Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-05-10
AT THE CAPITOL TO-DAY.
THE LAND FORFEITURE BILL.
Reconsidered in the Senate.
TARIFF TALK IN THE HOUSE.

TARIFF TALK IN THE HOUSE.
The House bill to promote agriculture was re-
ported back from the committee on agriculture
and placed on the calendar
Among the bills introduced and referred were
the following:
BY Mr.. Teller-Prohibting combinations for the
control Of patented articles.
DISTRICT BILLS
BY MIR. Quay-FOr placing electric wires in the
District OF Columbia and the telegraph wires con-
Meeting the Departments under ground
BY Mr.. Plumb-FOr the appointment Of police
matr0ns In the District OF Columbia.
THE RAILROAD LAND GRANT FORFEITURE BILL
was then taken up, the question being Mr.. Calls
motion to reconsider the vote by which the bill
was passed. There seemed to be some question as
and agreed 10, whether 1t effected the purposes
which ne intended-the protection Of the rights OF
homestead and pre-emption claimants
vored RECONSIDERATION OF the vote. SO as 70 have
the matter corrected, but Mr.. Plumb moved to
lay the motion TO reconsider on the table. This
The vote passing the bill was then reconsldered
and the bill again brought before the senate.
The necessary amendment to protect pre-emp-
tion and homestead claimants was then offered by
MI. SpOOner and agreed TO.
MIR. Palmer read an extract from an article in q
Michigan newspaper stating that the reason why
the bill was assumed to be a defeat of the home
steaders was that In all cases where they took up
claims on top OF cash entries the claims were
beaten. He had desired to ofier an amendment
honor bound not TO do so, as some senators had
voted to reconsider who would not have done so
He had been assured, however, by Mr.. spooner
that the amendment which he had contemplated
was not necessary.
Mr.. Call Of1ered an amendment confirming the
titles or purchasers OF certain railroad lands in
Florida lying adjacent TO the parts Of railroad
lines constructed within the time limited In the
Mr. George explained that there were doubts
entertained by courts and lawyers in Florida
wnether, when the entire line OF railroad was
not constructed at all, the lands along the COM
pleted parts were not forfeited. The object OF the
amendment was TO remove that doubt.
Mr. Teller denied that there could be any doubt
ABOUT IT. There was no necessity whatever for
the amendment.
Mr.: George asserted that, nevertheless, there
After further debate by Mr.. Teller, Mr.. George
and MIR. Hoar, Mr. Call stated the facts in the
ana explained why his amendment should be
Mr.. Plumb moved to amend the amendment by
adding proyiso that mortgage or pledge OF land
Dy any OF the railroad companies should De cOnstd-
cred as sale.
Mr.. Call accepted the proviso.
Mr. DOph reminded the senate that, last Con-
the Senators from Mississippi and Florida Messrs.
George and Cal) that because the entire line OF
the Northern Pacific Railroad had not been CON-
peed within the time limited, therefore the lands
adjacent to the completed portions OF the road
were also forfeited. And now these two Senators
argued That different rule should be applied in
Fiorida. He was opposed to the amendment.
THE BILL AGAIN PASSED.
After further discussion Mr.. Calls amendment
was agreed to, and the bill passed.
ApPRQPRI ArTON RTrua
Mr.. Allison, from committee on appropriations
reported back the pension appropriation bill, and
the bill making appropriations to enable the Ex-
ecutive Departments to participate In the centen-
NAL exposition Of the Ohio Valley and Central
and gave notice that he would ask the Senate TO
consider those bills next Monday.
ALIEN LABOR ON PUBLIC WORKS.
Mr.. Blair, from the committee on education and
labor reported back the House bill to prevent the
employment OF alien labor on public works Placed
on the calendar.
The following bills were taken from the calen-
dar and passed: House bill appropriating $75, 900
for public building at Chester, Pa. Senate bill
for the presentation of gold medal to Jos Francis,
of New York, in recognition OF his services to
humanity In the construction and perfection OF
life-saving appliances. [This bill was protested
against by Mr. Cockreli as one having neither
merit, nor justice, nor right.l
IN SECRET SESSION ON THE FISHERIES TREATY.
Upon motion OF Mr.. Sherman the senate pro-
ceeded to the consideration OF the Hoar resolution
providing for the presence OF an Official reporter
during the discussion OF the fisheries treaty, and
on motion OF Senator Edmunds, seconded by Sen
atOr HOar, the galleries cleared and the doors
closed. the Senate being In secret legislative
session.
House Of Representatives.
Mr.. McCreary (Ky.), submitted the confere nee
report on the joint resolution, authorizing the
President to arrange conference for the purpose
OF promoting arbitration and encouraging rectp-
rOcal commercial relations between the United
States OF America and the republics OF Mexico and
Central and South America and the empire of
Brazil. Adopted.
The explanatory report Of the House conferees
luton Is that the ten delegates on behalf of the
United States shall be appointed by the President.
In the resolution, as 1t passed originally, the
House were authorized 10 appoint two members Of
their respective bodies to act as delegates.
DEFICIENCY BILL
Mr.. Sayers (Texas) called up bill making an
appropriation OF $3.50 900 to supply deficiency in
the appropriation for the expenses OF collecting
ing June 80, 1888 There Is a clause in the bill re-
pealing the permanent appropriations for the
collection OF customs
On motion OF MIR. Sayers, an amendment was
adopted apprOpriating $500 TO supply q den-
cheney In the appropriation for the payment Of
Army and Navy pensions to invalid widows
minor children, and dependent relatives and sur
vivOrs of the war Of 1912.
On motion OF Mr.. Sayers, an amendment was
adopted providing that the appropriation OF
$19O00O made by the act OF March
3, 1887, for heating apparatus to be furnished
before June 30, 1888, to certain public buildings
shall continue available to enable the Secretary OF
the Treasury to fufl contracts entered into prior
to June 80, 1888. The bill was then passed as
Subsequently, Mr.. Reed (Me.) stated that he had
been informed that the bill contained clause re-
pealing the permanent appropriation for the
collection OF customs; and he desired an 0pp0rtu-
nifty to oppose that clause; but objection was
made.
THE TARIFF BILL DEBATE.
The House then went into committee Of the
whole (Mr. Springer, OF Illinois, in the chair on
the tarin bill.
Mr.. Turner (Ga.) criticised the republican side
for not having formulated some bill to revise the
tariff In the interest Of the people, and for having
cOntented itself with effort TO attatnt the Mills
bill, and to attaint those who were its reputed
authors and an effort TO defend the general policy
Of protection. The democrats were asked to defend
the bill against the charge OF infamy. The
question, therefore, was between the pending
bill and that abOmlnatiOn of errors known as the
tariff act OF 1883. 1t was not decent: It was
not becoming 70 manhood II gentlemen on
the other side complain that the democratic
members OF the ways and means committee chose
to retire among themselves and formulate bill
which they might regard as being In accord