Morning journal and courier., 1889-02-06
Fiftieth COngress-Second Session
WASHINGTON, Feb. 5

 SENATE.-The House bill for the establish ment of a territorial government in Oklaho ma having been presented to the Senate to day, MT. Platt moved its reference to tn committee on territories and MT. Dave moved it's reference to the committee on In dian affairs. In support Of his motion MT Dawes said that the real substance of tn treatment of the Indians in that region ant their relations to the general government Those relations have been difficult question for great many years and had invariably been referred to the committee on Indian af. fairs. With the exception of the little stril called "No mans land," the whole of the proposed territory was now held by the Indians under different titles, more or less exclusive. The committee or Indian affairs had had the subject before it ever since the idea ot establishing a territorial government there had taken form. If the Indian question were eliminated from the bill there would be DO difficulty in the matter, and that was why the committee on Indian affairs should con- sider it.
 Mir. Vest thought that the senator from Massachusetts had overstated the fact when he said that the everything question in the bill was how it would effect the rights of the Indians. The great question to be deter mined was whether territorial government should be established in what was known as Oklahoma.
 MT. Hawley offered an amendment to the sundry civil appropriation bill, which was referred to the committee on military affairs, for the payment to the widow of General Sheridan of $50, ,0Q0, "in grateful recognition of his eminent and extraordinary services to his country The House joint resolution for the payment of $500, 1000 to the representa- ti7es of the late James B. Eads was taken up
 
 judicial appropriation bill was then taken up.
 The amendments to the bill that were re- ported from the committee on appropriations were agreed to without question. They were few and unimportant.
 An amendment offered by Mr. Hawley, to increase the clerical force of the civil service commission, provoked a discussion on the question of civil service reform. MT. Haw- ley having been asked by Mr. Plumb to dis- cuss that question, declined to do 30 farther than to say that the civil service commission had done a vast deal of good and was to be maintained, perfected and enlarged. He did not admit that the aw had been enforced in good faith, because he knew that there had been lamentable, outrageous evasions of it. It had been blessing to the Democratic par ty for the past four years that there were from ten to fifteen thousand offices placed under civil service rules and it would be a blessing to the Republican party if for the next four years that number were increased to 15, 900 or $20,000. If thu law was not to be maintained it should be repealed frankly, but if it were to be maintained it should have the necessary clerical force.
 Before the discussion closed the confer ence report on the bill amendatory of the inter. State commerce law was presented and read. The conference committee not having agreed on the House amendment in refer ence to the transportation of oil, MT. Sher- man moved to concur in that amendment as being in the line of the law. All the House sought to accomplish by the amendment was, he said, to prevent a higher rate being charg- ed for oil transported in barrels than for oil transported in tanks-of which latter mode of transportation the Standard Oil company had monopoly. The amendment seemed to him to be a just and proper one and to be in 8 line with the measure which the senator from Illinois Mir. Cullom) had fathered and carried through successfully.
 MT. Platt argued against the amendment.
 While the discussion was still in progress Mir. Riddleberger, made an effort to have an executive session Ego as to remove the obligation of secrecy" on the proceedings on the British extradition treaty, but 0 motion to adjourn prevailed at 5:15, neither the conference report, nor the legislative appropriation bill having been disposed of.
 HoUsE.-On motion of Mir. Kelley of Pennsylvania, the Senate amendment was concurred in to the House bill for the retire ment of General William F. Smith. As finally agreed to the bill authorizes his re- tirement with the rank of major of engineers. The House then proceeded to the con sideration of the conference report on the Nicayaguan canal bill. The bill was then referred to the committee on Terri tories. After long debate the House at five o'clock took @ recess until 7:30.
 The evening session of the House was de- voted to the consideration of Columbia busi- ness.
 The following bills were passed: Providing that insurance companies desirous of doing business in the States may deposit with the treasurer of the United States; exempting the securities of building and mutual loan from taxation; making the term of juries one month instead of three; appro- priating $8, 800 for the maintenance of public order during the inaugural ceremonies; regu- lating the licensing of pawnbrokers; provid- ing for trial by jury in the police court.
 The House then adjourned.