Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1889-02-07

affairs were agreed to. The amedments
raising to the rank of ambassadors the
ministers to England, France and Ger
many and Russia were reiected-yeas 81,
nays 26-and the bill was passed. The
senate spent four hours in the consider
alton of the treaty and finally adjourned
leavingsit still pending.
HoUss.-Mr. Springer, of Illinois,
called up as special order the Oklahoma
bill. Mr.. Grosvenor made the point of
order that, by reason of adjournment
yesterday, the bill had lost its privileged
character. The speaker overruled the
point of order, holding that the bill was
privileged under the operation of the
previous question, 1t was moved to re-
consider the vote by which the house
yesterday agreed to Payson's soldiers
homestead amendment. Mr.. Payson
moved to lay the motion on the table, but
his mott IN was defeated. 1t is expressly
provided that the rights of honorably
discharged union soldiers and sailors in
the Ia e civil war, to make homes on all
| the public lands under the existing home
stead laws shall not in any degree be i'm
posed upon by the passage of this bill,
was agreed TO. The question then re-
Cured on the second clause, which pro-
/ vides that the right of such honorably
discharged union soldiers and sailors TO
TO make homestead entry, and 10 perfect
the same by the occupancy. under the
existing homestead law, shall extend to
any and all lands which shall be opeG ed
! to any settlement by the provisions of
this bill. After considerable debate this
clause was rejected. Mr.. Payson's ''town
| site" amendment was agreed to without
division. Mr.. O'Ferrall, moved a recon
! sideratlon, and Mr.. Springer moved TO
table that motion; pending which the
! house adjourned.
FRIDAY. Feb. l.
| SENATE.-The house amendments to
| senate bill for the admission of South
| Dakota as state were non-concurred in ,
! upon the report of the committee on ter
ritories, and a conference ives asked.
Messrs. Plat, Cullom and Butler were
appointed conferees on the part of the
senate. Mr.. Salisbury Tenn.) offered a
resolution, whicn Was agreed to, instruct
| ing the committee on foreign relations
TO inquire into the condition of affairs on
the Samoan islands, and to report at an
early date what measures are ecess ar Y
| and proper to protect the interests of
American citizens therein. and to dis
charge any of the obligations of the
United States to the people Of those
islands in the maintenance of their own
| local government from the interference
of any foreign power, and to secure the
| just rights and interests of the United
States III the future control and govern
ment of those islands. Sen. Sherman
| presented letter from the secretary OF
state with copy of formal concession
of the harbUr of Pago-Pago, made to
the United States by the Samoan govern
ment in accordance with the treaty, and
it was referred to the committee. The
senate on motion of Sen. Riddieberger
proceeded with closed doors to the con
sideration Of executive business, pre-
sumabIy the British extradition treaty
When the doors were reOpened the senate
| adjourned until Monday.
HoUsE.-The conference report on the
bill TO create a department of agriculture
was agreed TO. A brief skirmish between
| the friends of the private calendar and
the adherents of the Oklahoma bill re-
suited in a victory for the latter, and that
latter measure was taken up for con
sideration. The pending question was
on m otiOn of Mr.. Springer to table the
motion of Mr.. O'FerraIl, of Virginia, to
consider the vote by which the house
yesterday rejected the minority substi-
tute. The house finally passed the Okla
homa bill by vote of-yeas, 14S; nays
| 102. The greater part of the afternoon
was consumed in the consideration of the
bill authorizing the court of claims to ad-
Indicate the claim of the legal represen-
tapives of Henry 81. SIbley, growing out
of the contract with the government for
the use of a patented invention in manu-
featuring the Sibley tent, but no decision
was arrived at.
SATURDAY, Feb. 2.
HoUsE.-On motion of Mr.. Springer
the house insisted Oh it's amendment to
the senate bill for the admission of South
Dakota, and Messrs. Springer, Barney
and Baker of New York, were appointed
conferees. The committee on agriculture
reported the agricultural appropriation
bill and it was placed upon the calendar.
The house theM went into committee of
the whole upon the naval appropriation
bill. An amendment was adopted appro-
priating 100000 for the establishment
of ooaling station at Pago Page, Samoa.
The bill was then reported to the house
and passed. The postoffice appropria-
zion bill was reported and placed on the
calendar.