Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1896-02-20

Washington, Feb. 16.-Mr. Lacey
Qowa), chairman of the committee on
public lands, called up the bill 10 ex-
tend the provisions of the act of March
3, 1891, under which suits might he
brought to vacate patents upon public
lands, for five years as to original
grantees. AS to bona fide settlers the
bill provided for the expiration of the
limitation on March 5 next Mr.. Lacey
SAID the bill was in response to the
recommendation CT the president and
involved about sixty million acres, in
Guiding Mexican, Spanish and rail-
road grants. Mr.. McRae offered a sub
st1tute to repeal outright the limita-
ton fixed III the act of 1891. The re-
suit of the experiment tried by the
51st congress, Mr. McRae said. demon
strated that there should be no limita-
ton. After some discussion the con-
s1deration of the bill was postponed
until the agricultural appropriation
bill, which is pressing for considera-
ton, had been disposed of.
The agricultural bill was then taken
up. Mr.. Willis rep, DELI, in explain
ing the measure, said it was fully up
to 1.-The spirit of the time" carrying
$145,95S less thar that of the last con-
gross of which the celebrated Holman
had been a member. Mr.. Bakes rep,
Md, led an attack on Secretary Nor
ton for refusing to use the seed appro-
priatiOE in the current law. The
present bill again appropriated $780,
600 for seeds. I'VE will" he said,
either force Secretary Morton to ex-
ecute the law or abandon his office
Mr.. Boatner dem, Lao, aroused the
greatest enthusiasm by his remarks.
THE feature of Mortons action, which
aroused my Indignation said he,
more than any other is that it is
based upon sort of false pretence.
Antecedent to his decision that under
the terms of the law he was not au-
thoriZed to eXpend the appropriation
there emar ated from the agricultural
department reports derogatory to the
congress of the United States. The
individual who found his way into the
agricultural department under this ad-
ministration Qaughter) considered it
not inconsistent with the dignity Of his
position to allow reports to go out
through the press that he had
discovered great frauds and abuses in
the distribution of seeds by the dis
tributOrs. 1t is not known whether
this statement is true or false, but L
know and assert that the publication OF
any such scandalOus charge against
body of gentlemen without the deSig-
nation of the names of the individuals
who had been found So small and so
corrupt and so unfit for the positions
that they occupied was not only All in
suit to congress, but cOwardly at
tack that was inconsistent with the
dignity of any man who occupied
cabinet position. (Applausc) AS a
member of the ffty-third congress L
resent and denOunce the imputatlon
that that body as a body, or the pre-
ceding congresses Of which / was
member, were addicted to the sale OF
seeds which were allotted to them for
distribution, as an infamous SANDER.
am absolutely tired" continued Mr..
Boatner, "of having this body brought
into disgrace and contempt by the ex-
ecutive officers of the government. 1t
has got to that point where a mere sub
ordinate officer refuses his royal as
sent 1t has got to that point where
second veto power is possessed by a
mere clerk whom the law makers by
two-thirds majority cannot reach"
(Applause).
Mr.. Livingston (dem., Ca, then took
Vp the cudgel Morton was the SER
want of this house and he wanted him
to know mat he had said it. "He must
either obey this house or we will i'm
peach him. He must understand that.
This is a republican form of govern
ment and no comptroller of the treas
ury or secretary of agriculture can
nullify the laws passed by the national
Legislature"
Moses dem, Ga), and Meredith
dem, Va.), also spoke in similar
strain. The general debate closed at
o'clock and the house adjourned.