Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1888-02-16
EIFTIETR CONGRESS.
Abstract of the Proceedings OF the
Senate and House.

abstract of the Proceedings OF the
Senate and House.
SENATE.
A bill was introduced by Senator Stew
art TO vest the legislative power In the
Territory OF Utah in the governor and leg
islatiye assembly OF twelve citizens OF the
territory. to be appointed by the presi.
lent and confirmed by the senate. but
not more that six OF them to be OF one
political party.
Senator Chandler introduced a bill to reg
ulate elections OF members of congress.
Senator Davis presented a petition OF
citizens OF Minnesota asking that tea, coli
fee, drugs and medicines be placed on the
free list. The Joke of this is in the facr
that tea and coffee have been on the Tree
list for years.
Mr.. Frye OF Maine made a long political
speech, d~enouncIng the president.
Senator Plumb, from the committee on
public lands. reported favorably a bill de-
claring a forfeiture OF all lands, except the
right OF way heretofore granted on condi-
ton subsequent to aid in the construction
OF a railroad opposite to and coterminous
with the portion OF any such railroad not
now completed, and in use, for the con-
struetion OF which lands have heretofore
been granted. Following is the portion Of
the bill is immediate interest to the North
west.
II it shall be found that any lands
heretofore granted to the Northern
Pacific Railroad company and SO
resumed by the United States and
restored to the public domain, lie
north Of the line known as the Harrison
line" being a line drawn from Walluia,
Wash, easterly to the southeast quarter
OF section 5, township z, north OF range
SO east of the Willamette meridian, all
persons who had acquired the title OF the
Northern Pacific Railroad company to any
portion OF said lands prior to Jan. 1,
1886, or who were in possession OF any
portion OF said lands, claiming the same
under written contract with said COM
pany, shall be entitled to purchase aid
land from the United States, at
any time prior to the ex D~iration of one
year after it shall be judicially determined
that such lands are restored to the public
domain.
The Thoebe-C Carlisle case was recently
called up in the house, which proceededto
vote on the majority resolution confirming
Mr.. Car!isle's title to his seat. The reso-
luton was adopted-yeas, 164; nays, Z.
Messrs. Cannon, Cooper. Davenport, Nc
Kenna, Post and Steele, Republicans,
voted in the affirmative, and Messrs. Ba-
ker Of Illinois, Brewer, Buchanan, Cheadle,
Hovey, Kerr and Laidla in the negative.
Among the bills and resolutions intro
duced in the house were the following:
Mr.. Oates, to refund the bonded debt oil
the United States at ~ per cent, to re-
duce the tax or bank notes, and to secure
that currency against Unnecessary f1uctua-
ton by applying the national revenues
economically to the payment of the ma
tional debt.
AZ. no.lo.u &c Noo,; o.rI, tbo
surplus money in the treasury hat may
accumulate prior to June 80, 1888, to the
purchase OF United States bonds.
Mr.. Thomas OF Wisconsin, providing
that all future patents or approvals OF
lands heretofore granted to the Union and
Central Pacific railroad companies, be
withheld until a ina accounting and set
Element be had, in pursuance OF law be-
tween the United States ana the said
companies, and complete and ample in.
Identification be given by the companies
to secure the government against ultimate
loss.
Mr.. Nelson introduced his bill introduced
in the last congress providing for an ad-
ditional judicial district in Minnesota. 1t
provides that the following counties shall
constitute the new northern district OF
the state, and that the terms shall be held
at Duluth and Fergus Falls:
Big Stone, Traverse. Stevens, Grant,
Douglass, Pope, Otter Tail, Wilkin, Clay,
Becker, Norman, Polk, Beltrami, Marshall,
Kittson, Stearns, Benton, Mile Lacs,
Morrison, Todd. Grow Wing, Kenabec,
Pine, Wadena, Cass, Hubbard, Aitkin,
Itasca. Carlton. st. Louis, Lake and Cook.
He also introduced bills providing for
the reimbursement of the city OF Duluth in
$500,0o for money expended IN cutting a
ship canal through Minnesota poi.t and
building a dyke in Superior bay, and al
lowing A. j. Ross of Becker county. former
ly of Company X, Thirteenth Michigan in
fantry, 500 in settlement of money due
him. Mr.. Rice introduced bills allowing
I. B. Beaulieu, late assistant mill
er at White Earth agency, $500
due him in settlement OF his claim for
salary as miller; to allow the heirs OF
Joseph Anderson So, 600 for lumber taken
by the government in 1862; to make sec
ton 4414 Revised Statutes, relating to in
speetors OF hulls and boilers apply to st.
Paul as well as Duluth. This viii give st.
Paul an inspector OF hulls and an inspec.
tor OF boilers at $500 each. Mr.. Rice also
introduced Mr.. Sabin's senate bill provid-
ing for the establishment OF range lights
on piers at Duluth and other ports.
SENATE.
Mr.. Hoar called up the motion made by
Mr.. German some time since to reconsider
the vote by which the senate had ordered
a special committee OF five or Pacific rail-
road matters. He explained his motive in
proposing a special committee.
After remarks by Messrs. Edmunds and
Vest, neither OF whom seemed opposed to
the motion, Il motion to refer the matter
to the railroad committee made by Mr..
Davis was rejected. The original resolu.
tion was modified by increasing the men,
bership OF the select committee from five
to seven. and then adopted-yeas 81,
nays l5. Messrs. Davis, Sabin and Spoon
er were the only Republicans who voted in
the negative. During the discussion Sem
ator Sabip opposed sending the matter to
q special committee.
For some reason lcannotunderstand,"
said he, 1--WE have gotten into the habit OF
sending these matters to special commit
tees when we have committees formed for
che purpose OF considering them. If the
formation OF a plan oil extension for these
Pacific railroads is a question OF law, it
should be handled by the judiciary com-
mittee. II it is a question OF business. it
should 60 to the committee on railroads.;
bat 1t does not seem to me to be any con-.
t~ingency requiring it to be sent to Especial
committee"
A subcommittee reported favorably to
the house p~ostoffice committee Representa-
tive Anderson's bill relating to the tele-
graph lines OF the Pacific Railroad com.
panies.
Senator Davis introduced a bin provid.
ing for the application of the immediate
transportation act to Duluth. The bill was
drawn by w. w. Billson at the request OF
Collector Moore. Senator Davis alsointro-
duced a bill providing that the act ofMarch
8, 1851, relating to persons who took part
in the late rebellion, be so amended as to
ALLOW pensions to such persons or their
heirs or children, providing that they have
suffered from injuries or disabilities incur
red in the service OF the United States since
entering the army.
Senator Spooner presented a petition
from the citizens OF Superior. Wis, pro-
testing against the passage Of the senate
bill granting to the Duluth, Superior &