The times., 1889-02-08
OUR NATIONAL LAWMAKERS.
What They Are Doing for the Country's
Good-Bills Passed, Etc.

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yesterday received message from the presi-
dent vetoing pension to Mrs. Ellen Land,
and Platt announced that he proposed to
make speech on the subject. The house
amendments to the Dakota bill were non-con-
cnrYu1 .. -, salisbury offered resolution in
structing enc f6reYsr ,,.-.,s ,.s committees to -; -;
quiie into tho Samoan affair and report what
measures are necessary to protect
our interests there and execute our
obligations to the islanders-agrecd
to. Voorhees, reported a bi,t app,.cc.. .atinc
$4,000 to buy an oil painting of Abraham
lfncoln--calendar Messages were received
from tho president containing :, copy of the
deed gwen TO tho United States by the Sa-
moan government to the harbor of Pago-
Pagu and announcing that the German gov
ernment had instructed its consul to with
draw the martial law proclamation SO far az
it relates to foreigners and the demand that
the control of the islands be temporarily
placed in the consul's hands. At 2:10 a secret
session was begun which lasted until adjourn
ment, which was taken to Monday. The sub
ject of the executive session debate was the
British extradition treaty, which wasrejected.
The house agreed to the conference report
on the department of agriculture bill The
Oklahoma bill was then taken up, and the
motion to reconsider which was pending at
adjournment Thursday, was tabled-132 to
ia. The bill was then passed-14S to l02.
The private calendar was next considered,
with little progress, but the bill to extend to
the port of Sault Ste. Marie the privilege of
inland transportation in bond was agreed to,
and recess TO 7:30 was taken. Upon reassem-
bling twenty-five private pension bills were
passed and the house adjourned
WASHINGTON CITY, Feb. 4.-The house
Saturday insisted on its amendment to the
territorial bill and then took up the naval ap-
preparation bill, and after amending it by
adding an appropriation of 100000 to estab-
fishing a coaling station on the shores of the
harbor of Pago-Pago, Samoan islands, passed
it. The debate took in the Samoan difficulty,
and McAdoo said there would have been no
trouble if the United States had been pos
sessed of proper navy. After transacting
some routine business the house adjourned
WASHINGTON CITY, Feb. fisherman in
troduced a resolution in the senate yesterday
proposing an inquiry into the expediency of
purchasing Beierstadt's pictures-four in
number-of scenes i'm the Yosemite valley.
The pictures are now in the White House.
Stockbridge presented a letter from President
Ledyard, of tho Michigan Central railway,
protesting against giving the secretary of
war the power to prevent tho erection of
bridges over navigable streams rs proposed
in the river and harbor bill Evarts reported
the testimony taken in tho Texas bulldozing
cases and a resolution directing tho elections
committee to revise tho existing election laws
so as To more fully protect voters in their
rights. Sherman's antitrust bill came up,
was briefly discussed and laid aside and then
the Pacific railway funding bill was consid
cred, some dates changed, and Mitchell moved
to recommit tho bill because it does not in
clude the Central Pacific He was speaking
to his motion when he yielded for adjourn
ment, which took place at S p m.
Payson opened the day in the house by fill
clustering against the consideration, under
suspension of the rules, of the Union Pacific
funding bill, which he said should be dis
cussed fully and opportunity for amendment
given. The house fused to recede from its
amendments to the interstate commerce act,
and ordered further conference. Tho senate
amendments to the diplomatic bill were nom
concurred in, and the conference report on
the Nicaragua canal bill debated but no action
taken, and at :45 recess was taken until 1880.
At the evening session bills were passed to
allot lands in seveInlty to the Oneida Indians
in Wisconsin and the Peorias and Miamis in
Indian territory. So much objection was
raised to the bill TO acquire the Sioux reserva-
ton in Dakota that it was withdrawn, and
the house adjourned.
WASHINGTON CITY, Feb. 6--The Oklahoma
bill was received by the senate yesterday,
and, after a strong effort on tho part Of it's
opponents to have it referred to the Indian
tn
committee. An amendment to the sundry
civil bill was offered by Hawley, appropri-
ating $50, 900 as q gift to Mrs. Gen. Sheridan,
in recognition of the dead soldiers services.
A resolution to appoint an additional clerk to
the commerce committee, whose duty it shall
be to prepare a report on every item in tho
river and harbor bill, was agreed to, Us was
the joint resolution to pay tho representa-
tives of the late Capt Eads $5O0,0 for
work on the Mississippi jetties. The legis-
lative appropriation was taken up and an
amendment adopted increasing the salary of
tho presidents private secretary to 5000.
An amendment to increase the clerical force
of the civil service commission was offered,
and pending discussion the conference report
on the amendment to the interstate COM
merce act was presented. It was disagree
ment and Sherman moved to concur in the
house view of the matter, but tho senate ad-
journed leaving both matters unsettled.
The house debated the conference report on
the Nicaragua bill, and without action took
recess to 7:30, ut which hour the house con-
sidered District business, and adjourned at
1880.
WASHINGTON CITY, Feb. 7.-The senate
yesterday passed the bill giving tho Big Horn
Southern Railroad company right-of-way
through the Fort Custer military reservation
in Montana. The bill to investigate the mat
ter of naval officers claims came up and was
debated and laid aside and consideration of
the legislative, executive and judicial bill re-
sumed, the question being ON an amendment
increasing the clerical force on tho civil serv-
ice commission. No action was taken, and at
4:35 the senate adjourned.
The new member of tho house. from the
First Indiana district, Mr.. Frank b. Posey, |
was sworn in yesterday. Consideration Of
the conference report on the Nicaragua canal
bill was continued and the report was agreed |
to-177 to 90. The house recedcs from nearly |
all its amendments to tho bill Dingley |