The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1876-10-28

pany on the branch line acfoss the
Cascade mountains should be re-
leased from withdrawal and put into
the market subject to settlement; but
in spite of all effort the bill passed
both houses OF Congress. He had
introduced a bill by the terms of
which this land should be granted to
the Seattle and Walla Walla Rail
road Company.
Referring to the cases of those set
tiers who initiated claims upon odd
numbered sections, between the date
of actual withdrawal and the date of
the notice of same at the Local Land
Office, he said he did all in his power
to persuade the company to recognize
the rights of these settlers, that the
company at first pcrsistcntly refused,
but finally gave way and passed a
resolution at a meeting of their
board of Directors, relinquishlng
their rights to all these disputed
claims. In regard to the claims
upon
SCHOOL LANDS
held by many persons in the Terri
tory, who purchased them from the
County Commissioners of the partic-
ular counties where the lands are sit
uatcd, pursuant to humbug law of
the Territorial Legislature, passed
in 1863, he had introduced many
bills for the relief of these parties,
and but for the time of the Senate
being occupied with the Bclknap
impeachment, he should have secured
their passage.
ABOUT RIVERS AND HARBORS
and appropriations for their improve.
mcnt, he had used all his influence
to secure the favorable action OF
Congress thereon, and in spite of the
restrictive policy of the House OF
Representatives, had secured $IS,-
600 for the improvement of Snake
river. Referring to the platforms of
the Republican and Democratic par
ties of the Territory, he found the
Republican platform pronounced in
favor of such appropriations and call
ing upon the Delegate to do all in
his power to secure them; while the
Democratic platform, in harmony
with the narrow, illibcral and re-
strictivc policy of the National Dem
ocratic party, made no mention what
ever of this important subject. Also
under the head of
PUBLIC SURVEYS,
the speaker said he had the restrict
i've policy of the Democratic House
of Representatives to contend with.
That two years ago Congress appro-
priatcd $4,000 for public surveys.
The present Congress came very
near allowing this important matter
to go by default. The Territorial
Delegates becoming alarmed, APP
pointed committee of three OF
their own number to specially attend
to it. The speaker was one OF that
committee. They went before the
appropriate House committee and
argued in favor Of the urgent ncccs-
sity of an appropriation for surveys
in the Territories. The House COM
mittcc finally appointed a sub-com-
mittcc of one to look into the matter,
and finally, ate, Il great deal OF
trouble, succeeded in getting rec
ommcndation for an appropriation
of 100000 for sixteen States and
Territories. The bill passed the
House. In the Senate it was amended
by an additional hundred thousand,
in which amendment the House con-
Cured and the bill became law.
The distribution of this money was
left to the Commissioner of the Gen
cral Land Office. OF this fund, Or
cgon demanded 100000, California
demanded $4,000, and Kansas a
large amount. These States have
each two Senators and one Repre-
sentative in Congress, and yet while
Oregon got $23,5oo, Washington
Territory, through the labor OF her
one Delegate, got $4,000. The
Democratic Congress, in its anxiety
to make show of rctrcnchmcnt, re-
duced the surveys to SO per mile for
running section lines and 81 for cx-
terror or township lines. Against
this the speaker entered his cmphat-
ic protest without avail. lie APP
pcalcd to the audience to vote for
Al. I.1lro, &c thnA, 1XnntcI any moro