Omaha daily bee., 1890-01-18
CONGRESSIONAL PROCEEDINGS
A Bill Providing For Free Trade
With Mexico.
Ex-soLDlERs AND SAILORS.
Pensions Asked For Those Incapable
of Manual Labur-world's Fair
Matters--Toyn Site Entries
in Oklahoma.
House.

WASHINGTON, Jan. 17.-In tho house to-
day Mr.. Grosvenor of Ohio introduced a bill
granting pensions to ex.soldiers and sailors
incapacitated for the performance of manual
labor. Referred.
MIR. Mills of Texas introduced q bill to
extend the trade and m of the
United States and to provide for full recl-
procity between the United States and Mex
leo. Referred.
Mi. Mckinley called up his motion to table
the motion to reconsider the vote by which the
house yeste rday refused to substitute the
resolutions reported by the committee on
rules las amended by the adoption of the
Cannon resolution) for the original resolu-
ton referred to the committee. The motion
to table the motion to reconsider was agreed
to-yeas LA, nays l42.
The question then required to the adoption
Of the original resolution, as follows:
Resolved, That a select committees Of
fair committee" shall be appointed
to which shall be referred all matters relat-
ing to the proposed celebration of the 400th
anniversary OF the discovery of America or
the worlds fair of 1892.
The resolution was a~dopted-yeas l4l,
nays l36-Springer Of Illinois changing his
vote from the negative to the Affirmative in
order to enter u motion to reconsider.
MIR. Springer said he only desired that the
COIuIllIttoS uUulu 10 . uCJtu " IcpOIU
next week to the house the plan by which
the location might BIO selected. AS it now
stood, the committee would be authorized to
select the location. He withdrew his motion
to reconsider, stating that he would trust to
the fairness Of the committee and of tho
house.
MIR. Flower of New York introduced the
New York worlds fair bill, and it will be
referred to a special committee when up
pointed.
Mr.. Raines Of New York offered a resolu-
ton increasing the membership of that com
mlttee from niue to thirteen. Referred to the
committee on rules.
The house then went into committee of the
whole on q bill to provide for town site
entries In Oklahoma. The hrst section Of
the bill authorizes the secretary of the in
terror to appoint three commissioners for
each portion of the public lands settled upon
and occupied rs a town site (no more than
two of them shall be members of the same
political organlzation), whose duty it shall be
whenever called on by any of the occupants
of such town sites, and the money for en-,
trance of such town site is furnished, to
enter at the proper land Office, at the min
imum price, The land so settled and occupied,
not exceeding one-half of a section for each
town site, in trust for the several use aud
benefit of the occupants thereof according to
their respective interests.
MIR. Baker of New York offered an amend
ment providing for the appointment. instead
of an indefinite number of commissions of
four boards to consist of three commissioners
each, three boards for the eastern and one
tor the western land districts.
MIR. Perkins believed that at least five
boards should be provided for.
Mr.. Pickler of South Dakota doubted
whether five boards would be enough.
Mr.. Payson of Illinois, while he was In
favor of having the question settled, saidt the
people in the towns of Oklahoma had come
to some sort Of agreement which would
greatly reduce the work of the commission
ers. While he would err on the side Of
generosity. he did not think that the house
should be prodigal. sr~.L :
MIR. Holman of. Indiana offered q substi.
tute for the first section devolving upon the
local land officers, under the rules and regu-
| lations prescribed by the secretary OF the in
terror, duties proposed to be performed by
| the commissioners.
MIR. Barker modified the amendment 30 as
to provide for the appointment of not more
than five boards to consist of three commits
| sioners each, and as modified it was agreed
to.
MIR. Hollands substitute was rejected.
| The second section Of the bill authorizes
the commissioners to do whatever may be
necessary to execute in good faith and JUS
| tice the provision of this act. Section three
authorizes the secretary of the interior to
prescribe rules and regulatlonsto govern the
commissioners and to make it the duty of
the commissioners to determine oil contro.
VERSES arising between claimants.
MIR. Culbertson named an amendment
providing that the claim OF any person for
any town site or lot shall be deemed invalid
if such person entered the territory or took
possession of the town site or lot in ADVANCE
of the date fixed by the presidents procla-
nation.
Mr.. Tarsney offered as a substitute for
this amendment an amendment providing
that when it shall be shown by satisfactory
evidence that the claimant was at noon on
the 22d of April, 1889, a United States
marshal, deputy marshal, or United States
officer or agent, or was prior to that date in
Oklahoma representing himself as such
officer, or If it is shown that the claimant
entered the territory Ia violation of the
presidents proclamation, such claimant
shall not have the right to prove up or pur
chase any town site or lot.
Pending action the committee rose and the
house adjourned until l o'clock tomorrow.
enabling the members to attend the funeral
of Walker Blaine.