Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-02-08
TWO APPROPRIATION BILLS.


Mr.. Edmunds objected to its immediate con-
sderation and the bill was placed on the
calendar.
Mr.. Evarts gave notice that he would next
Monday. call up the resolution reported from
the committee on privileges and delections
RELATING TO TEXAS oUTRAaEs.
Mr.. Coke expressed the hope that. before
that time, the testimony would be printed.
A bill appropriating 1925 to pay the expenses
of special messenger to Florida to obtain the
certificate of the presidential election was in
troduced by Mr.. Pasco and passed.
RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDS.
Mr.. Stewart offered a resolution (Which was
referred to the committee on contingent ex-
penses) for the appointment of a select COM
mittee of seven ON irrigation and reclamation
of arid lands to consider the subject of irriga-
tion and the best mode of reclaiming the arid
lands of the United States, with leave to sit
during the recess and to employ clerk at Sc
a day.
Dir. Manderson offered a resolution (Which
was agreed to- calling on the Secretary of
war for correspondence and reports as to the
relocation of Fort Omaha, Neb.
RESOLUTIONS AGREED TO.
The two resolutions heretofore offered by
Mr. Chandler as to naval officers claims and
in relation to the removal of officers and en-
ployes under the control of the Commissioners
OF the District of Columbia, and the resolu-
tlon offered yesterday by MIR. Chace as to
changes of railway postal clerks since January,
1885, were severally taken up and agreed to.
SUFFRAGE.
The resolutions heretofore offered by Mr..
Gibson for an inquiry as to the state of suffrage
throughout the United States with Mr.. Chand-
ler's substitute therefor as to the recent cleo
ton in Louisiana, were on motion Of Mr.
20 fhe.o
and elections.
Mr.. Daniel intimated desire to debate the
resolutions, but was informed by Mr. Spooner
that an opportunity to do so would be afforded
him by another resolution next Monday.
SETTLERS ON THE DEs MONIES RIVER LANDS.
The Senate then (on motion of Mr. Plumb)
proceeded to the consideration of the House
bill to quiet title of settlers on the Des Moines
river lands in Iowa.
Mr.. Evarts made an argument against the
bill as contravening the most fundamental prin-
cipie OF the security of title; as an innovation
on the American system Of legislation, and as
an attempt to dictate to the judiciary-a thing
which was intolerable in the proper co-ordi-
nation OF the departments of the government
The bill, he said, had been before Congress for
many years, but had passed the two houses
only once (last Congress- when it was vetoed
by the President in message, the reasoning
Of which Mr.. Evarts described as brief and
terse, and as presenting precisely the legal and
constitutional questions involved, and none
other.
THE ONLY PROPER REMEDY
for the settlers was, he said, the bill intro
duced by himself in january, 1888, and re-
ported back adversely from the committee on
public lands.
Mr.. Wilson Qowa) defended and advocated
the House bill and stated the history Of the
case.
THE BILL PASSED.
Without further discussion and without divi-
sion or amendment, the bill was passed,
RAILWAY MAIL SERVICE EMPLOYEES.
Mr.. Paddock introduced bill (which was
laid on the table for the presently declaring
that the provisions of the civil service act
shall not be construed as embracing within the
scope of its provisions the officers and en-
ployes Of the railway mail service.
House of Representatives.
On motion of Mr.. Ermentrout (Pa.) reso-
luton was adopted reserving certain of the
House galleries for the use of the families of
Senators and Representatives ON the occasion
of the counting OF the electoral vote.
On motion of Mr.. Barnes (Ga.) the Senate
amendment in the nature of substitute was
concurred in to the House bill relative to the
Judicial districts of Georgia. As agreed to the
bill creates the northeastern division of the
southern judicial district of Georgia and pro-
v,des for the holding OF the court at Augusta,
Ga.l
The conference report was agreed to on
bill for the relief of David Merriweather, Of
Kentucky.
MIR. Struble Qowa) called up the bill increas-
ing the pension of Mrs. Ward B. Burnett but
the House refused-yeas, 80; nays, 116-to con-
slider the bill.
THE ARMY APPROPRIATION Rrrr
The House then went into committee of the
whole, Mr.. Dockery (AIo.) in the chair, on the
army appropriation bill
The pending question was on the point of
order raised by Mr.. Randall Penna.) against
the clause appropriating $500, 900 for the pur-
chase OF movable submarine torpedoes. After
debate the chair sustained the point of order
belonged to the fertilization bill. The clause
was, therefore,
STRICKEN OUT.
Mr.. Cutcheon (Alich.) attempted to bring
the clause within the rules by Offering it as an
amendment, so mQlified as to provide that the
torpedoes shall be operated by the engineer
corps OF the army al points on navigable waters
and at the entrances of harbors where there
are no Notifications.
But this was of no avail, and the amendment
was ruled out
Mr.. spinola CN. ~ said that the torpedo
item has been stricken ont on a technicality
Must the country be placed in peril; must the
seaboard cities be ieopardized simply to cater
to the technicalities of few gentlemen, or
should Congress do what the people were look
ing for it to do by giving
AMPLE PROTECTION TO THE sEABoARp CITIES,
From Maine all along the seacoast there was
not seaboard city which was not liable in the
event OF trouble with any foreign country to
be seized and held at ransom for nm ooor,rops
sum. 1t serious trouble should arise between
the United States and Germany, the great city
OF New York would be unprotected, and II once
captured the ransom would be so high that it
would almost stagger the whole country,
The gentleman from Pennsylvauia (Ar. Ram
dalD living at the head of q small river. had
been asking the government to remove some
islands
MIR. Randall. never asked the government
to remove garbage.
DISTRICT IN CONGRESS.