The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1878-03-28
UNIDENTIFIED SENATORS.
Sharp Debate in the Senate on the Bill to
Punish the Timber Depredators.


labored attempt had been made to impress
the country with the belief that in this Senate
chamber the timber thieves of the country
found defenders and apologists, and under this
cloud or misrepresentation the real issue which
he raised against the Secretary of the Interior
was sought to be obscured. am for prosecut-
ing the timber thief, and am for protecting
the settler, and this amendment, if it prevails.
viii force the Secretary of the interior to do
the same. The amendment only guaranteed TO
the settler IN the Territory precisely what be
had enjoyed from the foundation OF the Gov
eminent, precisely what the early settlers in
ONO, and Indians, and Illinois, and Michigan,
and Wisconsin, and Alabama, and Mississippi
and Arkansas had all in turn enjoyed, and that
privilege was simply only that until the timber
lands We're surveyed and offered for sale the
actual settlers might cut timber for their own
use, and not for export.
Mr. Eustis said he would vote against any
appropriation to pay special agents of the De
partment of the Interior who were engaged in
the business of discovering ard prosecuting
persons who were charged with trespassing on
the public lands. People absolutely knew moth
ing or the proceedings ordered by the Depart
ment OF the Interior, which were of a despotic
character. The seizures were made on Internal
legal papers.
Mr. Dawes argued that, if the proceedings
were irregular, the Judge who issued the writs
was responsible, and not the agents of the
Interior Department. He was glad this dis
c'1sslon had taken place. 1t would 5each tho
s. cretary of the Interior that it WAS his duty 10
inquire into the conduct of his special agents
charged with delicate duties 1t would teach
him that this was Government of law, not OF
men.
Mr.. Christiancy argued that the course pur-
sued IN Louisiana had no bearing whatever
upon the course pursued in Montana. 1t was
not TO be expected that the Secretary of the
Interior could have knowledge of every act of
the timber agents. The Senate would not have
heard all these charges to-day had it not been
that there was more feeling against the Secre-
tary OF the Interior than for the poor settlers.
MIR. Sargent said when Western Senators got
up here, and asked for the people of the West
privileges which had been enjoyed by the peo-
pie OF Massachusetts, Vermont and other States.
they were sneered at and their wants measured
by some county Of Massachusetts. This pro-
ylncIal1sm he was opposed to. It was unworthy
OF debate like this Western Senators were
not to be turned from their convictions in this
matter by sneers and statements that they de-
sired to attack the Secretary of the Interior
No one thought of attacking the Secretary of
the interior until the people of the Territories
were dragged before the courts. their property
seized. and they themselves charged with be-
ing thieves and plunderers. The policy of the
present Secretary Of the Interior was contrary
to the whole policy of the Government in re-
gard to the timber lands. He (Sargent) would
go as FAR as any man to protect the surveyed
lands and punish men for stealing wood there
from. The action of the Secretary of the In
terror was caused by a desire to gain cheap
reputation as reformer. A considerate Sec
Rotary, instead of turning the Interior Depart
ment into huckster shop to peddIe out wood,
would have called the attention of Congress to
H.
MIR. Dawes said the remarks of the Senator
from California (Sargent) were as much I'M
called for by the debate as they were by good
breeding, and his illusions to Massachusetts
Mr. Sargent-Will you please quote anything
l said against Massachusetts? l deny that /
said anything
Mr.. Dawes-I have the floor and will not
yield.
MIR. Sargent-As I yielded to the Senator
from Massachusetts so frequently, I see his
good breeding does not correspond.
Mr.. Dawes-The Senator's memory is as bad
as his manners. Continuing his remarks, Mr..
Dawes said thousands of cords of wood were
cut from the public lands in the Territories and
ready for market, and it was that plumber the
Secretary Of the Interior sought to stop, no
matter how much he might be denounced for
being over jealous.
Mr.. Sargent said the Senator from Massachu-
sets in bis original speech spoke Of the people
OF the Territories as thieves and plunderers.
Did the Senator think that remark consistent
with good breeding? He thought he was en-
titled to an apology from the Senator for
questioning his manners.
Mr.. Dawes explained bis remarks, and 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 as plunderers, but he did mean to
GO Uho 4olr eyO
the public domain were plundering it.
Mr.. Hoar argued that it was bad thing for
either branch of Congress to undertake to con-
denim public officer for doing his duty, the
neglect Of which would have made him liable
to impeachment
Mr.. Matthews said it had been the practice of
the executive officers of the Government to
punish those trespassing upon the public lands
for hre-WoOd or any other purposes, and he
challenged the Senator from Maine (Blaine) to
point to any statute authorizing settlers to cut
fre-WoOd from public land.
Mr.. Blaine asked if it was proper policy to
charge 81 cord stumpage.
Mr.. Matthews said it was not, but ii was pol
icy of law, not the policy of the Secretary of
t1e Interior.
Mr.. Blaine challenged the Senator MAT
thews) to point to an instance where settlers
had been charged stUmpage.
Mr.. Ingalls, can do it.
MIR. Blaine-Wel let us hear it.
Mr.. Ingalls, then quoted from the instruc-
tons Of J. M. Edmunds, the Commissioner of
the General Land Office in 1864, issued to
public land officers. to punish timber depreda-
tions, which instructions were submitted to the
Senate with the report of the Secretary of the
Interior for that year. In reply to the ques
ton of MIR. Blaine, Mr.. ingalls, stated the re-
port showed that since Jan. 1, 1856, the sum of
$199, 1913 had been paid into the treasury on
account of timber depredatioas. He was not
assailing or advocating the policy Of the Sec
rotary of the Interior, but he believed in Civ |
ing the devil his dues, no matter whether it be
the Secretary of the Interior or any one else
The Senator from Maine (Blalne) reminded him
Qngalls) Of the snake in "Hudibras," that
"wired in and wired out"
Mr.. Christiancy inquired if anything had
been paid into the treasury on account of tim
Der depredations under the late order of the |
Secretary of the Interior.
Mr.. Blaine said yes, about $4,000 had been
wrung out Of the people of Montana. Reply |
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