Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-05-07
AT THE CAPITOL TO-DAY.
RIVER AND HARBOR BILL.
Under Consideration in the House
LAND FORFEITURE IN THE SENATE
The Senate.

FROM Alaska, protesting against uerrltOrlal
form OF government there.
From Massachusetts, praying for the establish
ment OF national bureau OF harbors and water
ways
BILLS REPORTED.
Among the bills reported from committees and
placed on the calendar were the following:
House bills for public building at Columbus,
Ga; to increase the limit OF cost of public build
Ing at Charleston, s. c., and approprfating 600
for purchase OF additional ground Tor public build.
ing In Council Bluffs, Iowa.
Senate bills appropriating $4,000 for public
Neb., and SIS, 600 az Nashua, n L. Senate bill to
establish a land office at Folsom, N. M. Senate
biz tadverselyl to establish an additional land
onice at Springfield, Col.
NEW BILLS
Among the bills introduced and referred was
the following:
BY MIR. Teller-Authorlzing citizens OF Colorado.
Nevada and the territories to fell and remove
timber on the public domain for mining and
the conference report on House bill granting to
the city Of Grand Forks Dak., the right TO build
two free bridges across Red River was made and
Mr.. Manderson offered two resolutions (Which
were laid over calling for detailed information as
10 discharges and appointments OF employees in the
Baltimore custOm-hOuSe and pOst-Office since the
4th OF March, 1885.
on motion OF MIR. Sherman the Senate took up
ana passed House joint resolution TO enable the
President OF the United States extend to certain
inhabtants OF Japan suitable recognition OF their
vi
the American bark Cashmere.
THE RAILROAD LAND-FORFEITURE BILL
The consideration Of the railroad land forfeiture
bill was then resumed, the question being on the
amendment offered by Mr.. Palmer, providing that
no sale entry shall be confirmed to the prejudice
OF any pre-emptiOn or homestead claim now filed
under existing decisions Of the Secretary OF the
1885,
Mr.. Palmer spoke in explanation and advocacy
OF his amendment. At the close OF his remarks he
read telegram which he had just received from
Bear Lake, Mich, asking him not to exclude pre-
emptlon and homestead settlements taken since
the 1sL OF January, 1885, as hundreds OF homes
had been made on these lands since then.
and offered another providlue that noship1 IN
the act shall be construed to confirm any private
entry for land heretofore settled upon and now
ton laws; but that, in all such cases, the Com
missioner OF the General Land once and the
secretary OF the Interior shall determine and hear
the claims OF the parties respectively by the pro-
visions OF existing laws.
Mr. spooner opposed the latter amendment as
consideration the question Of good faith. and pro-
posed to confirm all statements, even though they
were made for hire and in pursuance or a con-
spiracy.
Without action on the bill or any OF the amend
ments the matter went over till tomorrow.
restore 10 the public domain part OF the U1ntah
Valley Indian Reservation In Utah, was taken
from the calendar and passed.
Mr. REAGAN AGAINST THE PIEURO-PNRUNONIA BILL.
The Senate then resumed consideration OF the
bill TO provide for bureau OF animal industry to
facilitate the expectation or live stock and their
products, and to extirpate pleuro-pneumonia, and
was addressed by Mr.. Reagan in opposition to the
bill
House OF Representatives.
On motion OF Mr.. Lawler QlL), bill was passed
TO further provide for an appraisers warehouse at
Chicago, Ill. 1t provides for the purchase Of ad-
ditional land at an expense Of $4,000 and fixes
the limitation of the cost on the building to be
erected on the site finally chosen at $3.50, 600
The following bills were introduced and referred:
A STATUE TO HANCOCK
BY Mr.. Townshend QlL)-ApprOprating $50 900
for the erection in Washington OF a statue to the
memory OF Major-General W. s. Hancock.
REDEMPTION OF BONDS.
By Mr.. Plumb QlL)-Directing the Secretary Of
the Treasury to use any money now In the Treas
ury. or which may hereafter accumulate therein,
applicable for the payment of the public debt for
the payment OF any OF the outstanding interest
bearing obligations OF the Government, known as
~ and per cent bonds at par, and accrued In
tereSt, said bonds to te cancelled in the manner
prescribed by law.
CONFEDERATE HISTORY.
By Mr.. Phelan (Tenn.}-Authortzing the publ
cation Of the documentary history OF the nnan-
cia fiscal and commercial records Of the Confeder-
ate states
BY Mr. Mckinney IN. H)-For the erection Of
NE.
COMPENSATION OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES.
BY MI. Gay Ua.)-For the appointment of a
joint committee to inquire into the existing rreg-
ularities in the compression OF officers and EN-.
ployes In the executive Departments
THE RIVER AND HARBOR BILL
Mr.. Blanchard Ua.) moved to suspend the rules
and pass the river and harbOr BILL
Several amendments had been Incorporated in
the bill since it was last before the House. The ap-
preparation for the improvement OF Buttermiik
cnannel, n. Y, has been increased from $4,000 to
$lOO,OOO and that for Gowanus Bay from $4,000
TO 10000. The appropriation for Glen cove har-
Dop Is reduced IRON SSo0oO 70 $1,000 ana an ap-
The appropriation Of se5o,ooO for the improve
ment OF Philadelphia harbor remains in the bill.
An appropriation or $50, 600 is made for St. Angus
tine, Fla, harbOr. The appropriation for the
cleveland, Ella ohio, harbor Is increased from $4,000
harbOr, California, is reduced from $50, 900 to
$l2o OOO while that for the oakland harbor is In
alton for Harlem River, New York, is reduced
from $50 900 10 $4,000.
MIR. Blanchards request to dispense with the
reading OF the bill was objected 10, and the long
bill was read in detail. The reading OF the bill
consumed almost an hour and o half and was
completed at 2:O5 O'Clock.
Mr.. Sowden (Pa.) demanded a second, and the
motion to suspend the rules was secOnded-l53-l4-
the majority OF the opponents OF the measure re-
The half-hour debate was then commenced.
Opposed 10 a Proposed Bureau.
SECRETARY ENDICoTT's OBJECTIONS TO DEPRIyINo
ARMY ENGINEERS OF THEIR OCCUPATION.
The Secretary OF War has sent to the Senate
committee on commerce his objections to the Cul-
lom bill, which proposes to establish q bureau OF
harbors and waterways, to which shall be given
the supervision OF all public works on rivers and
harbOrs the work now done by the corps of army
engineers In the course OF his letter the Secre-
tary says:
1.-THE proposed corps OF civil engineers is to be
composed OF 615 officers, with pay amounting to
81, 600, to which will shortly be added the ex-
pense OF q civil retired list, which must before
many years become q heavy charge against the
Treasury, inasmuch as the age at the time OF ap-
pointment is not fixed The expense OF this pro-
leed corps VIII, therefore, greatly exceed that OF
tine present establishment From the above facts
am OF the opinion that the proposed change Is not
warranted either on the score OF efficiency or
economy. Section IA OF the proposed bill con-
slders the methods OF making appropriations for
the various river and harbOr works throughout
adopted by Congress, Will be OF undoubted Dene-
NJ 10 rev works 70 the exclusion OF the great
mass OF them, or otherwise the river and harbOr
Dill VIII exceed the proportions OF the reasonable
limits IL Is exceedingly questionable whether
the interests OF the country at large would be pro-
moteo Dy change which would require the sus-
pension OF operations upon most OF the works now
In progress and permit them TO decay, while q
few were advanced 10 completion at q somewhat
less cost"
Capitol Topics.
PUBLIC BUILDING BILLS.
The Senate committee on public buildings and
pde Fov,