Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1878-03-22

bring as many dollars into the Treasury as he
(Sargent) was willing TO vote for the fishery
award. When Western Senators got up here and
asked for the people of the West the privileges
which bad been enjoyed by the people of Massa
chusetts, Vermont and other States, they were
sneered at, and their wants measured by some
county of Massachusetts,. This PROVING iasm he
was opposed to. 1t WAS unworthy debate like
this Western Senators were not to be turned
from their convictions this matter by sneei and
statements that they desire to attack the Secretary
OF the Interior. No one thought of attacking the
Secretary of the Interior until the people of the
Territories dragged before the courts their
property seized and they themselves charged with
being thieves and punderers. The policy OF the
present Secretary OF the Interior was contrary to
the whole policy of the government in regard TO
timber lands. lie tSargent) would 90 as far as
any man TO protect surveyed lands, and punish
men for stealing wood theTetrom. The action of
the Secretary of the Interior caused bv de
sire to gain cheap reputation as reformer. A
considerate Secretary, instead of turning the In
teIIor Department INTO huckster shop to peddle
out wood would have called the attention of Con
gress to the matter and asked remedial legislation.
Mr. Dawes said that the remarks of the Senator
from California, were as much uncalled for by the
debate rs they were by good breeding, and his al
lusions to Massachusetts,
Mr. Ssrgent-Wll you please quote anything |
said against Massachusetts deny that | said
anything.
MIR Dawes-The Senator's memory i as bad as
bis manners Continuing his remarks. in reply to
Mi. Sargent, Mr. Dawes said that If the ScHatOr
voted to pay the five millions fishery award he
would not do 20 for the benefit of Massachusetts,.
Neither New England nor Massachusetts asked
any special legislation whether ii be for fisheries
or manufactures They asked no legislation
which was not for the interest of the whole country
lie then argued that thousands Of cords Of wood
were cut from public lands in the territories and
were ready iOr market, and 1t that plumber the
Secretary of the IuteTpr y hit =
ter how much he NIL lat be denounced Ion being
over-zealous.
Mr.. Sargent said the Senator from Massachu-
setts in his original speech spoke of the people OF
the territories as thieves and plunderers. Did the
Senator think that remark consistent with
good breeding MI. Sargent denied that he re-
1erIed to Massachusetts when he spoke of pro-
vncssm. He referred to the remarks of the
Senator dawes, and he thought he entitled
to apology from the Senator for questioning
his manners.
Mr.. Dawes also explained his remarks aud said
he had no disposition to indulge in any remarks
offensive to the Senator from California. He did
not mean to speak of the people OF the territories
pluudeiers. but he did mean to say that those
taking property from the public domain we've
pls ndering II.
Mr.. Hoar argued that it was a bad thing for
either branch of Cong ess to undertake to con
denim public officer Tor doing his duty, the neg
lect of which would have made him liable TO i'm
peachmen,. The Secretary Of the Interior, in the
very first report he ever made to Congress, called
attention at length TO this very subject of timber
depredations.
Mr.. Hoar quoted from the annual report of the
Secretary OF the Interior, sent 10 Congress IN
December last, and resuming his remarks said
that Cong Iess had over and over again refused TO
modify or change the Timber Depreciation act,
and now charges were being made against a
sworn public officer for enforcing law 10 protect
public property when Congress had over and over
again refused to modify the law.