Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-01-28
FIFTEEN CONGRESs.
WASHINGTON. January q, 1888.
senate.
Hnnse OF REPRESENTATIVE

Lie DtUdlc Ndb IOl III btcslOu tO-NoJ
House OF Representatives.
Mr.. White, of New York, introduced
q bill for the protection and administra-
ton of forests ON public lands. Re-
ferred. 1t withdraws from survey, sale,
entry, and disposal unsurveyed public
lands, embracing natural forests and all
public lands returned by public surveys
as timber lands, and provides for
the appointment of Commissioner OF
Forests at salary of s., 200 a year,
and four assistant commissioners, who
shall have control of all the forest lands
owned by the United States. 1t shall be
the duty of the Commissioner of Forests
to classify the forest and timber lands
and to determine what portion of those
lands shall be permanently held in re-
servation for climatic or other economic
or public uses, and what portion may be
disposed of. The lands that are moro
valuable for agricultural than timber
purposes shall be restored to homestead
entry and sale.
The cutting, removal, or destruction
OF any timber on forest lands owned by
the United States is made misdemeanor
punishable by fine and imprisonment,
but the right is reserved to agriculturists
and miners to take wood for domestic
purposes.
On motion Of Mr.. Burnes, of Missouri,
the Senate amendments to the Little de-
ticiency bill was concurred in.
The House then proceeded to the con-
sideration of private business.
In Committee of the Whole the ques-
ton was raised upon the bill for the re-
lief of Martha Rumbaugh so that it was
not properly upon the calendar. This
is one of the class of bills reported 10y
the Court of Claims TO the Forty-ninth
Congress and brought forward under the
provisions of the Bouman act. A long
discussion ensued. and the matter was
finally referred to the House for deter
minatiOn.
The Speaker pro tenn. ruled that while
the bill was properly upon the calendar,
having been placed there by order OF
the Speaker sustained by the House, not
having been introduced in the Fiftieth
Congress and not having received the
consideration of any committee it could
not be acted upon favorably by the Com
mittee of the Whole. The bull WAS re-
ferred to the Committee on War Claims,
and the House then at O'Clock ad-
journed until Monday.
The Commerce Committee OF the
House has decided to report back Mr..
Anderson's resolution providing for con-
gressioual inquiry into the Reading
strike, with the Recommendation that the
whole subject be referred to the Inter
State Commerce Commission.
The Committee ON Elections to-day
disposed of the Indiana contested-elec-
ton case by ordering a report to the
House declaring the seat vacant on the
ground that White, the sitting member,
is ineligible, while Lowry, the contest
ant, did not have q majority of the votes
cast. The adoption of the report by the
House would necessitate another election
in the Sixth Indiana district.
On motion 10 declare Mr. Lowry en-
titled to his seat every member of the
committee except Mr.. Houk, of Tonnes
see, who was absent, voted in the mega
tive. The succeeding motion to declare
that Mr.. White is not entitled to his seat
was supported by all of the Democrats,
while Messrs. Rowell, Cooper, Lyman,
johnson of Indiana. and Lodge voted
No. The Republicans will present a
minority report declaring Mr.. White en-
titled to his seat.