Morning journal and courier., 1890-09-26
aew Yarea @ailg gegorning }yoaraal and Courier,
THE FIFTY-FIRsr CONGRESS,

+
Messrs. Hale, Allison and Coekrell
Appointed Conferees ON the De.
hcfency Bfll-Adoption or the Con.
ference Report ON the Land For.
fixture Bill-Bills Passed by the
House.
WAsHrnaToN,eD. c., Sept. -25.-The re-
quest of the house for conference on the
deficiency bill was complied with, and
Messrs. Hale, Allison and Cockren were
appointed conferees on part of the senate
Mr.-Plumb reported a senate joint reso-
luton authorizing the extension for one
year of the time of payment for land on
presumption or homestead claims when
ever, by reason of failure of crops, the
settler is unable to make payment within
the time prescribed by the laws and it was
passed.
The calendar was taken up under rule
eight, the first bill on it being house bill to
prevent the product of convict labor from
being furnished to or for the use of any
department of the government, and to
prevent the product of convict labor from
being used upon public buildings or other
public works.
The bills were passed over and the next
bill on the calendar was taken up, being
house bill to amend an act to prohibit the
importation and immigration of foreigners
and aliens under contract OF agreement
to perform labor in the United States, it's
territories or the District of Columbia
Mr.. German remarked that the majority
had agreed upon an order of business for
the remainder of the session and that the
labor bills had been assigned place and
| would be considered when they were
reached in that order. Therefore, with
view of having fair consideration of each
of them (Which he trusted they would have
before the senate adjourned) he objected to
the consideration of the bill. The bill was
laid aside.
Several other bills on the calendar were
also objected to and some were passed,
after which the senate resumed considera-
| tor of the senate bill to establish United
States land court and to provide for the
/ settlement of private claims, the question
being the amendment By Mr.. Wolcott pro-
| viding that no confirmation shall be made
or patent issued for greater quantity of
land than given in the original grant.
Mr.. Wolcott addressed the senate in
bill as it stood, which was. he said, I'M
Just, unfair and indefensible.
The discussion was participated in by
Messrs. Stewart, Hearst, Morgan, Pasco
and Reagan. Before it was closed Mr.. In
gals presented as a question of privilege
the conference report on the bill for the
establishment of Rock Greek park in the
District of Columbia The report was
read. It limits the extent of the park to
1900 acres and makes an appropriation of
| 81 ,200, 200, one-ha1f of which is to be re-
imbursed out of the revenues of the Dis
| trict of Columbia with per cent. interest.
One-half of the annual expense of main
tanning the park is also to be paid by the
District Of Columbia.
On the suggestion of Mr.. German the re-
port went over till tomorrow without &C
ton, after statement by Mr.. Ingalls, that
in some respects it was obnoxious to him
particularly the provision requiring half
of the expense to be betrayed by the
already overtaxed people of the district.
After brief executive session the SEN
ate at $3.50 adjourned till tomorrow at
| noon.
After the transaction of routine business
| the house proceeded to the consideration of
| the conference report on the land forfeit
| ure bill.
| Mr. Payson of Illinois, in charge of the
report, made pref explanation of its
provisions
After further discussion the conference
report was adopted.
Mr.. Hemphill of South Carolina present
ed the conference report on the bill for
the establishment of the Rock Greek park
| in the District of Columbia. There was
some opposition to it's adoption, and in
advocating it Mr.. Hemphill remarked that
the bill was substantially similar to that
passed by the house. He thought the re-
port should be agreed to, as this was one
of the first times in the history of the
house that the senate had agreed to any
thing the house had DONE The report was
agreed to-yeas 1873, nays Is.
Mrs. Payson of Illinois was then recog-
nized to submit q conference report, when
Mr.. En1oe of Tennessee rose to question
of privilege, which he stated was of higher
privilege than the conference report.
Mr.. Enloe said that he held a resolution
relative to the investigation of certain
charges made against the postmaster of the
house-of speculation in Office.
The speaker ruled that the conference
report was of higher privilege, and Mr..
Payson submitted a report on the bill au-
thorizing the entry of public lands by in
corporated cities and towns for cemetery
and park purposes. Adopted
Mr. Morrill, of Kansas submitted and the
house agreed to a conference report on the
bill granting pension to the widow of
General Hartranft The amount granted
is 800 month.
Mr.. Payson presented and the house ac-
cepted the conference report on the bill for
the relief of settlers on Nothern Pacific
railroad indemnity lands.
Mr.. Enloe then brought up his resolu-
ton. 1t recites that it is alleged that the
postmaster of the house, j. L. Wheat,
whose duty it is to let contracts for the
carrying of the mails, let the contract to
one Samuel Culbertson for So 900 year
on the condition that Culbertson should
pay to him (Wheat) $3.50 a month of mon
ey received for his services and that Wheat
did receive that sum for five months, and
directing the committee on postoffices and
post roads to investigate these charges and
such other matters as pertain to Wheat's
administration of the postofice of the
house.
Mr.. Payne of New York, chairman of
special committee appointed to investigate
defining the duties of the sergeant-at-
arms.
The accompanying report explains its
provisions. 1t is in substance as follows:
1t enables the sergeant-at-arms to make
requisition directly upon the treasury fol
the pay and mileage of members, and con-
J stitutes him in explicit terms disbursinl
! officer, limiting his compensation to his
: present salary. Under the present system
members are required to give written re
| ceipts in advance of the actual payment Of
. their salaries by the treasury. This Gus
tom is an ancient one, and is utterly
at variance with any sound bust
5 ness principle. Upon the recen
4 defalcation of Silcott the attempt wa
B made to give these receipts a force ant
. effect unknown to any previous announced
t principle of law. 1t was claimed that the.
t were not like ordinary receipts in CONNER
= cial transactions subject to explanation ant
9 even contradiction, but that members b,
p giving them were estopped from claiming
! thereafter unpaid salaries. 1t is true tina
!, the courts promptly decided the question il
g favor of the members and in accordanc
with well established and time-honore
principles of law and decreed the paymen
Of the salaries to the members who ha
II given their receipts The present bill au
= thorizes and requires payment to the SCI
geant-at-arms upon his requisition. 1t
=. only when the payment is actually mad
. by this officer to the member that any re
/ ceipt can be required. A bond in the sur
10 of $50, 900 is required
le The bill was passed.
Mr.. Boutelle of Maine, chairman of tn
committee on naval affairs, reported
70 bill appropriating 81 ,000, 900 to enable tn
O. secretary of the navy to purchase nick
" ore or nickel matter for the manufactul
!. of niekel-steel armor and asked unan
y mona coDaapt for its copsid arofiop TT