Morning journal and courier., 1890-09-18
THE FIFTY-F1Rsr CONGRESS.


 Discussing the Bin to Establish a
 United States Land COurt-Some of
 the Restrictions Placed Upon the
 COurt-WOrk of the House.
 WASHINGTON, Sept 17.-Mr. Sherman, from the committee on foreign relations, reported resolution (which was agreed to) requesting the presi- dentsto communicate to the senate such information as he may have on the subject of the arrest of Thomas T. Collins, citi- zen of the United States residing at Manila in the, Philippine Islands, by officers of the Spanish government e MT. Blair addressed the senate on the l joint resolution proposing an amendment to the constitution conferring representa- tion on the District of Columbia in the two houses of congress and in the electoral col lege.
 At the close of MT. Blair's speech the | senate proceeded to the consideration Cfor ] one hour) of bills on the calendar unob- | jected to.
 A number of them were passed, includ- ing the following: Senate bill to make the salary of postmaster at Augusta, Me-, $3,500. Senate bill referring to the court of claims the claim of the Portland com pany of Portland, Me-, for allowances for the building of two naval vessels in Aug | ust, 1892, not to exceed S80,S6 At the expiration of the hour assigned | to the calendar the senate resumed the | consideration of the senate bill to estab- fish a United States land court and to pro- vide for the settlement of private land claims in the states of Nevada, Colorado, or Wyoming and in the territories of New Mexico, Arizona or Utah. The bill establishes court of private 1 land claims, to consist of chief justice l and four associate justices, to hold office | till December 31, 1894 The court is to hold such sessions as may be necessary in the states and territories mentioned. The court is to be subjected to the fol- | lowing restrictions:
 1 First-No claim shall be allowed that shall not derived from the government of Spain or Mexi- | co, and one that at the date of the acquisition ant would have R had ia a lawful right to make per | feet had the territory not been acquired by the upon the principles of public law, or by the pro l visions of the treaty of cession, to respect and to ca@ sba be ana that shall interfere with or overthrow any just and unex- tinguished Indian title or any right to any land 1 or place.
 l Third-No allowance or confirmation of any claim shall confer any right or title to any gold Sniess Gn he rant Claimed aeeted the % dona ! tion or sale of such mines or minerals to the Entitled thereto in law or in equity. but all such | mines and minerals shall remain the property of the United States with the he right of working the | issued under this act But nothing in this act shall authorize of any mines therein by any per son except the confirmee or his assigns until con- 1 gress shall provide by law therefor. Fourth-No claim shall be allowed for any l land the right to which has hitherto been law | fully acted upon or decided by congress or under 1 it's authority.
 Fifth.No proceeding, decree or act under this act shall conclude affect the private rights of l persons between each other, all of which | rights shall be reserved and saved to the same effect as if the same had not been passed but the proceedings, decrees and acts herein provided for shall be conclusive of all rights as between the United States and all persons claiming any interest or rights in such lands. Sfxth-No confirmation or decree concerning | any claim under this act shall in any manner op- it's right and title to the land confirmed nor shall it operate to make the United States in any man or lands their disposition, otherwise than is in this act provided.
 made or patent issued for greater quantity | than eleven square leagues of land to or in the right Of any one grantee or claimant ma mt or in & the l persons jointly, nor for greater quantity than l was authorized by the respective laws of Spain | or Mexico applicable to the claim.
 The powers and functions of the court are to cease and terminate on the 31st of December, 1894.
 After long discussion the bill was laid l aside without action.
 Mr. Plumb offered a resolution to recom- init the house bankruptcy bill to the judi ciary committee with instructions to amend it so as to provide for system of voluntary bankruptcy only and to report it back so amended at the earliest practi. cable moment. He gave notice that he would ask vote on the resolution to- morrow.
 The private pension bills on the calen- dar were then taken up and they were passed in thirty minutes. The senate at 5:45 p. m. adjourned until tomorrow at noon.
 After the transaction of some routine business to-day MT. Haugen of Wiscon- sin demanded the regular order, it being
 the Langston- Venable contested election
 case, but Mr. Payson of Illinois interposed
 with the conference report on the land
 grant forfeiture bill.
 Mir. Powell of Illinois ton behalf of the
 committee on elections), raised the ques
 ton of consideration against the confer
 ence report.
 On a standing vote the result was AS to
 82 against considering the conference re-
 port, and MT. O'Ferrell demanded the yeas
 and nays.
 The house decided-yeas 62, nays 117- not to consider the conference report.
 Mir. Haugen then called up the election
 case, against which Mir. OFerrell raised
 the question of consideration. During tn,
 roll call nearly all the democratic memberl deserted the hall leaving but bare dozeI l fn nol putf for thair infa result of the vote was then announced as yeas 136, nays b, the clerk noting quorum.
 MT. Haugen immediately demanded tn, previous question on the election case ant 2 the direction "All go out was given b, the democratic managers. But it was no necessary to put this direction into fore for after an emphatic protest by Mir. Chea dle of Indiana against the stifling of de bate Mir. Haugen withdrew his deman, , and proceeded with an argument of tn 5 case.
 1, Mr Cheadle of Indiana opposed the ma | jority resolution and declared that the re | publicans of the house could not afford t vote Venable out and Langston in. Tn Fourth district of Virginia was reliably It publican and it has been carried by tn 6 democrats, not because of the popularit n of MT. Cleveland or the unpopularity c MT. Harrson, but because of republica e division.
 d When Mr. Cheadle concluded he wa > greeted with applause by the democrats l. The case then went over until tomorrow r MT. Haughen stating that he would ca 't the previous question at ? o'clock to-mo y row.
 n The speaker announced his signature IL the river and harbor appropriation bi le and then the house at , o'clock took r 'r cess until o'clock.
 The house at its evening session passe g. several senate and house bills pertaining le military matters. The senate bill VI st passed with amendments transferring tl n weather service to the department of agI 'e culture The house then at 10:30 at
 journed.
 I State Conventions.