Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1888-05-03
WASHINGTON LETTER
WASHINGTON. April 81. ,ss.

WASHINGTON, April ~, 'SS.
Senator Hoar created sensation In
the Senate on Wednesday, while the
land grant forfeiture bill was under
He charged that scheme
had been organized here In Washing
ton to get possession, through fraud.
Of valuable portions OF the lands to b.
under the bill.
In the belief that in case the lands
are forfeited. the settlers who have
purchased from the railroads, to which
the lands were granted, will lose their
claim and title, men have been hired
TO go to these lands and enter home
stead or -emption claims. Should
the lands be declared forfeited, the
railroad title would thereby be render
ed null ard void, and, Of course, set
lers who have purchased from rail
roads would have no title. AS the
lands would be thrown open to publ
the plan of the schemers
is to have their agents establish home
st.ads or presumption claims, and
then upon the forfeiture. claim the
lands under the public land laws.
This little game would not work
though, because entries not made in
good faith are not legal, nevertheless
in order to be sure of protecting the
settler, Mr.. Hoar offered an amend
ment to the bill, to make good the
title of the purchasers of land from
the railroads upon the payment of
81, 25 per acre tor the land.
The senate committee on agriculture
has made favorable report or the bill
TO enlarge the powers and duties OF
the Department of Agriculture, and
to make the head of the department
n member of the cabinet. This 10 the
same bill that was passed by the SEN
ate at the last session of congress. 1t
should become a law ut once; the I'M
men1e agricultural interests of this,
the greatest agricultural country in
the world deserves representative in
the cabinet.
No chief justice has yet been APP
pointed. 1t is thought that Mr..
Cleveland had fully made up his mind
to appoint Hon Z. j. Phelps, our
present minister to England. but was
scared out of doing so by delegation
of Irish democrats from New York,
who told him that If lie appointed Mr..
Phelps he would lose the entire Irish
vote of New York.
Senator Cullom has withdrawn from
the presidential race.
Senator Sawyer, of Wisconsin, is
preparing to build a handsome stone
residence in this city.
Senator Blair has introduced a bill
providing for the erection of a public
building in all towns where the gross
postal receipts for the three years past
have exceeded So, 900 per annum, has
been favorably reported to the senate.
The cost of these buildings shall IN nc
case exceed S25, 600 and the cost of the
site shall not exceed $1,000. 1t j.
probable that the bill will be passed by
the senate at an early day.
The number of bonds offered to the
government under the recent circular
has been comparatively small, less
than So, 900, 900.
Senator Voorhees,, of Indiana, made
one of his old time regulative copper
head speeches in the Senate on Wed
nesday, his attacks are periodical, but
fortunately not very frequently.
The democrats finding that they
could not gag the republicans Of the
House in regard to the length of time
the tariff debate shall be allowed t.
continue, finally agreed to give uE
twenty days. exclusive of night SEES
sions. to the general discussion of til,
Mills bill. They also found that the,
would have to divide the tine equally
between the democratic and repnbli
can speakers. There will be tariff
speeches at the rate of from five to 81,
II day from this time on until the tim
allotted to this subject expires. Rep
resentative Burrows, of Michigan, VIII,
made the leading speech for the re
publicens this week, made an appea
to the south in which he warned
that the Nils bill BODIED no good t
that section.
Both the senate and House hav
passed the bill prohibiting povl-sellin
and book-maki.g in the District c
Columbia. The Washington Sprin
races began Yesterday, and the poo
sellers. on the day before, taking it fc
granted that the president would al
, prove the bill moved their rooms ju,
outside of the city limits.
a