The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-01-15
THE DOINGS OF A
DAY In CONGRESS
New Phase of the Pacific Railroad
Problem Presented.
FREE HOMESTEAD BILL is PASSED
The Measure Is Amended in n Very
Important Particular--Bu in
the House Is Transacted with Des-
patch--Thc OIeomnrgarine Bill is
Passed After Encountering Much
Opposition.

Washington Jan. IA new phase
of the Pacific railroad problem was
presented in the senate today in the
form of a resolution offered by Mr..
Morgan, of Alabama, instructing the
judiciary committee to inquire whether
by the very fact that certain of the
bonds of the Union and Central Paclhc
Railroad companies had fallen due ana
We're not paid the property OF those
companies had not become and was not
now the property of the United states.
The resolution went over without ac-
ton.
A resolution was offered by Mr..
Chandler, of New Hampshire, and was
agreed to instruCting the committee on
interstate commerce to inquire into the
agreement recently made by the man
ayers of the lines of steamers on the
great lakes to maintain the rates es-
tablished by the joint traffic associa-
ton.
The house bill for free homesteads on
the public lands in Oklahoma territory,
which has been the unfinished bust
ness" in the senate since the first week
of the present session, came to
vote today after three hours
debate and was passed, yeas 35;
nays II. IL was llfSl dIltllueu
in very important particular, by
striking out the words 'in the terri
tory of Oklahoma" thus making it
apply to all public lands acquired from
the various Indian tribes. 1t provides
that all settlers ON these lands shall
be entitled to patents. on payment of
the usual ana customary fees, and that
no further charge of any kind shall be
a1 Inv n % -
senate amendment, that all sums of
money so realized, which if not re-
leased, would belong to any Indian
tribe, shall be paid to such tribe by the
United States. The bill now goes back
to the house for action on the senate
amendments.
An effort was then made by Mr.. Nor
gan, of Alabama to get up the Mica
ragua canal bill and to make it the un
finished business, but there was no
quorum voting on his motion, and the
senate at 4.30 adjourned until Mon
day next.
BUSINESS IN THE HOUSE.
When the house met this morning
many members waited impatiently in
their seats for business to begin. Each
had a printed copy of some bill in his
hand, eagerly hoping to get it through
under the unanimous consent rule.
When the journal had been read, a
score of members We're on their feet
crying gforrecognition and business went
along merrily for a while. A number
of private pension bills and other minor
bills We're passed, among them one
granting a pension to Mary S. Higgins,
of JohnstoWr, Pa, widow of Colonel
Jacob S. Higgins, a veteran of the Mex
lean and civil wars.
The oleomargarine bill was taken up
and passed by the house. COnSidera BILE
opposition was developed but it did not
prove formidable on the yea and nay
vote on the thirG reading, which the
opponents of the measure accepted as
final The yeas We're 126 and the nays
&c. Some amendments to perfect the
measure We're agreed to without oppo-
sition. The bill makes oleomargarine
and other imitation dairy products sub
ject to the laws of the state or terri
tory into which they are transported.
The remainder of the day was spent
by the house in transacting routine
business under the unanimous consent
rule and at 4.50 the house adjourned
until tomorrow