The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1896-03-19
HOUSE PROCEEDINGS.

Washington. March 1G.-This being
the third Monday of the month, was sus'
pension day in the house under the rules
The resolution was adopted directing
the secretary Of war 10 make nm estimate
of the cost of n brcnkwatcr at Marquette
bay, Wis. A bill was also passed grant
ing TO the Chicago, Burlington and
Quincy Railroad company, lcssees OF the
Atchson and Nebraska railroad, right
of way through the Sac and Fox Indian
reservation. A bill was passed author
izing the construction Of wagon and
foot bridge across the ChattahOoChCc
river ut Columbia. Ala.
Unanimous consent was granted, at the
request of Mr.. Hit, chairman Of the
committee on foreign affairs, TO take
up the resolution censuring Ambassador
Bayard for his speech at Boston, Eng
land, and Edinburgh, Scotland, on We'd
nesday, at 1870 y. N. In answer TO a
question from Mr.. McCrcary, Mr.. Hit
be allowed for debate. A bill was passed
extending the limits Of the port Of entry
of New Orleans.
Mr.. Meyer Dem.) of Louisiana had
read some resolutions of the commercial
bodies of New Orleans, protesting against
the bill on the ground that il was in the
interest of New Orleans and Western
railroads, but he carried his opposition
no further
A bill was passed to increase the rank
and pay Of the judge advocate of the
navy.
The rules were then suspended on mo-
ton of Mr.. Flynn Of Oklahoma and n
resolution adopted for the immediate
consideration of the Oklahoma home
stead bill.
The bill provided that all bona fdc and
actual settlers on the public lands in
Oklahoma should acquire patent after
five years residence upon the payment
of customary fees without payment of
the price per acre required by existing
laws.
The secretary of the interior reported
adversely against the bill, and states that
if settlers were relieved from the pay
ment Of the purchase price (Which
ranged from 81 % to $3.50 per acre. the
loss to the United States would exceed
$15,000,O00. The government paid, or
agreed to pay, the Indians, according TO
Commissioners LamOreauX's report, SlS,-
100000. Both Mr.. Flynn and Mr. Nc
Rae of Arkansas advocated the passage
of the bill.
Mr.. Culberson Dem) of Texas offered
the following amendment:
That the public land laws of the United
States are hereby suspended until fur
Their legislation by congress in so far as
they may affect the territory hitherto
known rs Greer county, Tex.
This amendment was the outcome of
the decision of the supreme court today
that Greer county, Tex, belonged to .he
public domain, and therefore to Okla
poma and not Texas, and its design was
to prevent squatters from rushing into
that county and entering lands under
regular land laws TO the injury Of bona
tde residents, who had purchased their
lands on the supposition that they be-
longed to the State of Texas, until con
grcss should have an opportunity to con-
slider legislation to meet the unexpected
complication resulting from this decision.
Mr. Flynn, recognizing the urgency of
the case, accepted the amendment The
bill was then passed without division.
Mr.. @. n. Stone Rep.) of Pennsylva- |
mia, chairman of the committee on coin
age, weights and measures, moved to sus-
pend the rules and pass bill prescribing |
for mutilatng coins and for |
or passing mutilatcd or light |
cned coins, The bill was passed.
bill, the passage of which was urged |
by Mr.. Baker of New York, to withdraw
from the United States supreme court
jurisdiction of criminal cases not capi-
tai, and comforting jurisdiction on cir
cult courts of appeal, met the opposition
of Mr.. Culberson. The bill was de-
feated.
Two other bills were passed To di-
vide the Southern judicial district of Cal
ifornia and to provide for the disposition
of abandoned town sites in Oklahoma.
At f;l5 the house adjourned.