Rensselaer Republican, Volume 22, Number 29, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 20 March 1890 — NATIONAL CONGRESS. [ARTICLE]

NATIONAL CONGRESS.

In the Senate, on the lOth,the bill appropriating $500,000 for a building at Salt Lake City was passed. Other business transacted was merely routine. In the House a resolution was adopted providing for an investigation of immigration laws, etc. Bills were passed to take a census in Alaska; to prevent introduction of contagious diseases from one State to another. The Oklahoma territorial bill was considered, - The Senate on the 11th devoted the time to an accumonious debate, arising from the debate on Florida elections of a few days previous. The House disposed of several public building bills. The bill for the admission of Wyoming was called up. Definite action ■was not taken.

In the Senate, on the 12th, the concurrent resolution providing for an invest! ga. tion of immigration matters, the purchase of American industries by foreign capita' and the use of Bedloe’s Island,was adopted ■ ■ The resolution to exclude from the Con ' gressional Record the interpolations mad> by Mr. Call on the 20th of last month was adopted. The educational bill came up. A vote on this bill will be demanded next week. The Senate resolved to elect a Pres ident pro tempore, who shall preside when ever the Vice President is absent. The House on the 12th considered the Oklahoma territorial bill. The debate turned upon the question of prohibition. ■Mr. Cutcheon of Michigan protested against ‘the thrusting upon the Indians in Oklahoma the unspeakable, indescribable curse oi whisky shops. He protested against it in the name of humanity, in the name oi common decency, and in the name of tin plighted faith of this great Nation. Mr Funston declared that in Kansas there was not one open saloon. The Republican party had had its birth on Kansas soil, and

he hoped that the time would soon comp when that party would champion the cause of prohibition as it had championed the cause of liberty. Mr. Tarsney of Missouri said that last summer he had attended court in southwestern Kansas. One day he noticed the judge scowling and looking toward the ante room. He looked up and beheld the prosecuting attorney shaking a bottle of beer at the judge, not in an intimidating manner, but in a bewitching, entic ing manner. [Laughter.] Mr. Mills of Texas made an appeal for the personal liberty of every citizen of this free country to eat what he pleased, and go where ho pleased, and to come back when he pleased, and he opposed any proposition which would restrict that liberty. The Senate, on the 13th, passed bills allowing bridges at Pierre, S. D., and between Washington and Oregon. A number of public building bills were also passed. It is unnecessary to say that Blair blared on his educational bill.

The House granted right of way to ’several railroads through Indiana reservations. The Oklahoma bill was taken up and the amendment prohibiting the introduction of intoxicating liquors was acquired, Yeas, 134; Nays, 103. The bill was then passed. The bill contains provisions which, in substance, fixed the bouhdarics of the new Territory so as to include the Cherokee outlet, with a provision that no lands which the Indians occupy, under treaty or law, shall be included without their consent, except for judicial purposes. They extend over the new Territory the Constitution and laws of the United States and the code of Nebraska, without interference with the local Indian government’s acting under their treaty rights. Seven counties are established. The county-seats are to be at Guthrie, Oklahoma City, Norman, Lisbon or Kingfisher, Beaver, Stillwater and one more to be fixed by the Secretary of the Interior. The Cherokee outlet is declared to be public' land and open to settlement under the homestead aws, and bona fide settlers and occupants are given a preference right. The sections: after No. 24 are devoted to the establisment of a judicial system in the Indian Territory, which is to bo divided into three districts and courts are to be held at Muscogee, Vinita, Otoka, Ardmore and Purcell. The Senate received the report on the 11th, on the Urgency Deficiency Bill. The Blair Bill was debated. The House considered the bill to retire Gen. John C. Fremont, with the rank of Major-general. At night several private pension bills were considered. Mr. Cooper, Democrat of Indiana, took occasion to disapprove of the many pension vetoes by President Cleveland. - -