The daily morning journal and courier., 1895-03-02
WORK OF THE sENrATE.
There Was Lively Debate on Some of the
 Bills

I
 Washington, March 1,-House bill to
 amend the acts forfeiting certain rail- road grants so as to extend to January l,
 1S97 the time within which persons entit-
 led to purchase any of the forfeited lands
 shall be permitted to do so, and with a
 proviso that actual residence on the
 part of the purchaser shall not be re-
 quired if the land be fenced or culti-
 vated was, on motion of MT. Berry
 dem., of Arkansas, taken up in the
 senate to-day, and was explained by
 him and by MT. Mitchell, rep, of Ore
 gon.
 The propriety of passing such bill
 without it being understood by senators was questioned by Senators Platt, rep,
 of Connecticut; Manderson, rep, of Ne
 braslSa, and Hale. rep, of Maine. The
 latter predicted that the bill would
 come back to plague congress. After
 considerable discussion the bill was passed.
 NlIs MUTE utst OL kAldDeiliAtit OiASA SN p'
 resolution referring to the committee
 on foreign relations the message of the
 president of February 13, relating to the
 payment by the United States of the
 claims of Great Britain arising out of
 the Berlng sea controversy, with in-
 structions to examine into the question
 of the liability of the United States to
 Great Britain and the amount thereof,
 if any; and as to any liability of Great
 Britain or Canada arising out of such
 controversy.
 MT. Sherman, rep, of Ohio, questioned
 the wisdom of offering the resolution while the question was pending between the two houses. He understood it to be now in conference. On that point he was corrected by MT. Hale, rep, of Maine, who said that the appropriation of $425, ,00O had been struck out by the house and had not been inserted by the senate
 MT. Morgan, who had been one of the American delegates to the Paris conference, said: The British parlia ment, according to the morning papers, seems to be acting on this subject now by anticipation. Sir George Baden Powell says that they want to pay the Canadians and the recalcitrant and rascally Americans who hired them selves out to the British flag to rob the government of the United States, violate it's law and dishonor the coun- try-and pay them in advance, so as to have a moral claim against the United States for this 425.000-not one shilling of which is due-not shil- ling. I propose that the committee on foreign relations shall investigate that matter. There has been enough! of falsehood and misrepresentation about this unofficial document and in the newspapers to require, for the vindica- tion of the honor of the country that this investigation shall be made.
 Under the rule the resolution went over without action.
 The senate at Il 45 proceeded to the l Of executive business.
 The doors were reopened at 2 D, m. I At the request of Mir German, dem, | of Maryland, he was excused from ser vice on the conference committee on | the legislative appropriation bill; and | Mir Call, dem, of Florida, was ap- pointed in his place. A suggestion was | made by Mr. Aldrieh, rep, of Rhode l Island, to have an agreement to avoid | an evening session tonight; and MT, | Cockrell, dem, of Missouri, chairman | of the committee on appropriations, ex- pressed the opinion that the deficiency | bill could be disposed of at o'clock | this afternoon. On his motion that bill | was ordered to be considered under the fve-minute rule and 1t was also | ordered that the memorial services (ar- ranged as to four deceased representa- tives) shall take place at the session tonight,
 The consideration of the deficiency bill was proceeded with, the committee amendments being acted upon as they were reached in the bill.
 The appropria tions committee having | recommended the striking out of pro- vision to include the clerks of members )f the house among those officers of congress who are to receive months extra pay, MT. Coclrell explained that he amendment was reported at the suggestion of some members of the house who thought that the item did lot express exactly what was meant md who wished to have the matter eft open to conference. The amend nent was agreed to and the words were struck out of the bill.
 Mir Cockrell offered an amendment extending the same provision to em- oloyes of the library of congress and 1t vas agreed to.
 Mr Buffers amendment had been of cred as an amendment to one reported rom the committee on appropriations | -$1, ,8095S9 to pay the judgment of the ourt of claims in favor of the Southern Pacific company, so that the question vas on the committee amendment as ,mended.
 MT. Sherman remarked that the gov rnment had counter claims against the outhern Pacific company in connec- ion with the Central Pacific, and he id not think 1t right to pay such a arge sum while these claims were in  Mir. Frye, rep, of Maine, asked MT, herman to state what claim the gov rnment had against the Southern Pa fife. ,frI