Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1889-02-07
DOINGs OF CONGRESS.
IMPoRrANT MEASURES CONSIDERED
81 AND ACTED UPON.

Matters Disposed Of and New Onos Con-
s!dered.
TnE Senate proceeded 10 the consideration OF
the diplomatic and consular appropriation bill
ON the 2sth ult The following amendments
were agreed to: Inserting an item OF
$500 for a Consul General at Apia.
Samoan Islands. laundering the con
sulate at Nuevo Laredo, Mexico from
class ts9.OOol 70 class ls2.Soo. aud providing
for consulate Of the sams class Mt Paso Del
Norte. The army nurses pension bill was
amended and passed. IL allows pension OF
late war iprior To to August iss Wbo were ere
appointed by Miss Dix, Superintendent
OF Women Nurses. or her authorized agent, or
General or other proper United States authority
WHO performed six months teryice, or who
were disabled and honorably discharged Those
who are now receiving less pension under
special acts are TO be entitled TO The benefits OF
this act. The Senate bin was passed by tho
House increasing the pens on Of soldiers or
month A bill was passed granting tho Mount
Carmel llll Development Company The privi-
legs OF drawing water from the Wabash River.
Tho Sonate's concurrent resolution was agreed
to- providing for the Joint meeting OF the
two houses OF Congress ON "Wednesday, feb.
-, for the purpose OF counting the electoral
vote. The House went into committee OF the
Whole on the sundry civil appropriation bill.
education OF children Of school age in Alaska,
without referorce to race, agreed to.
The appropriation for the Rock Island Ar
Springer introduced his omnibus bill, providing
for an enabling act for the admission of the
Territories OF Arizona. Idaho and Wyoming as
States of the Union. Dolegate Clifford, OF
Dako;n introduce bill providing for opening
for set lement all that portion OF the Fort Ran.
dali mil. AIRY reservation in Dakota lying east
OF the Missouri River
THE senate, after adopting Mr.. G,bsoa's
amendm mt to the diplomatic aprroI ration
bill on the 10th ult.. providing that United
States Ministers 10 France, Germany
Great Britain, and Russia shall bo called
Ambassadors, went into secret session
on the samoan amendments. On motion OF Mr..
Sherman 1t was voted-yeas, 20 nays, alto
consider the amendments In open session and
the doors wore opened. Mr. sherman then pro-
cesded TO address tho s nate at length, giving n
clear statement of th1 whole question, after
which that body adjourned. The following resp
luton was introduced in the House for refer
ence: "RsSolved, That the present condition OF
affairs at Samoa requires that this Government
should aid the people OF those islands in secur-
ing an independent native government,
free from the claims OF territorial juris-
diction OF any European power, and 10
the end that this purpose may be speedily aud
effectualIy accomplished the President Of the
United States is hereby requested to insist on
the restoration OF affairs in said island as the
same existed at the time Of the convention be-
tween the representatives OF the Governments OF
Germany, Great Britain, and the United states,
held in the city OF Washington In June and July,
les7. That he further aid in securing settle
ment OF the pending difficulties at Samoa on a
satisfactory and solid foundation, and in the
restoration OF peace and good order under a
responsible native independent COVE rnment, with
a court of competent jurisdiction to determine
land titles and such other claims and controver-
sizes of foreign residents as may be properly
cognizable by such court, and that no take such
further steps as may be necessary to protect
the rights OF this Government and its citizens
in sail islands. In tho House Of Repre-
sentatiyos, Mr.. Burrows. OF Michigan, pre-
Sented a petition OF 1900 citizens of Utah
against the admission of that Territory as a
state. The House went into COMMITTEES OF the
WI civ rf.VtrfQ at
Mr.. Enloe, OF Tennessee, offered an amendment
authorizing the secret service forcs OF tho
Treasury Department to be used in detecting
pretended dealer in counterfeit money:
Agreed 10. The committee rose and the bill
was passed. Mr. Dunn, OF Arkansas, from the
Committee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries,
reported bill to provide for the better protec-
tion of the fur, seal. and salmon fisheries OF
Alaska. Printed and recommitted, with leave to
report at any time.
AMONG the nominations OF postmasters
irmed by the Senate on the 9Oth ult. were the
following: Charles H. Manning. Grand Cross
ing, ILL.,; Celestine Gibbons, Keokuk, Iowa
Mollie. G. MofIitt, Upton, Iowa; Frank
Mcmahon. An Sable. Mich; John NJ. Hib-
bard, Stoughton. Wis. Henry 9. Miller,
Horton, Kansas. resolution was adopted by
the Senate calling ON the Secretary OF the Treas
ury for n statement OF the amounts in the sink.
ing fund to the credit of the Union and Central
Pacific under the Thurman act A lengthy dis
cnssion occurred ON the Samoan amendments
TO the consular bill Mr.. Springer managed to
its consideration was completed in commit
tee OF the whole Among the amendments
adopted were those of Mr.. Payson of Illinois
TO protect the homestead rights OF honor
ably discharged Union soldiers and sailors,
providing that no homestead entries shall be
allowed except to actual settlers, and a substi-
tn q for the town-site section. The latter au-
tnorzes the Secretary OF the Interior TO reserve
town sites of not exceeding $40 acres on any
public lands in the Territory and until the legal
municipal incorporation to sell the lois for the
benefit of tho school fund Of said town, less the
amounts paid TO Indians. After the town is
Incorporated the title to unsold lots shall
vest in the municipality. Other amendments
adopted provide for the protection OF Indian
titles; forfeit lands and rights granted to the
River Branch and eliminate the clause subject
ing lands to taxation after the first installment
or purchase money is made. After the bill was
reported to the House, Mr.. Payson's soldiers
homestead amendment was agreed to and tho
House adjourned.
IN the Senate after tho passage OF few pri-
vate bills, on the 3lst ult, tho Senate resumed
consideration of the diplomatic and consular
appropriation bill, the pending question
being on tho amendment referring to
samoa. These were agreed 10 without
division. The credentials OF Edward O. VOL
colt, Sena, elect from Colorado wero pre-
scented, and placed on file. The Presidents mes
sages in relation TO tie Samoan islands and TO
Corea the same that were prosented in the
Housed were referred to the Committee on For
cign Relations The House amendments to the
bill to increase the pensions OF thoeo who have
lost both ands we're reported back fnvoraby
and concuI red in. The Senate thon proceeded
TO executive business, the British oxiradition
treaty, and spent four hours in the consideration
OF the treaty, but adjourned, leaving IL
ttill pending. When the House resumed
consideration OF the Oklahoma BILL
the vote by which Mr.. Paysons -Fo'diers
homestead" amendment was passed was recon
sidered. The proposition was then divided and
tho first clause which provides that no home
stead rights of honorably discharged Union sol
diers and sailors shall be impaired by the BILL
was agree to. The second section, which was
rejt cted. extended TO homestead rights OF ex-
soldiers and sailors 20 all lands opened for set
Element under the bill Mr.. ayson's town
site" amendment agreed to without divi-
sion. Mr.. U'Ferrall VA moved a roconsidera-
tion, and Mr. Springer moved to table the lat
ter's motion. Pending action the House adj
journed.
IN tho Senate message from tho President
vetoing bill granting pension to Mrs. Ellen
Hand was presented on the LIST inst read, and
on motion laid on the table. The ground of dis
approval is that "the soldiers death was in no
way related to any incident of military service"
The House amendments TO the Senate bill
for the admission OF South Dakota as State
wtrs non-concurred I'm upon report of the Com
mittee on Territories aud n conference asked
Senators Platt. Cullom and Butler were mp
pointed conferrees on the part OF the Senate. The
Senate went into executive session on the
British oxtradition treaty, which, after three
hours debate was rejected by vote of 30 to Is
the bill making tho head Of the Department OF
Agriculture Cabinet officer, and then took up
the Oklahoma bill The House by n vote OF 14s
70 l0l ulsaed the bill creating the Territorv Of