The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1889-02-14
THE NEW NAVY
Senator Chandler Proposes to Ex-
pend Eight Millions Building
a New Navy.
Proposition for the Civilized In
dians to Come Into the
Union as a State.
FIFTIETH CONGRESS.
SENATE.


WASHINGTON, February THE confer
ence report on the bill to incorporate the
Maritime Canal company, of Nlcaraugua,
was presented by Senator Sherman and
agreed to. The bill now goes to the pres
ident for his approval.
The credentials to Senator Mcpherson
for his new senatorial term were pre-
sented, read and placed on file.
Senator Blair from the committee on
woman suffrage reported back favorsbly
Joint resolution proposing constitutional
amendment to prohibit the denial or
abridgement of the right to vote by the
United States or any state on account of
sex. The joint resolution was placed on
the calendar and Senator Cockrell said the
minority report would be made hereafter.
Senator Cockrell expressed his regret
that the fourth auditor and treasurer of
the United States had permitted their
names to be used by firm of Washing
ton claim agents, as shown in the circular
Yesterday by Mr.. Cullom. He thought
those officials had committed very griev-
ous blunder, and sent to the clerks desk
and had read another Washington claim
cial rates for benefit of persons having
claims for pensions. This, he said, was
an attempt to get fee without rendering
any equivalent.
Senator Jones, of Arkansas, stated a
case which had just come to his knowledge
A constituent of his, who had been United
States marshal thirty-fv years ago, had
credit of 1896 on the books of the
treasury department and the senate had
passed bill for his relief, which bill was
now pending in the house, having been
favorably reported. He (Jones) had just
received a letter written to his con
stituent by Washington claim agent Of
fering to have bill put through at once
| if he received half the amount. This
Senator Jones said, was a plain attempt
to rob. If there was any
way of putting an end tC
this practice it should be done imme
diately. Senator Cockrell proceeded tC
give some other instances of dishonest at
tempts on the part of Washington elaine
agents, and he declared there never hat
been such imposition practiced upon an!
class as had been practiced upon soldiers
of the late war and their widows and or
phans. He attributed much of the sue
cess of claims agents to the fact that gov
ernment officials did not adjust the &C
counts and hunt up and pay claims, bu
on the contrary suppressed facts.
The bill authorizing the construction o
railroad through the Indian territor.
from Baxter Springs to Fort Smith, Ark
was reported and placed on the calendar
The senate then adjourned.
HOUSE.
Mr.. Holman, of Indiana, from the com
mittee on public lands, reported back sen
ate bill providing that the public lands O
the United States now subject to privat
entry, or are adapted to and chiefly valua
BILE for agriculture, shall be disposed o
according to the provisions of the home
stead laws only.
On motion of Mr.. Holman an amend
ment was adopted striking out the word
which exempt Missouri from the proviE
ions of the bill.
An amendment was adopted also regard
ing the commutation clause of the home
stead law.
On motion of Mr.. Turner, of Kansas, a
amendment was adopted allowing person
who have abandoned or relinquished thei
homestead entries to make another entr,
The bill passed.
The house then went into committee {
the whole on the army appropriation bill