The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-05-03
CONGRESSIONAL DOINGS.
TIE RAILROAD LAND GRANT FOR
FIXTURE BILL TAKEN UP.
Senator Dawes Offers an Amendment
to the Bill. Which Berry Opposes
The Tariff Debate Resumed In the
House.

WASHINGTON, May 2.--tsenate. After
the transaction OF routine business tho
Senate went into executive session. This
being the first secret session for several
days, the accumulation of nominations by
the President among them that Of Mr..
Fuller TO be chief justice, were referred TO
committees, and number Of reports,
mostly upon postmasters, were made by
committees The doors were rcopened
fifteen minutes later.
The following bills were taken from the
calendar and passed:
House bill appropriating 1925, 900 for the
enlargement Of the postoilice building in
Indianapolis with an amendment increas-
ing the amount TO sl50,000).
Senate bill sppropriating $780, 900 for a
public building at Atchison, Kas.
The Senate then resumed consideration
Of the railroad land grant forfeiture bill.
Mr.. Dawes offered an amendment pro.
viding that the act shall not be considered
To impair any rights, legal or equitable,
now vested in eDy person or corporation 10
any Of the lands declared forfeited
Mr.. Berry argued against the amend.
ment, as one which would completely de-
feat the purpose and object OF the bill,
which was 10 forfeit those railroad lands
and restore them 10 the public domain.
He supposed that the senator's Dawes
object was 10 say that the bill should not
affect the title Of different corporation
the Portage Lake Canal company.
Mr.. Dawes admitted that that was the
object.
Mr.. Berry argued that the word "equit-
able" ought not TO be in the amendment.
II the canal company had either legal or
an equitable title, II was not necessary 10
put anything in the hill 10 protect that
title The courts would protect IL.
MIR. Dawes reminded the senator from
Arkansas that there was n technical defect
In the title heldby the canal company, and
for which Il had paid n valuable considcra-
ton. II the senator's purpose was 10 in.
teryeno Tor the benefit OF an organization
which had put squnttcrs on these lands,
telling them when they put them thcre)
that the lands were not open TO settlement,
but that when the time for forfeiture
came they would he on the lands
ready Ia make good their claim from
that date, then the senator should vote
10 lay the amendment on the table. N,
however. tho senator desired 90 protect in
noccnt purchasers for valuable considcra.
ton Of land where there was technical !
defect Of title, then he ought a. De willing |
% have the amendment agreed 20. There |
was IN this city an organization which had /
planned for this very hour which had put
on these lands men 10 which Il had said In
Us lrttcr of Instructions 1--WE know that
!ou cannot make a legal entry now, be.
cause the legal title IL In n milrofI
company; but whenever the lands are for.
iciicd yon will be- there. ready 10 perfect
your claim THIS canal company had
acquired the land from the State oi Mich.
gnn, everybody surprising that the title
was perfect; but u had been found from
subsequent decision 81 the supreme COURT
that thore was u technical defect in the
title. II the senator wanted Ia forfeit that
title and give IL "a those men who had sent
sqnaiiers 10 these lands. he would vote Ia
lay the resolution on the table.
Mr. Berry said that his purpose was 10
prevent n canal company getting 80. OOO.. !
on or si0O0O. OOO worth u land Tor "A canal
that WIS never built. that was a imud
which the State Of Michigan was trying.
and had tried last Congress, 10 dunn ON
The general government. Ills purpose was
10 prevent the confirmation Of the title ui
this canal company 90 these lands, aud 10
protect the claims Of honest settlers. Not
only had there bcen fraud IN the conslric.
ton Of the canal, hut there had been fraud
IN the selection OF thc lands. lilo did not
seek 10y this bill 10 give undue preference
% the settlers but the senator from Mas.
fachusciis sought hy legislation 10 do that
which existing law would not do-thnt H.
give 81 this canal company lands Ia which
Il was not entitled. lands of immense
value lands selected In fraud 1T the law,
selected outside ol the limits Of the grant,
selected Tor canal which was
worthless, and which the State oi /
Michigan wanted the United Suites 10 |
take of w. hands IA Ia the allegation |
that men had been hlrcd 10 settle ON the |
lands he know nothing II H. but II men |
had settled upon ii, under contract, they /
were there IN contriyrntionO i law aud their /
claim 10 perfect their title would be- H.. |
ircicd, ~ the law prohibited all such az. |
mnWmenlf.
NJ. lloar said that be- hal submitted |
Tie amendment Ia the senator from Micli. |
ran ialmrfl who was willing o. accept Il. /
Nj Berry, however was not willing 10
accvpi it'Withoui further examination. and
the bill aud amendment went over till to.
morrow, with the understanding that n
final vote ON the hill would he had then.
Tho senate then resumed the considor.
ton II The bill for the establishment Of a
burln ~ animal Industry.
Mr. Paddock made d speech IN support
81 ", defending Il on constitutional and
couomic grounds The bin was then tenn.
roturily laid aside.
The senate hill 10 authorize the build.
my OF railroad bridge at Little nork
AK, was passed..
The senate then proceeded 10 the pas.
snfc OF individual pension hills on the cal.
endnr. The number II bills pa.sDJ Was
los, iuriy.iwo Ut them being House bills 4
Scvuul II them were Tor volunteer nutass
NJ the rate OF S2j n month, aud one Wns
iinr thc widow Of Gen. Chas l.. Stone. a
House bill, nj SO.
Mr.. Cullom, from tho committee ON
Interstate commerce. reported a bin 10
amend the Interstate commerce law.
PLACED on Inc calendar.
The following bills wcrn taken from Tho
calendar and plsscd.
For public buildings NJ Fort Dodge. Ia
senaie bill, $4,000, Sterling, H.. senate
hiil, $1,000 Duluth, HOUSE Till. s5On1O.
Inc senate bill granting the ught.of
way OF 100 feet wide 10 the Fort Smith.
Iafis 4 Dardanrlle HALLWAY eou,nanv