Democratic Sentinel, Volume 13, Number 3, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 8 February 1889 — THE NATIONAL SOLONS. [ARTICLE]

THE NATIONAL SOLONS.

WORK OF THE SENATE AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Onr National Law-Makers and What They Are Doing for the Good of the Country —Various Measures Proposed, Discussed and Acted On. The Senate proceeds 1 to the consideration of the diplomatic and consular appropriation bill on the 28. h ult. The following amindiuents were agreed to: Inserting an item of si, 09 ior a Consul General at Apia, Samoan Islands. Transferring the consulate at Nuevo Laredo, Mexico, irom class 5 (#2,033) to class 4 (#2,5)0), and providing for a consulate of the laon class at Faso Del Norte. The army nurses’ jjension bill was amended and passed. It allows a pension of a month to all women nurses during the late war (prior to August, 1865), who wore appointed by Miss Dix, Suj>erintendent of Women Nurses, or her authorized agent, or who wera Bx>ecially appointed bv the turgeon General or other proper United States authority who performed six months' service, or who were disabled and honorably discharged. Those who are now receiving a less pension under special acts are to be entitled to the benefits of tuis act. The Senate bill was passed by the House increasing the pens.on of soldiers or sailors who nave lost both hands to $l9O per month. A bill was passed granting tho Mount Carmel (III.) Develoximeut Company ihei rivilege of drawing water irom the Wabash River. The Senate’s concurrent resolution was agroedi to, providing for the joint' meeting of the two houses of Congress on Wednesday, Feb. 13, for the purpose of counting the electoral vote. The House went into committee of the whole on the sundry civil approximation bill. An amendment appropriating #5j,0)0 for the education of children of school age in Alaska, without reference to race, was agreed to. The appropriation for the Rock Island Arsenal was increased #15,509. Repreutative l-pr<uger introduced his oimiibus bill, providing for an enabling act lor the admission of the Territories of Arizona, Idaho and Wyoming as States of the Union. Dolegate Gifford, of Dakota, introduced a bill providing for oxiening for settlement all that portion of the Fort Randall military reservation in Dakota lying east of the Missouri River.

The Senate, after adopting Mr. Gibson’s amendment to the diplomatic appropriation bill on the 29th ult., providing that United States Ministers to France, Germany, Great Britain, and Russia shall be called “Ambassadors,” went into secret session ou tho Samoan amendments. On motion of Mr. Sherman it was voted—yeas, 26; nays, 2,—to consider the amendments in open session and the doors were opened. Mr. Sherman then proceeded to address the Stnate at length, giving aclear statement of tho whole question, after which that body adjourned. The following resolution was introduced in the House for reference : “ Unsolved , That the present condition of affairs at Samoa requires that this Government should aid the people of those islands in securing an independent native government, lree from the claims of territorial jurisdiction of any European power, and to the end that this purpose may be speedily and effectually accomplished the President of the United States is hereby requested to insist on the restoration of affairs in said island us the borne existed at the time of the convention between the representatives of the Governments of Germany, Great Britain, and the United states, hold in the city of Washington in June and July, 1887. That he further aid in socuring a settlement of the pending difficulties at Samoa on asatisfactory and solid foundation, and in the restoration of jieace and good order und or a responsible native independent government, with a court of competent jurisdiction to determine land titles and such other claims and controversies of foreign residents as may be properly cognizable by such court, and that he take such further steps as may be necessary to protect the rights of this Government and its citizens in sail islands. In the House of Representatives, Mr. Burrow's, of Michigan, pre senced a petition of 13, )0J citizens of Utah against the admission of that Territory as a bta.e. The House went into committee of tbe w'hole on the sundry civil appropriation bill. Mr. Enloe, of Tennessee, offered an amendment authorizing tbe secret servi o fores of the Treasury Department to bo used in detecting pretended dealer i in counterfeit money.. Agreed to. The committeo rose and the bill was jiassed. Mr. Dunn, of Arkansas, from the Committee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries, reported a bill to provide for the better protection of the fur, seal, and salmon fisheries of Alaska. Printed and recommitted, with leave to' report at any time.

Among the nominations of postmasters confirmed by the Senate on the 30th ult. were the' following: Charles H. Manning, Grand Crossing, 111. ; Celestine Gibbons, Keokuk, Iowa;. Mollie G. Moflitt, Tipton, Iowa; 1 rank McMahon. Au Sable. Mich.; John M. Hibbard, Stoughton. Wis. ; Henry C. Miller, Horton, Kansas. A resolution was adopted by the Senate calling on tho Secretory of the Treasury for a statement of the amounts in tne sinking fund to the credit of tho Union and Central Pacific under the 'ihurinan act. A lengthy discussion occurred on the Samoan amendments to the consular bill. Mr. Springer managed to' get the Oklahoma bill belore the House, and its consideration was completed in committee of the whole. Among the amendments adopted wore those of Mr. Payson of Illinois to protect the homestead rights of honorably discharged Union soldiers and sailors, providing that no homestead entries shall be allowed except to actual settlers, and a substitu.o for the town-site section. The latter authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to reserve' town sitss of not exceeding Oil) acres on any public lands in “tho Territory and until the legal municipal incorporation to soil tho Jots for the benefit of the scuooi fund of said town, less the amounts paid to Indians. After tno town is incorporated the title to unsold lots shall vest in the municipality. Other amendments adopted provide for the protection of Indian titles; forfeit lands and rights granted to theAtlantic and Pacific Railroad ft r the Canadian Kiver Branch, and eliminate the clause subjecting lauds to taxation after the first installment or purchase money is made. After the bill was reported to the House, Mr. Payson’s soldiers’' homestea l amendment was agreed to and the House adjourned. In the Senate after the passage of a few private bills, on the 31st ult., the Senate resumed consideration of the diplomatic and consular appropriation bill, the pending question being on the amendment referring toSamoa. These were agreed to withoutdivision. The credentials of Edward O. Wolcott, Senator-elect from Colorado, were presented, and placed on file. The President’s messages in relation to the Samoan islands and to Corea (the same that were presented in the House) were referred to , the Committee on Foreign Relations. The House amendments to the bill to increase the pensions of those who have lost both hands were reported back favorably" andconcmred in. Tho Senate then proceeded to executive business, the British extradition, treaty, and spent four hours in the consideration of the treaty, but adjourned, leaving it still pending. When tho House resumed consideration of the Oklahoma bill, the vote by which Mr. Payson’s “so’diers" homestead” amendment was passed was reconsidered. The proposition was then divided and the first clause, which provides that no homestead rights of honorably discharged Union soldiers and sailors shall be impaired by the bill r was agree to. Tbe second section, which was rejected, extended to homestead rights of exsoldiers and sailors to all lands opened for settlement uijder the bill. Mr. Pay soil’s “townsite” amendment was agreed to without division. Mr. UTerrall (Va.) moved a reconsideration, and Mr. Springer moved to table the latter’s motion. Pending action the House adjpurned. , In the Senate a message from the President vetoing a bill granting a pension to Mr 3. Ellen Hand was presented on the Ist inst., read, and on motion laid on the table. Tile ground of disapproval is that “the soldier's death was in no way related to any incident of military service.’’ The House amendments to the Senate bill for the admission of South Dakota as ft'tMhtewere non-concurred in upon report of the Committee on Territories and a conference asked. Senators Platt, Cullom und Butler were appointed conferreos on tho part of the Senate. The Senate went into executive session on the British extradition treaty, which, after threehours’ debate, was rejected by a vote of 38 to 15. The Bouse agreed to the conference report on the bill making the head of the Department of Agriculture a Cabinet officer, and then took up the Oklahoma bill. The House by a vote of 148 to 102 passed the bill creating tbe Territory of Oklahoma. The conference report on "the Nicaragua bill was presented.