Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1890-03-26
FlFTY-FIRST CONGRESS.
House,.

MONDAY, March l7.-Bllls were passed
appropriating 100000 for public build
ing at Paris, Tex. transferring the
revenue cutter service from the Treas
ury Department to the Navy Depart
ment; creating the offices of assistant
general superintendent and chief clerk
of the railway mail service, and a Joint
resolution requesting the President to
invite the King of the Hawaiian Islands
to senu delegates to represent his king
dom IN the Pan American Congress-
TUESDAY, March l8.-The House, in
committee of the whole to-day, consid-
cred the pension appropriation bill.
Mr.. Morrow (Cal.) in charge OF the bill,
which appropriates $98,327 ,461, ex-
planned it's provisions in detail. In ref
erence to the general subject of pen
sions he said it might safely be assumed
that the number Of pensioners would
reach it's maximum about July l, 1884,
when the expenditure would be $l12,-
100000. On that date. under ex-
listing laws, the number of pensioners on
committee rose, on motion of Mr.. Nor
rill (Kas. J, a resolution was adopted call
ing upon the secretary of the interior
for data relative 10 the payment of PEN
sions, and for an estimate as to the
amount Of money which Will be re-
CURED for the payment of arrearages in
case the limitation of the arrears act is
repealed. Mr.. layson (IlI.), called up
the bill to repeal the timber-culture
laws. The bill provides that
any person who has made entry
of any public lands of the United
States under the timber-cuIture laws,
and who has for period of four years
in good faith complied with the provis-
Of To- ho1 ha ~
make final proof thereto, and acquire
title to the same, by the payment of
$l.25 per acre for such tract, under such
rules and regulations as shall be pre-
scrlbed by the secretary of the interior;
that no land acquired under the provis-
ions Of this act shall in any event be-
come liable to the satisfaction of any
debt or debts contracted prior to the is-
suing Of the patent thereof. Pending
discussion the House adjourned.
WEDNESDAY, March 19.-Mr. Cooper
CO.,, member of the committee of con-
tested elections, called up the Maryland
case of Mudd VS.. Compton, it being
agreed that debate shall be limited to
six hours, at the end Of which time the
previous question shall be considered
as ordered. Mr.. Lacey (Ia.) opened
the discussion with an argument in
support OF the claims of the contestant.
Mr.. Dalzell (Pa.) and Mr.. Greenhalge
(Mass. also advocated the case of the
contestant and the case of the sitting
member was upheld by Mr.. Moore
TEX. and Mr.. Gibson (Md.)' Pending
Il vote the House adjourned.
THURSDAY, March 20.-Before the
reading of the journal, Mr.. Cultivate
CO., declared there was no quorum
present. The speaker made a count,
announced but seventy-four mem bers
present, and ordered call. After
quorum had been secured, considera-
ton of the Mudd-Compton contested
election case was had At the close of
the debate, Mr.. Moore (Tex.), on
behalf OF the minority of the Commit
tee on elections, offered resolution de-
claring Compton entitled to the seat.
This was defeated-yeas 145. nays l55.
The vote was strict party one. The
majority resolution declaring Mudd en-
titled to the seat was adopted-yeas l59,
nays 145. Mr.. Mudd then appeared,
and took the oath of Office amid much
applause from the galleries. The House
then went into committee Of the whole
on the pension appropriation bill, and
soon after adjourned.
FRIDAY, March 21.-Immediately after
the reading of the Journal the house
went into committee of the whole
on the pension appropriation bill. A
rafting debate followed, after which the
committee rose and the bill passed. The
bill for the retirement of Gen. FIRE.
mont with the rank of major general
was passed. On motion of Mr.. Roberts
ua.) q bill was passed appropriating
$25, 900 to enable the secretary of war to
purchase 1850 tents for the use Of peo-
pie driven from their homes by the
floods now prevailing in Arkansas, Mis-
sissippi and Louisiana. The House
then took recess, the evening session
being for the consideration of private
pension bills.
SATURDAY, March ga bill was
passed authorizing the secretary of in
terrier to negotiate for the sale to the
Unite d States of the western part of
the Crow Indian Reservation in Mon
tana; also bill repeating the timber
culture law. At 2 O'Clock public bust
ness was suspended and the House pro-
ceeded 10 the onsideration of reeolu-
tons relative to the death of E. j. Gay,
late member from Louisiana. Eulogistic
addresses were made by Messrs. Wiki
inson (La.), Heard (Mo.), Gear Qa.),
McMillin CO.,, Bynum lind. J. Clements
(Ga.), Kinsey (Mo.), Coleman (La.);
and then the HouEe, as a mark of re-
spect to the memory of the deceased,
adjourned.