Omaha daily bee., 1888-07-29
he senate then adjourned.
House.

WASHINGTON, July 2S.-The house took up
the bill providing for the erection of postoftice
buildings, but the morning hour expired
without any action being taken. The house
then went into committee of the whole, MIR.
Springer of Illinois IN the chair, on the gen.
eral appropriation bills. The general de-
ficiency bill was first reached, and after some
debate was taken up.
The house then went into committee of the
whole on the general appropriation bills, and
a clash instantly occurred between various
bills on the calendar. The general deficiency
bill was the first reached, and Mr.. Savers Of
Texas objected to the request made by Mr..
Townsend of Illinois, that it be laid aside in
the interest of the army appropriation bill
with the senate amendments. The fact was
reported to the house, which, after a vain at
tempt to secure a quorum, directed the COM
mittee, by a vote of ~ to u, to consider the
deficiency bill.
Mr.. Voorhees, of Washington Territory, IN
behalf of over two hundred thousand dis
franchised citizens of the republic, advo-
Gated the admission of Washington Territory
into the union. If the democratic party in
the past, now, or hereafter, should be re-
sponsible for depriving the people whom he
represented of the privilege of living under
a constitutional form Of government, he
would take as much pleasure in denouncing
the democratic party as he would in de-
| nouncing the republican party. Confronted
by the majestic presence of American clti-
| zenship, mere political considerations grew
| mean and small. He addressed himself to
this question, not as as q democrat but as an
| American citizen.
Mr.. Symes of Colorado said that il the
| gentleman from Washington could influence
eight or ten democrats he could get the bill
through tomorrow for the admission OF that
territory. Not a republican would do any
thing but urge the admission of that pros
| porous and great territory.
Mr.. Payson Of Illinois said that the demo-
cratic party, in its platform OF principles
| which it protested, for this year, had cred
tied itself with having reversed the unwise
policy Of the republican party touching the
| granting of land to railroads. The policy of
| granting lands TO states to aid in the con-
struction of railroads was initiated in 1850 by
the passage of a bill making a grant in aid OF
| the Illinois Central railroad, 1885, 900 acres
| of public land being granted in that bill.
The bill was passed by a democratic congress
and signed by a democratic president, and all
| the con Stitutional questions connected with
| this policy were debated by the greatest men
| then in public life. In June, 1852, a grant Of
nearly two million acres was made to Mis-
| souri, in aid of the Hannibal & St. Joseph
railroad. In 1858 a grant of more than one
million acres was made to Arkansas, and
in 1856 and 1857 grants were made to Iowa,
Florida, Michigan, Wisconsin, Mississippi
and Minnesota. Thus the policy was def
nitely stated, and by democratic congresses.
The members of those congresses did not
consider that there was any party question
involved in the policy. All these measures
had the support of gentlemen Of all parties,
and their votes were controlled by motives
of expediency and fairness in each particular
case. Before the republican party came into
power grants had been made to states to aid
in the construction of forty-seven railroads.
But it was charged that the republican party
had changed its policy, and, instead OF grant
ing lands to states, granted them to rail-
roads direct. This was a mere pretense, and,
besides, il was not correct. Every one Of
the grants made directly 10 corporations was
made to one of the trans-continental cases.
The line must be continuous and the
management harmonious. Congress had
to create u corporation and give
aid to it, without state or
territorial interference. There had been a
grave necessity for u railroad to California,
IN order 70 Lind her to the Union Pacific, and
measures had been advocated by both par
ties. Tho charge that the republican party
was to 10 blamed for the aid given to rail
road companies was as unfounded In TACT as
it was absurd and foolish in utterance. Par
tisan politics had never been regarded as q
factor in the consideration OF these meas
urcs, the merlbcrs div iding, not ON political.
but on econornic questions. He read a list OF
democrats voting for and republicans voting
against the Pacific railroad measures OF 1907
aid 1854, and declared that they were all &C
n::ses' and he thought that this roll call
ougs. 10 dispose of al this talk about party
rcs sas@ai Pacific for pro, sSs Tine TH,'n Noa 4hs
ern Pacific granting act had
been voted for in tho house by both demo
Gratis and republicans. and in the senate has
passed without division. The Atlantic y
Pacific and Texas Pacific granting acts bad
been passed by non partisan naiorities. On
a roview Of the record no man could honestly
saw that au, party capital could be nude out
ofth.s question, ous way or ihe Other.
Nr. ba7soo tbsA !arpsd hts attention TO
ths oues,loo Of and srTfsitures. stl deemed
Inc r xtt of the Democratic party to arrogate
70 nse.t tie cIedI Of having restoi cd 10 the