Los Angeles herald., 1891-02-28
AT WASHINGTON.
The Big Law Mill Kept a
Humming.
Interesting Proceedings In
Both Houses.
The Legislative Appropriation Bill
Passes the Senate.
The Senate Shipping Bill Passes the
House-Proposed Reform of the
Public Land Laws.
Associated Press Dispatches.

to establish record and pension Office
of the war department, was referred to
the committee on military affairs. The
president stated his objection to the bill
at some length, to the effect, generally,
that it is not competent for congress to
nominate particular person to fill an
office created by law.
The house bill for the relief of Henry
L. Morey was passed.
Papers were presented in support OF
the claim of w. H. Clagett to seat in
the senate from Idaho, for which the
credentials OF Dubois are already on file,
and they were referred to the committee
on privileges and elections.
Manderson's resolution, instructing
the committee on Indian affairs to in
uuire into the condition OF the Indian
tribes in the Dakotas, Montana and else
where, and whether the care and con-
troll of the Indians living in tribal rela-
tions should be transferred from the in
terror department to any other depart
ment, was agreed to.
Sherman stated that he was author
lied by the committee on foreign rela-
tions, to say that in view OF the state OF
public business, the Nicaragua canal
bill would not be pressed any further at
this time, and might take its place on
the calendar.
Consideration OF the legislative appro-
priation bill was resumed, the first
question being on the amendment as to
the clerical force of the civil service
commission.
The amendment was amended to pro-
vide that said clerks shall be appointed
bv the president under the civil service
rules, and as amended, passed.
1t increases the pay of secretary from
$1,000 to $4,000; provides for five clerks
of class 4, five OF class 3, three of class
/, three at $1,000 each, two at 5000, one
messenger and one laborer, and changes
the total appropriation from $5S,7 to
$52 200.
An amendment, appropriating $4,000
for fourth assistant postmaster general,
was agreed to.
The committee amendment, approx ri
ating $4,000 for the reapportionment OF
Utah territory, was, after much debate,
reduced to $1,000 and agreed to.
On motion of Sherman, a new section
was inserted changing the act of May,
1882, so as to authorize the superintend-
ent of the mint and of the assay office at
New York, with the approval OF the sec
retary of the treasury (but not other
wise), to recover United States gold coin
from any holder thereof, in sums not
less than $4,000, and delivering in ex-
change therefor gold bars of equal value
with charge equal to the cost OF manu-
featuring the bars.
The bill then passed.
The pure food bill was taken up and
became unfinished business.
The senate then went into executive
session, after which Dawes asked unanl-
NOUS consent to take up the Indian ap-
preparation bill.
Vance objected, and Dawes then
moved to take up the Indian bill. The
motion was agreed to, thus displacing
the pure food bill, Paddock expressing
the opinion that it was gross In
justice.
At the suggestion of Dawes, unani-
NOUS consent was granted to proceed to
the consideration OF the house bills on
the calendar
Morrill, tried to bring up the house
amendment to the direct tax bill, but
Berry objected, and it went over.
Among the bills passed were the fol-
lowing:
AN amendment to the various acts re-
lative to immigration. ETC.; to amend
the act of March ,, 1889, for the relief
of certain volunteer and regular soldiers
of the late war and Mexican war; for
the allowance OF certain claims Tor
stores and supplies taken and used by
the United States army as reported by
the court OF claims under the provisions
of the Bowman act.
Cockrell moved an additional amend
ment to the bill, inserting the item OF
$l74. .445 for the Chateau claim in con-
nection with the building of an iron
steamer. This was agreed to after a
long discussion, in the course OF which
Plumb said, if the court OF claims was
allowed to continue its present course Of
rendering judgments against the govern
ment, the government would have to 60
into bankruptcy.
The senate at O'Clock began consid
Grafton of the Indian appropriation bill.
The provision for the purchase OF irri-
eating machinery in Arizona and Neva-
da, for use in Indian reservations, was
amended by the addition Of the states OF
Idaho and Montana.
The appropriation for the support OF
Indian schools was increased from $780,
600 to 81 900, 900.
On motion of Dawes, the committee
amendments reducing the per capita
rate for the support OF Indian pupils
from $167 to $3.50 was disagreed to,
Dawes explaining that the committee
had changed its views.
Plumb expressed the conviction that
the average Of $3.50 a year for Indian pu-
pills was too much, and that no perman-
ent advantage was derived from the sys-
tenn of Indian training which now cost
$4,000, 600 year aud would ere long cost
$1O,O0O,O00. He did not believe it had
advanced the Indians one iota in the
path of civilization. The education of
the Indian meant nothing but refined
loaferism.
In connection with the Cheyenne and
Arapahoe agreements for the cession Of
land, Plumb offered an amendment de-
claring that all the lands in Oklahoma
are agricultural lands, and that proof Of
a nominal character shall not be re-
auired as conditions precedent to final
entry. Agreed to.
The bill was reported to the senate, and
the whole matter went over until tomor-
row.
The senate then took up the bills on
the calendar, but as no quorum was
present, soon adjourned.
HOUSE PROCEEDINGS.