The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1897-01-15
WHOOWNS The GENITAL PACIFIC?
Netc Phase of the Railroad Debt Pro6len,
i'm the Senate.

an inc senate.
WASHINGTON, D. c., Jan. IA
new phase of the Pacific railroads prob
lem was presenter in the Senate to-day in
the form of resolution offered by Nor
gan %. of Alabama instructing the Judi
ciary Committee to inquire whether by the
fact of certain bonds of the Union and
Central Pacific ompanies having fallen
due and 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 action.
A resolution was offered by Chandler
(R.) of New Hampshire, and was agreed
to, instructing the Committee on Inter
state Commerce to inquire into the agree
| ment recently made by the managers of
the lines OF steamers on the Great Lakes
to maintain the rates made by the joint
traffic association.
The House homestead bill, which has
been the unfinished business in the Sem
ate since the first week OF the present ses-
sion, came to vote to-day after three
hours debate and was passed-ayes So,
noes IL. 1t was first amended in q very
important particular by striking out the
words sin the Territory of Oklahoma, "
thus making it apply to public lands &C.
quired in the various Indian tribes.
1t provided that all settlers on those
lands shall be entitled to payment of the
usual and customary fees. and that no
further charge of any kind shall be re-
quired. 1t also provides, by another
| Senate amendment, that all sums of
| money so released, which if not released
would belong to any Indian tribe, shall
| 80 4rfk -. H.
The bill now goes TO the House for action
on the Senate amendment
An effort was then made by Morgan
! CD of Alabama to get up the Nicaragua
canal bill and to make it the unfinished
business, but there was no action taken
on his motion, and the Senate at 4:30P M.
ad journed till Monday next.
In the absence of the Vice President
Cockrell (D.) OF Missouri occupied the
chair.
The army appropriation bill was re-
ported back from the Com mittee on Ap-
propriations by Quay (R.) of Pennsyl-
vania, and was placed on the calendar.
The printing of $500 extra copies of the
Anglo american treaty and of 1000 extra
sented by Hale (R.) OF Name as to the
right of recognizing foreign Governments
was ordered.
A bill for the classification of first class
and second class postoffice clerks was In
troduced by Cullom (R.) of Illinois and
was referred. Cullom also offered a reso-
luton, which was agreed to, requiring the
United States Civil Service Com mission to
inform the Senate whether the annual
reports OF the com mission were forwarded
to the President, and if not the reasons
for such neglect.
The Senate bill for an examination OF
the improvements at the Pass of Arkansas,
Tex, was taken from the calendar and
passed. Also the Senate bill authorizing
the construction OF a bridge across the
Columbia River, in the State of Wash
ington.
Chandler (R. } of New Hampshire offered
a resolution, which was agreed to, in
structing the Committee on Interstate
Commerce to inquire into the agreement
recently made by the managers of the
line of steamers on the Great Lakes to
main tain rates as established by the Joint
Traffic Association.
Morgan CD of Alabama offered a reso.
luton which went over. reciung the allie
CATION that certain of the Pacific railroad
bonds have fallen due and are unpaid, and
that by reason of non-payment the prop
erty OF the railroad companies became the
property of the United States, and now
rightly belong to the United States, and
directing the Commute on Judiciary to
examine into the matter and TO ascertain
whether the Union or Central Pacific
companies have any lawful right or equity
OF redemption in such property.
The House bill for free homesteads on
public lands acquired from Indians was
taken up as unfinished business and wGs
advocated by Jones CD of Arkansas and
Teller (Silver) of Colorado.
Allison (R.) of Iowa, taxing part for
the first time this session in the proceed
ings of the Senate, inquired of Petit
grew (Sil.) of South Dakota whether the
bill applied to all Indian reservations.
Pettigrew replied that the bill did not
apply to Indian reservations not yet &C
ouired by the Government, and as to such
reservations Congress should be left to
provide as it chose.