Democratic Sentinel, Volume 9, Number 1, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 30 January 1885 — CONGRESSIONAL. [ARTICLE]

CONGRESSIONAL.

The Work of the Senate and House of Representatives. The proceedings in the Senate were dull and uninteresting on Jan. 21. Mr. Coke's speech on the interstate commerce bill and eulogies on the late Congressman Evins, of South Carotins, filled the entire time. In the House of Representatives, Mr. Kelly reported a bill io allow drawbacks on imported articles used in manufacturing tobacco for export While in committee of the whole on the Indian appropriation bill, Mr. Burnes declared that Oklahoma is practically in possession of cattle companies, to the exclusion of individual settlers. The agricultural appropriation bill was referred to the House. It appropriates $546,200. The status of Oklahoma lands was the chief subject for debate in the Senate Jan. 22. Mr. Vest urged the passage of his resolution directing the Secretary of the Treasury to report on what terms the Creeks and Seminoles would surrender the remaining rights in the tract. Messrs. Dawes, Vest. Harrison, and Maxey held that the law forbade the invasion of these lands by white men, and that the tract had never been surveyed ■ r sectionized. Mr. Plumb claimed that, without the consent of the Indians, the lands could be opened to settlement by the action of Congress and the President. Mr. Plumb's resolution, calling upon the President for his views of the present status of the Oklahoma lands, was agreed to. The House of Representatives agreed to the conference report on the bill to forfeit the Oregon Central land grant. In committee of the whole on the Indian appropriation bill, an amendment to set aside $50,000 to relieve extraordinary cases of distress among the tribes was ruled out. It was resolved to appropriate $25,000 for the erection of an Indian industrial school at Santa Fe. A clause was adopted to open the Territorial courts to litigation by Indians, as well as to subject them to trial for grave criminal offenses. An amendment was adopted for the commencement, of negotiations with three tribes for the opening of the Oklahoma lands to white settlers.

When Mr. Vest’s resolution for negotiations with three Indian tribes for the cession of the Oklahoma lands came np in the Senate on Jan. 23, Mr. Plump offered a substitute for a bargain with the red men for all lands above 160 acres to each head of a family, the surplus to be used for actual settlers only. Mr. Conger denounce I the system of robbing ndians of their lands, 'whether to accommodate Oklahoma boomers or pleuro-pneu-monc cattle from Texas.” Mr. Ingalls replied that nothing could resist the march of the Anglo-Saxon race. The remaining 25,000,000 acres of arable land outside of Government re ervations would inevitably be absorbed within five years. Both resolutions were referred. The President sent to the Senate the following nominations: Henry S. lluidekoper, Postmaster at Philadelphia; Stanford E. Chaille, Louisiana, member of the National Board of Health: Lucius H. Foote, of California, Minister Resident and Consul General of the United States at Corea; Nelson A. Dunning, of Michigan, Consul of the United States at Auckland; Capt. Almon F. Rockwell, Assistant Quartermaster, to be * Major and Quartermaster; Andrew S. Draper, New York, Judge of the Court of Commissioners or Alabama Claims; John T. Hartranft, Collector of Customs District of Philadelphia; William S. Steele, of Pennsylvania, Coiner of the Mint in Philadelphia. In the House of Repressntatives the constitutional lawyers took an inning in the discussion of a resolution directing the Judiciary Committee to inves igate and report whether in its opinion the Senate, by originating, passing, and sending to the House for its action bi.ls appropriating money, lias thereby attempted to invade the constitutional prerogatives of the House, Friends of the educational bill were greatly relieved when the resolution was tabled by a maiority of fonr votes, that measure being particularly specified in the preamble. Each house of Congress received a fine American ting made of silk, raised, spun, and woven in America, and this achievement of American industry evoked some highly commendatory resolutions from Mr. Beck, freetrader, In the Senate, and Mr. Kelley, protectionist, in the House.

Senator Edmonds introduced a bill in the Senate, on Jan. 24, making It a felony to manufacture dynamite for use at home or abroad, and a few moments later the news reached the Senate of the London explosion, which is noted as a singular coincidence. After the news Senator Bayafd introduced a resolution expressing the indignation and sorrow of the country at the event. The House went into committee of the whole on the agricultural appropriation bilL There was no general debate, and the bill was read by paragraphs for amendment. On motion of Mr. Dibble, an amendment was adopted appropriating $3,000 for the cultivation and distribution of the tea plant on the Government farm. The committee tiien rose, the bill passed, and the House adjourned.