Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-02-28
CAPITOL TOPICS.
THE LASp-aRANr FORFEITURE BILL


The conferees on the land-grant forfeiture
bills have agreed upon all points Of difference
except that involved in the first section.
namely, the extent of the forfeiture The con-
ferees will report the result to their respective
houses, and in the House Mr. Payson win move
that that body recede from its disagreement on
the first section and accept the Senate propo-
sition, which involves a forfeiture of lands
living opposite those parts of the railroad lines
not completed at the date of passage of the
act An agreement has also been reached on
the bill to protect the rights of actual settlers
on the public lands on the lines of the House
bill, and the report will be made at the first
opportunity.
THE SOLE SURVIVING vIcE-PREIDENT.
This afternoon the venerable Hannibal
Hamlin was on the floor of the Senate. over
which body he presided during the troub-
lous times of 61-'65 He is the sole surviving
Vice-President, and as such comes to take part
in the inaugural ceremonies next Monday. He
is hale and hearty. and seemed to greatly en-
joy the congratulations of Senators, which
were freely extended.
THE sENATE's EXTRA SESSION.
There is much interest in the approaching
extra session of the Senate, called for next
Monday, in respect particularly of its length.
Mr.. Harry B. Smith, of the Senate document
room, has been looking up this matter, and
finds that the usual length is about one week.
notable exception was the special session
called in 1881, which lasted several months
and toward the close of which Senators Conk-
ling and Platt resigned. 1t is not expected
that any controversy will arise leading to any
extraordinary length of the session.
EXECUTIVE SESSION OF THE SENATE.
The ten-minute executive session of the Sen
ate to-day was devoted to the reception of mes
sages from the President and their reference to
appropriate committees.
REPRESENTATIVE sPINoLA's CONDITION.
Representative Spinola's illness is reported
to have taken a favorable turn this morning.
He is still very ILL., however, and is almost una
BILE to speak.
THE RETIREMENT OF GEMS. RosECRANs AND SMITH.
President Cleveland yesterday afternoon sent
the following nominations to the Senate: Will
liam s. Rosecrans, late brigadier-general .. s..
army, to be brigadier-general to date from Feb
ruary "a, 1889, with a view to his being placed
on the retired list of the army. William +.
Smith. late major in the corps of engineers. to
be major OF engineers, to date from February
21, 1889, with view to his name also being
placed on the retired list of the army.
THE EIGHT-HoUR LAW.
The House committee on labor has authorized
a favorable report ON bill providing for the
enforcement of the eight-hour law on Govern
ment premises. The bill provides that all par
ties contracting for the performance of work
on government premises shall agree that eight
hours shall constitute days work.
IDAHO AND WYOMING
The Senate committee hope to get the bills
to provide for the formation and admission
into the Union of Idaho and Wyoming respect
lively through Congress this session, so that the
census of 1880 may be used as the basis of rep
resentation, otherwise the new states will be
compelled to come to Congress for ten years
with but one representative each. The bills
merely authorized the formation of the state
governments and adoption of constitutions; the
next Congress will have to deal with their ac-
tual admission.
CONGRESSMAN POSTS CLAIM
for $1,000 on account of expenses incurred in
defending his right to the seat occupied by
him in the Fiftieth Congress, in addition to the
$4,000 appropriated last year. received favor
able consideration from the Senate committee
on claims yesterday.
THE NATURALIZATION BILL AMENDED.
On February 13 last the naturalization bill
reported from the committee on the judiciary
was. by request, recommitted to
that committee. Yesterday Representatives
Oates reported the bill back with new section
This section creates in the State de-
partment here registration for the
registration of all persons hereafter
naturalized, and makes such registration essen
tial to the validity of such naturaliza-
tion. This provision, an accompanying
report says, is recommended by the Depart
ment of State. and is deemed neces-
sary to enable that department to
identify and AFFORD proper protec
ton to worthy naturalized citizens
abroad and to withhold it from those who have
obtained naturalization papers by fraud.
THE L'ABRA CLAIMS.
The time of the Senate committee
on foreign relations yesterday was oc-
cupied in discussion the L'Abra claims
There yet remains one witness to be ex-
amined, but the committee hope to be able to
get in report on the bill concerning these
claims before the week ends.
Ex-senator Saunders, of Nebraska, was on
the floor of the Senate yesterday, the recipient
of many congratulations on his health and ap-
pearance. His hair and beard are white as
snow, but the ex-Senator's vigor seems to be
unimpaired.
Ex-Attorney General Devens. during Mr.
Hayes administration. and ex-Representative
Proctor Knott, of Kentucky, were conspicuous
visitors at the capitol to-day.