Wichita eagle., 1888-05-09
THE TARIFF BILL.
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The amendment was laid on the table
yeas %, nays 49,
Mr.. Berry moved to lay on the table the
amendment offered by Mr.. Spooner that
the provisions confirming the title OF all
persons holding or claiming land In the
staoe of Michigan disposed of blythe proper
officers of the United States under the
public land laws; provided that the score
tary of the interior shall be satisfied that
the cash purchases were made without
fraud, and in the belief that the purchasers
were obtaining valuable title, shall not be
construed as confirming any sales or en-
tries upon which there were bona fide pre-
emption or homestead claims on the 1st OF
May, 1885.
The motion to lay on the table was de
feated-yeas II, nays 22-and the amend
ment was agreed to-yeas %, nays 10.
MIR. Palmer offered an amendment that
nothing in the bill should be construed as
exempting from forfeiture that portion OF
the grant conferred by the state OF Mlchi-
gan IN the Marquette & Ontonagon Rail
way company, lying west of Lansing.
Mr. EdmGnds moved to recommlt the
bill to the committee ON public lands, with
instructions to report it back amended as
soon as might be- He wished the commit
tee to reframe it SO as to keep 1t within the
definite decision of the supreme court to
project every right of every citizen, and to
wind up every unexecuted railroad grant
and make an end of it.
The motion to reccmmit was opposed by
Senators Blair and Dolph and was de-
feated (only nine senators voting for it,.
The question was then taken on Mr..
Palmer's amendment and agreed to-yeas
"A, nays 16.
Mr.. Palmer then moved an amendment
to patent lands earned by the part con-
struction of the Ontonagon q Bruel River
railroad. Rejected.
Mr. Hoar offered an amendment affect
ing the lands of Michigan. and was asked
by Mr.. Berry whether the effect of it
would not be to confirm the lands held by
the Portage Ship Canal company.
Mr.. Hoar replied that it would have that
effect If it should turn out that the land
was conveyed to the canal company by an
officer of the United States. He was at a
capacity for sense of justice could refuse
to confirm title under such circum-
stances.
To this Mr.. Berry retorted that he was
at loss to conceive how any one born with
a sense of justice and right would under
take to confirm title founded in fraud
as this title was shown to be by the report
OF the house committe on public lands in
the Forty-eighth congress.
the other day by Mr.. Dolph that that re-
port had been written by Mr.. Reddington,
the senior member of law firm in Wash
ington, and it was this man he said who
prompted the attack upon the canal COM
pany. 1t was burning shame,
he said, degrading to the char
aCter of the senate, that when
citizens came before it with such a claim it |:
:hould turn its back upon them On account
of demagogue cries, especially when the
creators of the fraud were sitting in the
gallery and inspiring the attacks. Mr..
Hoar further said that the governor of
Michigan made release of the lands in
question to the canal company; that it has
complied with all the conditions in the
grant, and that the governor SO certified.
The sole effect of his amendment, he said,
was to secure these lands to the canal com
pany.
Mr.. Palmer argued against Mr.. Hoar's
Mr.. Stockbridge asserted, on his own
personal knowledge, and in contradiction
Of the statements made by his colleagues,
that the canal in question was completed
and had been in successful operation for the
last sixteen or seventeen years. The bill
went over without action on Mr.. Hoar's
and with an understanding
that it will be taken up tomorrow, at the
close of the mornings business.
The message from the president on the
subject of the impressment into the French
army of John Prussia, an American citi
zen, was laid before the senate, and
referred to the committee on foreign rela-
tons.
Mr.. Stewart, who offered the resolution
calling for the correspondence, remarked
that the man had been discharged from
the French army since the resolution was
offered.
Mr. Paddock introduceda bill to amend
the act to encourage the growth of timber
on the western prairies. Referred,
The senate then adjourned.