Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1888-01-26
CONGRESSIONAL.
Work Of the Senate and the House
Of Representatives.

Work Oh the SENATE ana the House
Of Representatives.
MR WILSON introduced bill In the Senate,
on the 18th inst. providing that any person
who In good faith settles upon and improves
public lands believing the titI0 to be in tho
United States shall be entitled to plead the
title OF the United States to the land in sup
port OF his claim, the same as II the United
States was actually party 70 the suit. From
the Committee on Pensions Mr.. Turpie re-
ported favorably bill to increase to S72 per
month the pension for total helplessness
Mr. Quay, from the same committee, also re-
ported favorably bill to increase to $50 per
month the pom ion for total deafness. Pension
at proportonate rate is TO be granted for par
unanimously chosen to preside over the House
during the temporary absence Of Speaker Car
Isle. Mr. Wilkins called up as the unfinished
business the bill to provide for the issue OF Cir
culating notos to national bank associations,
and Messrs. Weaver and Anderson hlibustered
in order to prevent action on the measure.
report OF the Committee on Elections upon the
Thoebe-Carlisle contested-election case. and it
was ordered printed. Leave was also granted
to the minority to file their individual views
The COMMITTEES takes up the case as shown by
the record and hnds that no evidence was pro-
duced which supports, or tends to support.
any one OF the specifications filed by the
contestant. His witnesses prove nothing
tending to impeach the fairness of the
election. The technical point that the judges
Gratis the committee dismisses with
the statement that 1t does not
follow that the STATE law was yio-
lated in that particular, and cites the case
OF Barnes We. Adams in the XIIIst Congress as
precedent for its decision. In conclusion,
the committee reported resolutions de-
claring Carlisle and not Thoebe elected.
The President transmitted the Pacific Rail-
road reports 70 Congress, with q message
strongly condemning the management OF tho
ANad ala
the interests of the Government.
AN amendment to the interstate commerce
law was introduced in the Senate on the 18th
inst. by Mr.. Butler. 1t provides that no rail-
road shall charge any passenger more than
cents per mile for n distance greater than 200
miles, nor more than 3 cents per mile for less
distance. Mr. Farwell introduced bill author
izing the Secretary Of the Treasury to apply
the treasury surplus to the purchase Of bonds
and to perpetuate the national banking sys-
tenn by the issue Uf further securities.
The Senate passed the bill for refunding the
direct tax of 1861. Mr.. wilkins again called
W. %as s' made to COZ come S 70 Some agreement by
which the measure might be opened to dis
announced that he would not sur
render his right to antagonize the bill
at anv time by any means in his power,
and by hlibustering tactics prevented considera-
tion OF tho measure. The House passed a reso-
luton calling on the Secretary of the Interior
for information as to what legislation is neces-
ID,
so as to secure at the same time the preserve
tion OF the natural forest lands at the head
waters OF navigable rivers and put within reach
OF settlers a legal means Of providing them
selves with timber for building and domestic
purposes.
Mr.. HAwLEY. OF Connecticut, offered o reso-
luton in the Senate on the 10Th inst, which
was adopted, directing the Secretary Of the
Interior to report plan Of legislation thought by
him to be needed for the disposition Of the pub
lie timber lands as TO secure the pressrv alton
of the national forest lands at the headwaters
of navigable rivers, and to put within the
rights of settlers legal means OF providing
themselves with timber for building their
homes. Adopted. Senator Stockbridge intro
duced a bill appropriating S100, 900 for public
building at Grand Haven Mich. Bills author
ihteS l1d en7fhsRetif were eUf o5tf roAc1o
Senate and placed on the calendar. The Senate
adopted Mr.. Mandersons resolution calling on
the Secretary of War for information regarding
the construction Of a bridge at Omaha. The
Senate spent most OF the day in secret session
at work on its calendar OF treaties Those Of
chief consequence are the British, Russian,
and Dutch extradition treaties. 1t is under
stood that the treaty with the Netherlands was
ratified, Another unsuccessful effort was IN ade
in the House to consider the wilkins banking
BILL and after half an no ur's ilibustering the
matter went over. The Committee on Appro-
priations reported the reeular annual pension
bill to the House. The bill appropriates $780,
H5, 500. "
THE Thoebe- Carlisle contested election case
came up in the House Of Representatives Jan.
20. Mr.. Crisp Of Georgia opened the debate by
reviewing the proceedings before the Commit
tee on Elections lie justified the majority OF
the committee in deciding that the case should
not be reopened. Mr.. Lyman lowal knew OF no
reason why the House should not reopen the
case. Grave charges had been made by the
contes tant in aflidavits atfidavits, it
was true-and they had been answered by
Other ex-parte affidavits. Strong efots had
been made to prevent an investigation OF these
charges. Were the contestee and mis- friends
afraid OF the truth. MIR. Cooper t0l spoke in
chaTgod that there was con-
spiracy immediately after the elec-
tion between Mr. Carlisle and his friends
for the purpose OF fixing up the matter
for Carlisle-A charge that was proved
to be wholly unfounded and based merely on
the idle cnaf which was frequently found
floating around in the atmosphere after an
election. Mr.. Rowell Of Illinois took the same
view Mr. Lodge OF Massachusetts spoke in
support OF the minority. The pending case,
he said, was too important to be settled oy
atiidavit On motion OF Mr.. Crisp, Thoebe,
the contestant. was granted an hour in
which to present an argument in his
own behalf Mr.. Lyman Of Iowa Of
fered resolution providing for full investi-
gSsO9 OF the vote case out TO it , was seven SSo
Democrats voting in the affirmative. On
tho majority report, refusing an investiga-
ton, Republicans relrained from Not-
was was an exciting scene in the House.
In the debate over the Melbourne Exposi-
ton bill Judge Kelley intimated t Mr..
Springer of Illinois sought fee for his services
in securing a decision in the Supreme Court
against the Philadelphia Centennial Mr.
Springer got up and vehemently denied the in
situation Mr.. Kelley thea reiterated the
charge, amid great excitement There was an
hard words spoken before 1t was cleared up.