, 1888-02-24
Congressional


WASHINGTON, Feb. 23.-The senate
has passed the bills extending the laws of
the United States over the public land
strip; to amend the alien land act so as to
permit foreign governments to acquire
property in the District of Columbia; to
provide protection for submarine cables,
and to enable the state of California to
take lands in lieu of the sixteenth and
thirty-sixth sections, found to be mineral
lands.
The bill authorizing the construction of
a bridge across the Columbia river be-
tween Oregon and Washington Territory,
was reported adversely from the commit
tee.
The bill to ratify and confirm the agree
ment with the Gros Ventres and other
Grow Indians in Montana, was reported.
The senate bill providing for an inter-
national marine conference for securing
greater safety for life and property at sea,
has passed. Also a bill to amend the act
! of March 3, 1885, for the allotment of
lands in severalty to Indians on the Una
tilla reservation in Oregon.
The bill to provide for the compulsory
education of Indian children mot includ.
ing the five civilized tribes nor the Osages)
was taken from the calendar and debated.
The bill went over without action, and the
senate took up the bill to incorporate the
Washington Gable Electric railway. An
amendment was adopted requiring the
company to pay a tax of 4 per cent for
the first four years, 6 per cent for the
next four years, and after that s per cent.
The bill was passed and the senate then
adjourned.
BY a street party vote the house COM
mittee on territories to-day agreed to re-
port favorably Chairman Springer's
Omnibus bill to enable the people of
Dakota, Montana, Washington Territory
and New Mexico to form constitutions
and state governments and be admitted
to the Union on equal footings with the
original states. The Republicans will
present a minority report in opposition.
The bill authorizes the residents of
these territories to elect delegates to con-
ventlons proportionate in number with the
population of counties, the apportionment
OF delegates to be made by the governor,
the chief justice and United States attor-
neys of each territory, and the election to
be held ON the first Tuesday af.er the first
Monday of next August. The number of
delegates to each convention was fixed at
seventy-fve, except in the case of Dakota,
~ NilS hblDN % lOOs lhC1 VI "
meet at the seat of government in each
territory on the second Tuesday in Sep
TENDER next, adopt the constitution of the
United States and form constitutions and
state governments, expressly disclaiming
in favor of the United States all title TO
u|nappropriated public lands and Indian
lands lying within the territories. They
are also required to assume territorial
debts and provide and maintain a public
school system. The constitutions are to
be submitted to a vote of the people on
the Tuesday after the first Monday in
November next, and if a majority are in
favor of it the results shall be certified to
the president of the United States.
Until the next general census the new
states, with the exception of Dakota, are
to be allowed one representative each in
the house of representatives, Dakota to
be allowed two representatives. These
representatives are to be elected on the
same day with the governor and other
state officers; sections sixteen and thirty
six Of land in each township, or an
equivalent, are granted to each new state
for school purposes. Fifty entire sections
are granted for the erection of public
buildings, ninety sections are apportioned
for agricultural colleges, and so per cent
of the proceeds Of the sales of public
lands in the new states is to be paid into
a fund for the support of their common
schools. Other large grants of public
lands are also proposed to be made spe-
officially Tor the benefit of schools, mines,
charitable and educational institutions
and water works for irrigation.
An appropriation of $4,000 Is pro-
vided 70: Montana, Washington and New
Aa-,ao oal %oE nOO g.. n.I-4. 4. IL
the expenses of the convention. After
acceptance of the constitution the legisla-
lures are to meet and elect two senators
from each state, and when each state is
admitted into the Union by special act of
congress, senators and representatives are
be admitted to seats in congress, and
state governments become operative. The
New Mexican convention is also to CON
slider the question of changes in the name
of New Mexico to Montezuma and the
Washington convention is to submit to
the people the proposition to name the n ew
state Tacoma.
McAdo) offered a resolution which was
referred to the committee on foreign at
fairs requesting the president to send to
the house, If not Incompatible with the
public interests, all correspondence be.
tween this government and the govern
ments of Great Britain and Venezula
relating to the question of disputed boup-
diaries between the British colonies and
Venezula The floor was then accorded
to the committee on public buildings and
grounds. Among the bills reported and
placed on the calender was one
for the erection Of a public building at
Helena, Mont and Cheyenne, Wyo.
Also to increase the appropriation for the
public building at San Francisco to sos
600.
The house went into committee of the
whole and several bills were agreed to, all
being vigorously opposed by Bland, who
spoke Of them as shameful waste of
money.
The committee rose and the house passed
the bills and adjourned.
More Evfctions.
DUBLIN, Feb. 23-The eviction of ten
ants on the PonsonbY estate at Youghal
has becp unexpectedly resumed. A large
military and nnlicc force accom- nanin1 Ev