, 1890-07-10
THE CONGRESS-.
Proceedings During the
Past Week.
A CALL FOR FACTS.
Mr.. Vest Poses as q Great
Objector.
THE DEBATE ON THE Sill YER BILL
Matters of General Interest to the
People of tho Entire
Country.
THE DEBATE ON THE Sill YER BILL
THURSDAY.


10 postal and cable communication be-
tween the United States and the Latin
American stftcs. and as TO tho oclcbra-
tion Of the fourth centennial OF tho
discovery OF America were presented
and referred.
Mr.. Allison moved that tho adjourn
nsnt to-day be until Monday. This
Was agreed to.
Mr.. Plumb offered resolution, which
was agreed to, calling upon the secretary
ofwnr for Information as to whether any
article Is beina manufactured at any OF
tho national military homes that comes
In composition with private enterprise, II
10. ths reason and authority therefor.
He also offered resolution directing
the secretary OF the interior to inform
the senate whether he has any knowledge
Of any guarantee. actual or proposed, by
the Union Pacific Railroad Company of
bonds or stocks OF any other corpora-
ton, more especially those of the Ore
gon Railway a Navigation Company
and the Denver q South Park railroad.
and whether the Union Pacific has paid,
out of its surplus earnings or otherwise,
the indebtedness, or any part thereof. OF
those or other companies. and II SO,
whether such guarantee or payment, or
both, is In accordance with the law and
consistent with the obligations of the
Union Pacific railroad to the United
States.
Mr.. Edmunds suggested this addi-
ton: "And that tho secretary Of the
interior communicate all Information
In the possession of his department on
the subject" ltn
Mr.. Plumb accepted the amendment.
Mr.. Butler sarcastically suggested that
the secretary Of the interior also report
n he had any knowledge why the senate
did not proceed to the consideration of
the report of the select committees on
the Pacific railroads. He supposed the
caucus had acted on the mattsr
This led to tilt between Mcssrs. But
Ter and Edmunds. which consumed
some time.
Mr.. Edmunds said thnt, No far rs he
was concerned, he would be glad 10
have the resolution embrace n call
TO know whether the interior
department was not In possession
of Information that at least one OF the
government aided railroads he'd, since
the psssage Of the Thurman act, delibcr--
ateiy disoheyed Its injunction In tho re-
makinE dividends. Ifit be true that, in
tpite of-the law with the penalties i'm
posed, there had not been force enough
la the administration. either under dem
oeratic or republican auspices. TO compel
these companies to obey tho law, he did
not know that there would be any iso
In passing the settlement bill at all.
4 he resolution was finally agreed to.
The subject OF the bill passed ycstcr-
day as TO land patents remaining unde-
iivered and the facilities afforded iirm
Of Warrington attorneys to take a list of
them was brought up by Mr.. Berry. of
Arkansas, who read letter sent by
these attorneys to the clerk of Columbia
county. Ark, offering TO supply patents
In that county for "a each, of which ieo
the clork was 10 retain 81.
letter from Assistant Commissioner
stonc. then acting commissioner. to this
firm, extending such facilities to It, and
letter from Assistant Secretary Bussey.
certifying the reputable character Of the
firm, were also read.
Mr.. Berry said that II any explanation
could be given OF that transaction. or
any excuse for that most scandalous
conduct on the part of government
There were $50, 900 of these undclivered
patents, and this firm would at the low
rate mentioned In its letter wrench
100000 from citizens unjustly. He
understood that one member OF the
firm, Thomas II. Mckee, was an officer
Of the house OF representatives.
The matter was discussed at some
length by Messrs. Teller. Paddock and
Cockreli.
Mr.. Paddock stated that under the
present administration the number OF
undelivered patents had been reduced
by some 10000
The senate bill to establish q United
States land court was then discussed
until 2 p. NJ. when the postal and ship
subsidy bills came up.
Mr.. Vest continued his arguments
against the bills. He was rs anxious as
Mr. Blaine to bring back the supremacy
Of the United States on the ocean.
and TO open the ports of South
America 10 American products but
the question was Us to the means OF
bringing about that end. The senator
from Maine Frye) wanted SUBSIDIES.
lie CVesD was opposed to them in
toto.
Mr. Vest went on to speak OF the late
n-American conference, and sent to
the clerks desk aud had read a clipping
from the New York Herald. of Buenos
Ayrvs correspondence, TO show hatw
Senor Plerra, who accompanied the Ar
gentine delegates to Washington,
thought OF the conference. OF Blaine and
of the United States delegates,
As soon us iho clerk Finished the read
ing OF this very cauAtic criticism, Mr..
Hawiey nsked Mr. Vest whether ho
L.. -. a. A a a..