Omaha daily bee., 1888-05-09
The Senate Works Away at the Land
Grant Forfeiture Bill
PALMsR's AMENDMENT is LOST,
The House Struggles All Day and
Far Into the Night with a Dis
cussion of the Mills
Tariff Bill.


be construed to confirm any private entry for
land heretofore settled upon and now
claimed under the color of the homestead or
pre- emption laws; but IN all such cases the
commissioner of the general land Office and
the secretary of the interior shall hear and
determine the claims of parties respec-
lively according to the provisions effecting
the law.
The amendment wa laid on the table
yeas, 90; nays 1S.
MIR. Palmer offered an amendment that
nothing in the bill should be constructed as
excepting from forfeiture that portion of the
grant confirmed by the state of Michigan on
the Marquette & Ontonagon railroad COM
pany lying west of Lansing.
MIR. Edmunds moved to recommit the bill
to the committee on public lands, with in
structions to report it back amended as soon
as might be. He wished the committee to re-
frame it so as to keep it within definite de-
cisions of the supreme court to protect every
real right Of every citizen, and to wind up
every unexecuted railroad grant and make an
end of it.
The motion to recommit was opposed by
Messrs. Blair and Dolph and was defeated,
only nine senators voting for it.
The question was then taken on Mr.. Pal
mer's amendment and it was agreed to-yeas
"A, nays 16.
MIR. Hoar offered an amendment affecting
lands in Michigan, and was asked by Mr..
Berry whether the effect of 1t would not be
to confirm the lands held by the Portage
Ship Canal company.
MIR. Hoar replied that it would havy that
affect if it should turn out that the lan4 was
conveyed to that canal company by an Of
icer of the United States. He was at loss
to conceive how any man born with the
capacity for sense of justice could refuse to
confirm the title under such circumstances.
To this Mr.. Berry retorted he was at loss
to conceive how any one born with a sense
of justice and right would undertake to con-
firm title founded in fraud as this title was
shown to be by the report of the house com
mittee on public lands in the Forty-eignt
congress.
Mr.. Palmer argued against Mr.. Hoar's
amendment.
Mr. Stockbrdge asserted on his own per-
sonal knowledge and in contradiction of the
statements by his colleagues that the canal
in question was completed and had been in
successful operation for the last fifteen years.
The bill went over without action on Mr..
Hoar's amendment and with the understand
ing that it will be taken up tomorrow at the
conclusion of the morning business.
Among the bills for public buildings re-
ported and placed on the calendar was one
for Peoria, Ill, 900 additional.
message from the president on the sub
iect of impressment into the French army of
John Prussia, an American citizen, was laid
before the senate and referred to the CON-
mittee on foreign relations, Mr.. Stewart
(who offered the resolution calling for the cor
respondence) remarkiug that the man had
been discharged from the French army since
the resolution was offered.
Mr.. Paddock introduced bill to amend
the act to encourage the growth of timber
on the western prairie. Referred.
The senate then adjourned. 90 ""-
House.
WASHINGTON, May S.-Mr. Bryce of New
York rose to a question of privilege concern
ing the language used by Mr. Woodburn OF
Nevada in reference to eX-Congressmar
Hewitt, who, it was charged, apologlzed tt
the British minister for Offering resolution
of inquiry as to the case of O'Donnell, under
sentence of death in Great Britain. Mr.
Bryce stated he was a relative by marriage
to Mr.. Hewitt, and he denied the CORRECTNESS
of the statement made. In vindication of th
denial he read a telegram from Mayo
Hewitt, and also a statement made by Mn
lister West in 1884, denying that MIR. Hewitt
had apologlzed to him.
Mr.. Woodburn of Nevada said he ha,
never in his life made charge he could no
| substantiate. He did not regard the denia
of the British minister as denial of tn
| charge. Hewitt himself was party defend
| ant to the charge, and his denial, therefore
| lost weight.
Mr.. Brumm of Pennsylvania said hi
| recollection was, Hewitt had made an eX
| PLANTATION on the floor, but whether it wa
made on the floor or not, an explanation 9TH
| mildest term he could use) was made b,
| Hewitt before the committee on foreigl
! affairs.
| The subject was then dropped and tn
| house went into committee of the whole OF
| the tariff bill.
Mr.. Stocldae of Mississippi took tn
| floor in continuation of HE speech in favor o
| the bill. He SAID the cotton planter had re
| ceived little consideration in the Legislation
| of the past, and in the name of justice an,
| humanity he appealed for relief for the col
| ored people.
Mr. Hopkins of Illinois opposed the bill
He said the fact could not be kept from thu
| people in the coming campaign, that the dem
/ ocratic party stood committed unequivocally
| and irrevocably to the doctrine of free trade
| That party had come in power and they Wer'
| practicing system of false pretenses upol
the American people, unparalleled in tn
| history of political parties. Did the part,
send Mr.. Carlisle to New York before tn
the election TO explain the tariff plank of th
Chicago platformi Did ii send Mr.. Hemp
| hill there to talk to the laborer as he talked
| during debate on the tioorI
| The managers of the democratic part,
| knew New York could never be carried IL
that way When the columns were shaker
and defeat seemed inevitable they turned u
| the bralnlest and aDleSt man IN the party
They called for Samuel j. Randall and h
went to New York to explain TO the voters
there that the manufacturing interests of th
country would not be disturbed in event o
the success of the democratic party, and tina
the tariff plank in the Chicago platform
meant only a wise and iudicious re-arrange
ment of the inequalities which all parties
held TO exist in the tariff TO a greater or les
extent and 10 require treatment. 1t ha
been Randall's boast that his efforts ha
made it possible for Cleveland TO occup
the presidential chair. How ha
| the democratic party repaid hi
efforts, and how had his pledge
been redeemed by that party. If rumor wa
correct Mr.. Randall was no longer visito
at the white house; his counsel was no long
| er sought or needed by his party; his infiu
ence had been curtailed by raising up rive
whose control of federal patronage had bee
used TO humiliate and disgrace the once hol
ored leader of the democratic party. In col
clusion he entered q solemn protest again'
this attempt to overthrow the great busine'
| industries Of America
Mr.. Mansur of Missouri delivered a
exhaustive speech in support of the Dill, an
he contended that the internal revenue sy
| TEN should be maintained for the payment {
| pensions and the remainder of the war deb
Mr. j. ID. Taylor of Ohio denounced frs