The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1888-03-15

tional section was inserted authorizing the
general appraiser to call before him, and
examine on saith, any owner, importer,
agent, consignee or other person touching
importatlons, and to require the produc-
ton of letters, papers, etc.
Senator Evarts moved to amend the
second section by requiring the invoice
to be made "at the place from which the
merchandise is to be exported to the
United States" Agreed to. The bill
then went over until tomorrow.
Senator Platt gave notice that as soon
as the under valuation bill wss disposed
of he would ask the senate to take up the
bill fer the admission of South Dakota as
a state.
The presiding officer announced the
select committee on civil service as fol-
lows: Senators Hale, Henderson, Chase,
Spooner, Blackburn, Daniel and Blodg-
ext.
Senator Uullom moved that the senate
bill, reported from the postoffice COM
mittee, to regulate commerce carried on
by telegraph, be referred to the committee
on interstate commerce. So ordered.
Senator Dawes said that before the bill
taxed up for action he would ask the SEN
ate to pass house bill for the division of
the great Sioux reservation of Dakota.
After executive session the senate ad-
journed.
HOUSE.
Speaker Carlisle resumed his post of
duty and was greeted with rounds of ap-
plause.
Mr.. O'FarralI, of Virginia, submitted
the report of the committee on elections
in the contested election case of Worth
ington vs.. Post. Placed on the calandar.
1t confirms the right of Mr.. Post TO the
seat.
Several private bills we're passed, and
one measure, referring to the court of
claimss the claim of Hannah Johns, ex-
exutrix of Samuel Johns, which gave
rise to considerable discussion. The facts
a:e, that, during the war, Emanuel
johns, British subject residing in
Mobile, purchased, with confederate
money, number of bales of cotton. In
April, 1865, the federal army took pos
session of Mobile, and guard having
been placed around the warehouse III
which the cotton was stored, Johns was
denied admission thereto. In August the
warehouse was burned and the cotton
destroyed. The clBim is for tho cotton
so destroyed.
Mr.. Hooker,of M1ssissippi,and Mr.. Her
bert,of Alabama, advocated the measure as
one of common justice, By an act
of the United States government, Johns
was deprived of his power to ship his cot
30 n,,l sis
should have an opportunity to appear be-
fore the court of claims and present the
facts upon which he based his claim for
relief.
Mr.. Hopkins, of Illinois, opposed the
bill, and stated that he would rather pay
the claim of brave Confederate soldier
than that of a Shylock, who took advan-
tage of the misfortunes of people among
whom he lived.
Mr.. Bland thought the claimant had no
right to come before congress for relief.
the proper way was for the claimant to
appeal to the British government, which
would bring the matter to the attention
of the state department if there was any
thing in it.
Mr.. Herbert said the United States had
provided for the payment of claims of a
similar nature when demanded by the
British government and the question now
presented was whether the United States
would not do justice to claimant when
the British government was behind him to
enforce his desire.
Mr.. Hopkins moved to lay the bill on
the table.
Pending action on the motion, the
house adjourned.