Rensselaer Republican, Volume 18, Number 22, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 4 February 1886 — WASHINGTON [ARTICLE]

WASHINGTON

The lions e Committee on Public Lauds agreed on the bill forfeiting all land within the grant to the Atlantic and Pacific Itailroad lying opposite the vmconstructed portions of the railroad; also on Mr. Mcßae’s-i bill providing that all homestead settlers on public lands within railroad limits restricted to less than 160 acres of land, who have heretofore tirade or may hereafter make the additional entry allowed by "the acts of March 3, 1879, or Julyr,' 1879, after having made final proof of settlement and cultivation under the original entry, shall be entitled to have the lands covered by the additional entry patented without further cost or proof of settlement and cultivation, and in all such entries patents shall issue as soon as reported to and approved by the General Land Conjmissioner. Representative James has been instructed by the House Committee on Labor to report favorably a bill making it unlawful for any officer, agent, or servant of the Government of the United States to contract with any person or corporation, or permit any official of any State prison where criminals of the United States may be incarcerated, to hire out the labor of Slid criminals, and imposing a fine of from SSOO to'SI,OOO or imprisonment from one to three, years for violation of the act. The subcommittee having charge of the convictlabor question reported favorably a bill prohibiting the use of material made by convicts in the construction of Government work6....The Secretary of the Treasury .has issued a call for the redemption of $lO,000,000 of bonds of the 3-per-cent loan of -1882. The and accrued interest will be paid at the Treasury of the United States, in Washington, on the Ist of March, 1886, and the interest will cease on that day... .The Senate Committee on Foreign Relations objects to granting Gen. 0.0. Howardperipission to accept from the French republie the decoration of the Legion of Honor and the rank of chevalier for services rendered .his own country, on the ground that the United States Government can estimate the value of such deeds for itself . Again has the Secretary of State - been stricken with a terrible bereavement. A few weeks ago his eldest and favorite daughter, KAtherine, died without the slightest premonition, and on' the 31st ult. her

mother's, death occurred as a result of the shock. Afrs.vßayard had been a partial invalid for some yearn, and had leaned upon Katherine in social and domestic matters. The latter had the charge of the household, superintended the education of (be... children, and relieved her mother of the thousand and one cares attending a large family and official and social prominence, Mrs. Bayard was 57 years old, .. The parties at Washington in nn attempt to open Indian Territory to settlement have secured the indorsement of the Knights of Labor.