Democratic Sentinel, Volume 14, Number 35, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 26 September 1890 — THE NATIONAL SOLONS. [ARTICLE]

THE NATIONAL SOLONS.

SENATE AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Our National Law-Makers and What They Are Doing for the Good of the Country— Various Measures Proposed, Discussed, and Acted Upon. The Senate met at 11 o’clock on the lOtb inst., and after a few moments spent with routine business the tariff bill was taken up—the question being on its passage—wit'; six hours allowed to close the discussion, after which the vote was to be taken. Mr. Hoar was the first to address the Senate. Referring to the reciprocity proposition, he said that he had voted for it with some hesitation and should not have done so if he had thought that the scheme contained in the amendment was all that was likely to come out of entering on that policy. He, however, regarded the amendment rather as a declaration of purpose than as a definition of legislative policy, and it was in that view that he had-given it his support. After speeches by Messrs. Hiscock, Turpie, Gibson, Vest, Vance, and Jones (Nev.) the vote was taken and the bill was passed—yeas, 40; nays, 29 a strict party vote. Mr. Aldrich moved that the Senate insist on its amendments to the House.blU and ask for a committee of conference—the committee to consist of seven on each side. The motion was agreed to, and Messrs. Aldrich, Sherman. Allison, Hiscock, McPherson, Vance, and Carlisle were appointed conferrees on tho part of the Senate. The Senate then adjourned. In the House the day was wasted in an ineffectual attempt to get a quorum to approve the previous day’s journal. In the Senate, on the 11th Inst., on motion of Mr. Plumb, the conference report on the railroad landy-forfeiture bill was taken up. The main proposition in the report is contained in the flist section, as follows: “That there is hereby forfeited to the United Slates, and the United States hereby resumes the title thereto, all lands heretofore granted to any State or to apy corporation to aid In the construction of a railroad opposite to and coterminous with the portion of any such .railroad not now completed and in operation, for the construction or benefit of which such lands were granted; and all such lands arc declared to be a part of the public domain; provided: that this act shall not be construed as forfeiting the right of way or station ground of any railroad company heretofore granted.” Mr. Morgan opposed the report as a ‘log-rolling scheme, got up for the benefit of all the land-grant roads. After speaking for over four hours Mr. Morgan said that he mew that the questions which he had been discussing were going to their grave in the* - passage of the bill, but that he had desitCi to give them a decent burial, He had wished to erect a headstone over the graves of the rights of the people on the line of the Northern Pacific, so that the historic record might, be read hereafter. Whenever the bill was passed, the forfeiture of the Northern Pacific Railroad lands would be dead and burled, and nothing more would be heard about It. Without finishing his speech, Mr. Morgan yielded for a motion to adjourn, which was carried. The House wasted the day without securing a quorum to approve the previous day’s journal. In the Senate, on the 12th inst., Mr. Ingalls presented a petition from citizens of Missouri asking for the passage of the Federal election bills. Many petitions were presented for and against the passage o£ the compound lard bill. At the suggestion of Mr. Edmunds it was agreed that one hour be given each day (after the routine morning business) to bills on the calendar unobjected to. The following bills were passed: Authorizing the construction of a bridge across the Mississippi at Winona, Minn.; Senate bill to subject to State taxation national bank notes and United States Treasury notes the same as other money. House bill to limit to six years the time within which suits ihall be brought against accounting officers and their sureties. The c< nference report on the railroad land forfeiture bill was taken up, and Mr. Morgan continued his argument in opposition to It. During the argument Mr. Gorman presented a telegram received by him from Senator McPherson, stating that he was indisposed and would not be able to act as a member of the conference committee on the tariff bill, and asking to be excused from serving. The 4-equest was complied with, and Mr. Voorhees was appointed a conferree in place of Mr. McPherson. After Mr. Morgan had spoken ab jut two hours, the Senate was addressed by Mr. Sanders in favor of the adopt io.i of the conference report. Mr. Hearst took the contrary view, and insisted that the mineral lands were specially reserved by the original grants and must be kept for the use of the people at large. Mr. Saunders said that in courts of his own State, of the State of California, and in. the Supreme Court of the United States, the term “mineral lands” has been held to mean lands commercially valued for mining purposes. Without concluding his argument Mr. Saunders yielded for a motion to proceed to executive business, and the Senate soon adjourned. In the House, during the roll-call, a message was received from the Senate announcing the passage of the tariff bill, with amendments, and by direction of the Speaker it was referred to the Committee on Ways and Means. On the approval of the journal the quorum disappeared, and on motion of Mr. McKinley the House adjourned. The Senate, on tho 15th inst., proceeded to the consideration of sixteen bridge bills on the calendar and passed the fallowing, among others: The Senate bill to amend the act of March 3, 1883, for a railway bii.lge across the Illinois River at a point between Calumbiana, In Green, and Farrowtown, in Calhoun County. House bill to construct a wagon bridge across the Mississippi River at Hastings, Minn. Senate bill to authorize the construction of a bridge across the Kentucky River and Its tributaries. House bill to amend the act of July 16, 1888, authorizing the construction of a bridge across the Red River of the North. Senate bill to amend the act of June 19, 1878, to create an a«ditor of railroad a'counts. Senate bill for the relief of certain officers and enlisted men of the First Kansas Colored Volunteers. House bill to create a port of entry at Eagle Pass, Texas, in lieu of Indianola, Texas. The conference report < n the railroad land forfeituie bill was taken up as the unfinished business, and Mr. banders resumed his argument. After remarks by Messrs. Plumb and Morgan the Senate adjc uhicd. In the House. Mr. McKinley, from the Committee o.i Ways and Means, reported back the tariff bill with Senate amendments, with the recommendation that thoamendments be non-concu:T3d in. Referred to the committee of tie whole. Mr. McKinley, from the Committee on Rules, reported a resolution for the immediate consideration cf the tariff bill In the House. The resolution provided that “after two hours general debate it shall be in order to move to non-t oncur in the Senate amendments in gross and a giee to the committee of conference asked by the Senate, and the House shall without further delay or other motion proceed to vote on said motion.”' < The previous question on the resolution was I ordered—veas, 116; nays, 71. The resolution was then adopted—yeas, 114; nays, 72.