act officially upon the city post office bill.
THE oLEOMARGARINE BILL AMENDED.
Final action on the Oleomargarine bill was
| not reached yesterday. An amendment by
Mr.. Breckenridge of Kentucky, excluding from
the classification as butter of products of milk
or cream that has cOlOring matter in it, and one
by Mr. Hammond providing that all oleomar-
tories shall be labeled and requiring that hotel
keepers, boarding house keepers, &c, SHALL If
they place oleomargarine on their tables SO an
| nounce in printed bills OF fare were adopted.
| TO BRING THE WE'LL AWARD INTO COURT HERE
In the Senate yesterday, Mr.. Edmunds, from
| the foreign relations committee reported Mr.
Morgan's bill directing the Attorney General to
| bring suit in the Supreme Court of the District
Of Columbia against Benjamin Well, or his
legal representatives or assigns, to determine
whether the award made by the United States
| and Mexican mixed commission in respect to
! nd IN
| any part of the money already paid to clain-
ants 1t provides that If the award was OBJ
tanned through fraud the President shall be
| authorized to release the government OF Mex
| leo from the further pay ment to the extent that
| the same is declared fraudulent, and to return
to Mexico any money that may be recovered
and that remaining in the custody of the United
States not heretofore distributed It prohibits
the Secretary of State, during the tendency of
the suit, from making any further payments.
INSPECTION OF THE RIVER FRONT IMPROVE
MENT.
| Senator Blackburn, of the Senate District
| committee, the Commissioners, Dr. Town