The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-07-26
Proceedings of the House.

WASHINGTON. July 25.-On motion Of Mr..
Laffoon. of Kentucky, the Senate amendment
was agreed to to the House bill for the holding
of terms of United States courts at Greensboro,
Kentucky.
On motion of Mr.. Anderson, of Kansas, the
Senate bill was passed for the holding of terms
Of United States District Court at Salina,
Kansas.
The communication received yesterday from
the Secretary of the Treasury relative to the use
of the We,land canal, and referred to the COM
mlttee on foreign affairs was this morning re-
ferred to the committee on merchant Ia arine
and fisheries, with authority to that COMMITTEES
to report thereon at any time.
The House then proceeded to consideration Of
bills reported from the committee on private
land claims.
After disposing Of various private~ biis,,s. the
Ho use took ND and considered . bf1 to establish
q United States land court, and to provide for A
judicial Investigation and settlement Of private
land claims in the Territories of Arizona and
New Mexico and the State Of Colorado. 1t es-
tablishes a United States land court, to consist
of a chief justice and two associate justices ap-
pointed by the President, by and with the ad.
vice and consent of the Senate.
Mr.. Smith. of Arizona, offered an amendment
exemptinR Arizona from the provisions of the
bill, conrendinR that it would prove to be a great
hardship to the bona fde settlers in that Terri
tory. They would be compelled to rush into
court at the instance of Immigrant companies,
and either surrender their land or pay ont their
inheritance in lawyers fees.
MIR. McCreary, of Kentucky. inquired whether
the gentleman had not received q petition from
a bar association in Arizona in favor of the bill
MIR. Smith-That is is; Immigrant lawyers.
The lawyers will get very rich out there il this
bill passes. will be out there getting very rich
il this bill passes. Laughter.
Mr.. McCreary, of Kentucky, contended that
Justice to the people of Arizona, New Mexico
and Colorado. as well as justice to the United
States government. demanded that the private
land claims in that Territory should be settled.
and he argued that the pending bill presented
the best practical method of settlement.
Mr.. Joseph. of New Mexico. favored the bill,
declaring that the people OF his Territory were
a unit in advocating its passage.
Mr.. Symes, of Colorado. supported the bill as
being in the interest of the small settlers in his
State and in the Territories mentioned. 1t was
time that the government should carry out the
guarantees given in the treaty of Guadsloupe
Hidaleo. and secure certainty Of titles to those
small settlers.
Mr.. Thomas. of Wisconsin,, opposed the
amendment. asserting that in Arizona the most
bold, reckless and gigantic scheme of robbery
had been attempted 10 relation to land grants.
An amendment was adopted reducing from
forty to twenty years the period Of continuous
occupancy which shall be evidence of title or
ownership.
An amendment was adopted giving q right 6f
appeal from the department. court to the court
in banc in all cases.
Mr.. Smiths amendment exernpting Arizona
from the provisions of the bill was agreed to
40 to %; and the bill. as amended, was passed
20 10 q.
The House then went into Of the
whole-Mr. Dockery, of Missouri, in the chair
on the Oklahoma bill.
No gentleman was prepared TO proceed with
the discussion. which, according to Mr..
Springer, Of Illinois. was an extraordinary con-
dition of affairs, aud the committee immediate
~ rose.
open space in front of the Speakers desk, and in
stentorian voices, and with waving bills, sought
TO secure recognition for unanimous consent
from the presiding officer. a couple Of private
bills successfully ran the gauntlet Of objections,
but no measure Of public Importance was
passed, and the House took q recess, the even
ing session to be for consideration OF bills re-
ported from the on war claims.
The session of the Houso tonight was a COM
plete fasco. 1t was called for the purpose of
considering bills reported from the COMMITTEES
on war claims 10 which there was no objection.
The first measure called up was one championed
by Nh. Bowdsn. OF Virginia. and this having
been objected to. he retaliated by Directing TO
the next bill. Each new objection created a new
~oolector. and as each consecutive measure was
called up there was on ever increasing chorus of
objections. Several OF the wiser and more ex-
perieuced members. who were aware that no
business could be accomplished, interposed mo-
tons to adjourn. but they ware invariably voted
down, until Mr.. Stone, or Kentucky, chairman
OF the mmit on war claims. weary of the
dulging, moved an Adjournment, which. at 800
WAS carriet-