Democratic Sentinel, Volume 10, Number 35, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 1 October 1886 — Birth-day Surprise Party. [ARTICLE]

Birth-day Surprise Party.

On Friday, September 24tb, persons to the number of fifty or sixty gathered at the home of Mrs. Clymenia Cocnerill and gave her a very pleas* ant surprise; the occasion being the 68th anniversary of her life. The surprise was complete. Not one of the family knew anything of it until the crowd began to gather. The day wasspent in social chat, and a highly enjoyable tiaiftKas hai by every one present. By forethought of the originator of ttHufcartvMrs.Mar* garet Wsbster, daughter of the apprised, whom she wa>|aot expecting to see this Fall, baa been apprised and came|fiom her home Id Westville. The presence of her duughte- a .ded to th * i leasure of staoh a visit from •>: many friends. A sumptuous din« n*r was spread beceath the shude trees, to which all did ample justice.

A number of presents w_re made to Mrs. Cookerill as tokens of e >teem and souvenirs of friendship, while all jo.ned in wishing her many more years of life and happy birthday anniversaries. As by concert it was declared that a more enjoyable time could not be, nor a day of more ner-

feot pleasuse.

A. FRIEND.

Our old Democratic friend, Wm r Humes, reach the 80th m’le etone in his journey of life on Tuesday of last weok. He cast his first vote for the 7th President of the United States General Jackson, and has contiu ed firm in the faith from that aayto this. A number of friends lemembered the occasion and presented him tokens of affection and regard. We wish him happy returns of many annivero saries-

The moet important of all the forfeiture bills before the lasts ssion of Congress was the one declaring the unearned lands granted the Northern Pacific Railroad Company forfeited. The Senate, with great haste passed a bill declaring forfeited only the land on the Cascade branch, about 6,000,oooof acres, and confirmed the title to the balance, about 30, 000,000 of acres. In this shape the bill went to the House, was referred to the Committee on Public Lands which reported a substitute declaring THE ENTIRE UNEARNED grant, about 36,000,000 of acres forfeited. On the 28th of July (Congressional Record, p. 8,046) the Senate bill with the amendments was sailed up for consideration, and Mr. Henley, who having charge of the bill, demanded tlie previous question on the pending amendmenss and the third reading of the bill. On this question the yeas and nays were taken, with the following result: Yeas, 181; nays, 52; not voting, 87 Among thuso voting NO was Congressman (.Hven, of this T>; ■ trii;>. f«M • • , t , ** v,.,, then Lui(,u o* 1 -pile 11 of. the Bl'li tit lit | , > I • y the House Com mi; g*. Public Lands, which v; ) whole of the UNEARNED lands, 36, 000,000 of acres forfeited, and the y ;;:i ]m y* s were again taken (Congressional Record, pp. fto46 and 8,047), and Mr. Owen amiie voted in the negative. True, after the a .optmn of the substitute, on the final passage of the bill amended, ho voted in the affirmative, but this only further discredits .bis record He first voted against the immediate consideration °f Oie bill, which at that late hour of the session was an unfriendly vote; ho next voted against the House or Committee’s amendment which increased the forfeiture from six to thirty-six mill ons of acres. After these questions were carried—after his vote had done all the damage it could- upon the final passage of the bill, he faees upon his previous votes and tries to cover his tracks by voting in favor of the passage of the bilf. The voters of this District will hardly be misled by Mr. Owen’s final vete. He tried upon every vote, preceding the final one, to defeat the passage of the bill. Had the previous question not been ordered the control of the bill would have passed from the hands of its friends to the control of its enemies, who would never have permitted it to again come before t e House. Had the House Committee’s substitute failed the House would have been compelled to pass the Senate bill, which forfeited only 6,000,000 of acres and confirmed to the railroad companies about 30,000,000 of acres, which had not been earned, under the terms of the grant, or done nothing. The friends of free homes and the enemies of railroad grants will scratch Mr. Owen. In short, we defy tho New Yoik Tribune to show where a single Demc cratic member of the pres-' ent House has been defeated for rencmination ent he ground of his vole injfavor of the Morrison bill, or so show where a single Souther Democratic Representative who oted against the bill has been renomini ted. —Courier-J ournt^