The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-02-19
BILLS UP In THE HOUSE.
TALK ABOUT AN ASSISTANT SEC
RETARY OF WAR.

a message as 70 the Allotment OF
Land in Severalty to the Indians
The Oklahoma Bill Again Discussed
but No Conclusion Reached-Mort-
cages and the Census.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 1S.-There was no
objection from the minority side of the
House this morning to the approval of the
journal of yesterdays proceedings.
Upon motion of Mr.. O'Neil of Pennsyl-
vania, Saturday noon, March Is, was set
apart for the delivery of eulogies upon the
late Representative Aelley of Pennsylvania.
Mr.. Morrow of California, from the approp-
riations committee, reported the pension ap-
preparation bill, and it was referred to the
committee of the whole.
A conference committee was ordered
upon the bill to direct the superintendent
of the census to collect statistics of farm
mortgages and indebtedness.
The speaker laid before the House a mes
sage from the President, transmitting,
| without comment, communication from
| the interior department proposing an
amendment of the act providing for the
| allotment lands in severalty to the In
| dians.
AN ASolSIANT SEChEIAR4 OE WAX.
The Senate bill providing for the ap-
| pointment of an Assistant Secretary of
| War, was laid before the House, and as it
was substantially the same as the House
bill already favorably reported, from the
military committee, the speaker held that
was, under the rule, entitled to immediate
| consideration. So the House went into
committee of the whole, with MIR. Burrows
OF Michigan in the chair, and Mr. Cutcheon
of Michigan made brief explanation of
tho necessity for the appointment Of an
Assistant Secretary of War.
The bill was discussed until 80 o'clock,
when, without action, the committee rose,
and the House proceeded to consider the
| special order, being the bill to provide
| temporary government for Oklahoma.
| Pending that, Mr. Perkins asked considera-
tion for the Senate bill for the relief of the
| Sioux Indians at Devils Lake agency,
North Dakota; but Mr.. McMilin of Ten
nessee objected, and the House went into
committee Of the whole on the Oklahoma
| bill.
LIMITATION OF THE DEBATE.
The general debate was limited three and
half hours, despite the appeal of Mr..
| Barnes of Georgia and others for five hours,
time; and, in retaliation for the enforced
| limitation, they called for the reading of
the original Senate bill and the House sub
stitute altogether fifty-nine printed pages.
One hour and twenty minutes were con-
sumed in the reading, and it was after 3
o'clock before Mr. Struble of Iowa took the
floor in support of the bill. He criticized
the Senate bill because it failed to include
| all the Greek and Seminole lands purchased
under the last administration.
EAMr. Barnes of Georgia advocated the
Senate bill in preference to the House SUBJ
Stitute. The Senate bill proposed to organ
i'm fartsi tnrsxr ont Of fhn bod Srot ta1
lands. The House bill proposes to include
lands to which the United States did not
now, but might hereafter hold title. The
Senate bill includes 1,S80,000 acres pur-
chased in 1898, and No Mans Land. The
House substitute included In addition all of
indian territory not occupied by the five
| tribes. No government ought to establish
q government over land to which it did not
hold perfect title.
TREATY OBLIGATIONS.
By solemn obligation and by treaty,
the land excepted from the Senate bill had
| been given to the Indians for all time. To
erect a superstructure of government on
such basis would be to build on sand with
out foundation
Mr.. Mansur of Missouri controverted Mr..
| Barnes statement that the bill
trenched on Indian rights. 1t was
a simple assertion of courts, and court juris-
| dlctlOn over the hVe Tribes There was no
attempt to establish a territorial govern
ment for them without their consent.
Mr.. Springer of Illinois held the same
views as Mr.. Mansur
The committee rose before the debate had
been concluded.
| NEW BILLS.
Among the bills introduced to-day were
the following:
By Mr.. Wade of Missouri Establishing a
government postal telegraph system.
By Mr.. Bankhead of Alabama-For the
erection of a public building at Tuscaloosa,
| Ala
By Mr.. Breckenridge OF Kentucky-The
| Cowie bill to reorganize and equalize the
rank and pay Of the personnel of the United
States navy. A similar bill was introduced
in the Senate few days ago.
By Mr.. Farquhar Of New York-Provid-
ing that the pilot service of the United
States and the pilotage Of vessels arriving
at and departing from United States ports
shall be under government control.
Mr.. Dunnell of Minnesota, presented the
conference report on the bill directing the
superintendent of the census to collect sta
tistics Of farm mortgages and Indebtedness.
AS a result of the conference, the Senate
accepted the House amendment. The re-
port was accepted and the House, at $40
! o'clock, adjourned.