The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-12-13
II. l.. w.

Wyo) were in their seats for the first
/ time this session when the Vice -Presi-
| dent raped the Senate TO order this
morning, leaving only seven senators still
absent. These are: Messrs. Allison Col
| quit, Gibson Wa). Jones CNey), Kenna,
Squire and Stanford
The certificates OF election Of prosiden-
tial electors were presented from the
States Of New Jersey, Colorado. Connec-
tcut and Ohio and placed on file.
Mr. hoar Rep. Mass), from the Judi
cary committee, reported q bill 10 pro-
vide for the punishment Of offenses on the
high seas. and st was considered and
/ passed. II provides penalties against per-
sons, not OF a ships crew who aid or
encourage riots. disorders or affrays on
board American vessels al sea; and II
does not in any other respect change
the existing law. which applies only TO
members Of the ships crew.
The joint resolution introduced by Mr..
Vest Oem.. MOI last Tuesday for the
appointment of a commission to treat
with the five civilized tribes Of the In
dian Territory with view TO making ar
rangements 10 induce them to take
homestcads in severalty was taken up.
Mr.. Berry said he did not disagree to
the policy Of appointing n commission as
proposed but he criticised Mr.. Vests
description of the lawlcssncss I'm the In
dian Territory as overdrawn and eXagge-
rated.
Mr.. PETER Or. p, Kas) advocated the
Joint resolution and declared that the
Indian Territory was a refuge for thieves,
burglars and murdererS. There was
very general demand, he said, on the
part of the people in the West (and also
in the East that the Government take
some action, and take il early, to throw
open ali the unused lands Of the In
dian Territory, and that the people who
need homes should go in and obtain them.
He believed that the time had come
for Congress to lay bold hands on the
Indian Territory and its people.
Mr. Vest. replying to remarks of Mr..
Berry, in defense Of Judge Parker of
the Fort Smith Committee, narrated the
case Of a poor negro, who had been tried
In that court and found guilty and SEN
fenced to be hanged, for shooting upon a
party VINO broke into his house at night
(and who turned out TO be a deputy mar
shaD, the judge having charged that
the prisoner was presumed to have
knowledge Of the official character of
the man who was killed. The case had
been brought to his (dr Vests atten-
ton, and he had taken the record Of the
case to the Department Of Justice, where
the pardon clerk (Mr Boteler) had re-
commended pardon to the prisoner He
(Mr. NesD had then brought the papers
TO President Cleveland, who read them
that same nights and commuted the
sentence to ten years imprisonment
a Senator: He ought to have been
pardoned.
Mr. Vest: He ought to have been ac-
quilted, in the first instance; or ne ought
TO have been pardoned by the President.
But Judge Parker afterwards denounced
that action on the part OF President
Cleveland as an Interference with his
Judicial authority, and has since then
denounced President Harrison for inter
fering with one of his sentences. That
is the sort Of court which is to give to
the civilized Indians of this country an
idea of our mode of administering Justice
Heaven save us" said Mr. Vest from
setting such an example as those OF the
slaughter-house at Fort Smith to the
civilized or uncivilized people of this con-
tinent"
The Indian Territory joint resolution
was laid aside without action. and the
Anti option bill was taken up. the oues-
ton being on the amendment offered by
Mr.. Daniel Dem, Va at the last ses-
sion to strike out section 10, formerly
49,.
Mr.. Harris Dem, Tenn) criticised the
manner in which the bill was printed
not showing in difference Of type the bill
as passed by the House, the amendments
as adopted by the Senate. and the amend
ments that are now pending and he sug-
gested a reprint so the Senate could act
intelligenUy on the subject.
Mr.. Washburn said with the under
standing that there would be no delay, he
had no objection to the bill being re-
printed, and going over till tomorrow.
There was a purpose he said on the part
Of people interested in defeating the mea-
sure TO do so by delay That purpose
had been announced publicly in the news
papers and in other ways. He did not
propose to be stampeded or 10 agree to
any proposition OF delay for the benefit Of
that class Of people. He read a telegram
which he had just received from New
Orleans, zone Of the storm centres Of the |
nefarious business" stating that cotton
spectators and speculating towns had |
wired TO Washington TO postpone the |
bill till after the holidays, and that was |
done through no sympathy for the pro- !
1ucers, but under the idea that exag- |
yerated reports Of q short crop would en- |
able them to unload at higher prices.
Mr. White Oem., La asked for the
name signed TO the telegram; but Mr.. |
Washburn declined to give il. The bill, |
was with the consent of Mr.. Washburn
considered to be printed in the manner
suggested by Mr.. Harris and then it
Yent over until tomorrow.
The Senate at 3:05 p. NJ, after an
executive session Of five minutes, during
which the nominations sent in were re-
,erred, adjourned till tomorrow.