Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-05-28
AT THE CAPITOL TO-DAY,
GENERAL APPROPRIATIONS.
The Legislative, ETC., Bill in the House.
A REPLY TO SENATOR STEWART.
The Senate.

Among the bills reported from committees and
placed on the calendar was House bill to create @
department Of agriculture.
DISTRICT BILLS.
Among the bills introduced and referred were
the following:
BY Mr.. Vance-To extend the streets and avenues
Of the city OF Washington.
steam railroad bills for the District OF Columbia.
BY Mr.. Daniel-To make Good Friday holiday
In the District Of Columbia.
THE RIVER AND HARBoR RILL-
MI. Frye, from the committee on commerce, re-
ported back the river and harbor appropriation
bill He stated that it appropriated 81, ,3S8, ,783
being 81, 7S3, 900 more than the bill contained as
1t came from the House. ItwOuld be some cOnsid-
cradle time he said. before the bill would be called
up for action because the report of the COMMITTEES
could not possibly be ready under a week from the
present time. Whenever the report was ready he
would call up the bill.
THE ATToRNEY-GENERAL DEFENDED.
Mr.. Jones (Ark.) called attention to some OF the
remarks made last week by senator Stewart on
the veto Question-particularly to those making
charges against the Attorney General in connec-
ton with land titles in California, and with the
"raid on the Bell Telephone Co." II he had heard
these remarks made they would not have gone into
the Record unchallenged. The absolute refuta-
ton OF the charge In reference to the land grant
suits In California was, at the time, in the hands
OF every Senator, being the answer OF the Attor-
1ect and which showed that the suits In question
had been instituted at the request OF the Interior
Department. The Senator from Nevada was
specially eStOpped from any reflection on the late
Secretary OF the interior (Mr. Lamar, In view OF
his recent utterances that there could be no more
eminent man or one better lifted for the office OF
Justice OF the supreme Court. IL that remarkable
assault had been made In any other place than the
Senate, he (Mr. Jones), would have passed 1t by
was glad to believe that there were but
few men whose estimate OF mankind was so low as
that they could believe that the President OF the
United States, or one OF his constitutional ad-
vsers could so far forget his own honor integrity
and sef-respect as to be willing TO prostitute his
office to the low level Of assuming an authority
which he had not for the purpose OF "cloudtng
the titles OF individuals who had incurred the
dislike OF the Administration" The response OF the
the subject (Which Mr.. Jones sent to the clerks
desk and had ready was complete answer TO the
Senator's lns1nuations. AS to the unsuccessful
raid on the Bell Telephone &C" 1t was hardly neces
sary to call the attention of the Senate to the
utter and absolute want OF foundation Tor any
such charge.
Mr.. STEWART DEFENDED HIS POSITION
in reference to the private land claim suits in Cali
fornia, and sent to the clerks desk and had read
q letter to the President from Governor Waterman,
OF California, bearing that subject, and repre-
senting that the litigation to settle land titles in
that state had been going on for nearly forty years
He declared that there was no outrage In the
whole history OF California equal to that OF reopen
ing such litigation.
He characterized the attack upon these land
titles by interested parties In California as black
mail" and as "stand and deliver process" and
said that the Attorney General should not have
assisted them In 1t without giving the matter
While Mr.. Stewart was still speaking, a sug-
gestton as TO executive session was made to him
by Mr.. Sherman and he readily yielded for
however, by Mr. Berry, who said that he wished to
make some remarks on the subject OF Mr.. Stew
arts speech; but Mr.. Sherman said he felt bound
ness-volunteering the opinion that 1t would not
occupy much time.
EXECUTIVE SESSION.
The Senate thereupon, at / go, proceeded to the
consideration OF executive business.
House Of Representatives.
Under the call OF states the following bills and
resolutions were introduced and referred:
By Mr.. Gest QllS). appropriating s275, 900 for
the rebuilding OF the Government dam at Rock
Island arsenal, and Tor the immediate construc-
tion OF a temporary dam; also, calling on the Sec
retary of War for information concerning the de-
struction OF the Government dam at Rock Island
arsenal
employees who were present at the battle Of Gettys-
burg, leave OF absence to attend the anniversary
celebration Of that battle.
BY Mr: Richardson Tennl, to select site for
the erection OF post-of1ice building in Washing.
ton, ID. c.
By Mr.. Cheadle Qnd by request), to retire ex-
SOlulerS ana SallOrS VINO nave Dcen WOunueQ IN
battle after twenty years service in the civil
service.
REPORTS FROM COMMITTEES.
Mr.. GrOsvenOr (Ohio), from the cOmmitte On
rivers and harbOrs, reported bill declaring that
certain water reserve lands in Wisconsin are, and
have been, subject to the provisions OF an act
granting to railroads right or way through the
public lands OF the United states. House calen-
dar.
Mr.. sowden Pennal from the committee on
public buildings and grounds reported the bill for
the erection OF public building at Taunton Mass.
Mr. Thompson (Ohio), from the committee on
invalid pensions, submitted minority report on
the bill repeating the limitation OF the arrears OF
pension act, and 1t was ordered printed. (Mr.
Thompson differs from the majority only in the
conclusion reached by 1t that the payment Of ar
rears should be limited to those who have applied
up to the passage OF the bill
Mr.. Sowden Pa.), from the committee on public
buildings and grounds, reported the bill for the
erection OF pubic building at Norfolk, Va. Com
MIR. Spinola IN. W from the committee on mill.
tary affairs reported the bill authorizing the Pres
ident to appoint and retire John c. Fremont as a
major general House calendar.
MORE NEW BILLS.
The following bills were introduced and referred:
BY Mr.. Townshend QlleProviding for an As
sistant Secretary OF War.
BY Mr.. Plumb Qll., by reQuest)-To provide for
issuing bonds to refund the national debt.
THE LEGISLATIVE, ETC., APPROPRIATION BILL
Vi
whole (Mr Blount, OF Georgia, In the chair) on the
legislative, executive and judicial appropriation
bill
discussion arose as to the correctness Of the
ruling OF the chair on Saturday last. In deciding
that the appropriation OF $4,000 for the salary Of
the First Auditor OF the Treasury worked change
OF existing law and was not in order.
Mr.. Grain (rexaS) moved TO appropriate "a, 900,
the amount fixed by statute law. Rejected
The appropriation OF s., 900 was then renstated.
Capitol Topics.
THE LAND GRANT yoRFBIrURI BILL
The House committee on public lands has
adopted the Holman substitute for the Senate
general land grant forfeiture bill The Senate bill
permits the roads to hold all the lands along the
line as far as the roads have been completed. re-
gardesS OF the time limit provided In the original
grants. The substitute fOrfeits all those lands
not earned strictly according to the terms OF the
charter.
THE MILITARY APPROPRIATION Bill.
The House committee on military affairs has
completed the consideration OF the military an.
preparation bill. The total sum OF the bill Il
$24 2S0 100 which is an increase OF 1894 o81 ovel
preparation OF 100000 for dynamite guns and
$10O, O,0OO for experiments In the use Of dynamite
THE NOMINATION OF FULLER.
The Senate committee on the judiciary this
| morning again considered the nomination Of Mr.
Fuller to be Chief Justice, but did not reach con
ciusion. 1t was decided to hold q special meetino
on the case next Thursday, at which It Is expected
the matter will O0 d1aDOeed Of