The National tribune., 1889-02-07
CONGRESS.
An Abstract of the More Important
Proceedings in Both Houses.
WEDNESDAY, JAN. 80.

In the Senate, the Diplomatic and Consular
appropriation bill being under consideration,
Mr.. Dolph (Ore.) addressed the Senate at length
in favor of the amendment reported by the
Committee on Appropriations, appropriating
5000 900 for the survey and improvement and
occupation of the bay and harbor of Pago Page,
in the island Of Tutuila, Samoa, and for the
construction of the necessary wharves and
buildings for coaling station. lie reviewed
the situation in these islands, and spoke of the
friendliness of the natives to the people of the
United States; and then considered the agrees
sive policy which had been assumed by the
German Government for some time, and urged
that vigorous policy be inaugurated at once
by this country. These people should have the
protection of our Government, and the Germans
be told to take their hands from the Threats of
these friendly natives.
Mr.. Reagan TEX spoke at considerable
length to the resolution and remarked that the
President understood that he had exhausted
the authority conferred on him by the Con-
sttution, and felt that he must now ask Con-
gress what further steps should be taken. In
reply to that was the pending proposition to
appropriate 100000 for the execution of the
obligations and the protection of the interests
of the United States" What policy (Mr.
Reagan asked was here indicated or what
power was given to the President which he
did not already possess and which he had not
already endeavored to execute? What was the
President to understand by that language?
Reverting to the documents that have been
published Mr. Reagan declared that no Ameri-
can citizen could read the correspondence with
out feeling humiliation to see the rights of the
United States brutally overridden and trodden
down by German subalterns while the German
Prime Minister was protesting friendship and
a desire to maintain proper relations with the
Government of the United States. His purpose
was, he said, to call attention to the fact the
proposed amendment was too feeble to answer
the purpose.
The Senate then went into Executive Session,
and at 6:l5 o'clock p m. adjourned
In the House, on motion of Mr.. ToWushend
1ll.) the Senate amendments were concurred
in to the House bill authorizing the furnishing
of obsolete unseTviceable cannon to Soldiers
Homes.
Mr.. Springer Ill) called up the Oklahoma
BILL and moved to go into Committee of the
Whole upon that measure. The point of no
quorum was raised by Mr.. Finley lKy.) A roll
call followed, and Mr.. Springers motion pre-
vailed.
The pending amendment was one offered by
Mr.. Payson IND. expressly providing that the
rights of honorably-discharged Union soldiers
and sailors of the late civil war to make homes
on the public lands, under the existing home
stead laws, shall not in any degree be impaired
by the passage of this bill, but that such rights
shall extend to any and all lands which shall
be open to any settlement under the provisions
of this bill. The amendment was agreed to
pro lorna, and it was agreed that vote should
be taken in the House.
Mr. Holman (Ind.) offered an amendment
providing that nothingin this act shall be con-
strued to authorize the extinguishment of In
dian titles to any of the lands in the Indian Ter
ritory, which by virtue of any existing law
would enure to the benefit of any railroad cor
poration, or the title to which would vest in
any such corporation on the extinguishment
of the Indian title thereto, but all such lands
shall be held by the Indians in tribes or in sew
crafty, or by the United States in trust for the
benefit of the Indians. The amendment was
agreed TO.
Pursuant to a special order, at A o'clock the
Committee arose and reported the bill to the
House.
Mr.. Payson's soldiers homesteads amend
ment was agreed to-yeas ia; nays, Ill.
The House adjourned at o'clock p. M,
without further action.
THURSDAY. JAN. 81.