The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1878-03-20

Another amendment, appropriating
$1,000 for the care Of the horses and
wagons for the Treasury Department. was
agreed to.
The Committee on Appropriations re.
ported the following amendment:
"And provided further, that where the
wood and timber lands in the territories
OF the United States are NOT surveyed
and offered for sale in proper subdi.
visions, convenient Of access, no money
herein appropriated shall be used to col
lect any charge for wood or timber cut
on public lands In the territories OF the
United States for the use Of actual set
tiers in the territories and not for ex.
port.
Mr.. Beck moved to amend the last line
Of the amendment so as TO read, mot for
sale or export" and, in support Of his
amendment, argued that men should not
be allowed 10 go upon public land and
make timber an article Of merchandise.
He favored limiting the cutting Of the
wood for actual use only.
Mr.. Dawes opposed the amendment Of
the Committee on Appropriations, aud
argued that every means should be taken
TO prevent the people from plundering
the public lands Of the timber.
Mr.. Teller said there were no wood
rings in Colorado, and he (Teller) did not
hesitate to declare II, the Secretary OF the
Interior to the contrary Notwithstanding.
II the Senator's who opposed these mat
ters presented for the benefit Of the West,
would take the trouble to inform them
selves Of the actual state Of things in
that section they would not talk SO much
about thieving and robbery.
After some further discussion, Mr..
Beck modified his amendment go as to
provide that no money Of the amount ap-
propriated shall be used 10 collect any
charge for wood or timber cut on public
lands 10 the territory Of the United
States for the use OF actual settlers in the
territories, and not for export from the
territory where the timber grew.
Mr.: Blaine said be would accept that
amendment. He was glad that the
pending amendment precisely and liter
ally formulated the issue that had grown
upon this question. A labored attempt
had been made to impress the country
with the belief that in this Senate Cham
Der the timber thieves Of the country
found defenders and apologists, and under
this cloud Of Misrepresentation the real
issue which he raised against the secre-
tary OF the Interior was sought 10 be OBJ
acured. am for prosecuting the timber
thieves and l am for protecting
the settler, and this amendment,
| II II prevails, will force the secre.
tary OF the Interior to do the came.
The amendment guaranteed to the settler
In q territory precisely what be had en-
joyed from the foundation of the govern
ment; precisely what the early seltlers in
OHIO, and Indiana, and Illinois, and
Michigan, and Wisconsin, and Alabama,
and Mlsissippi, and Arkansas, had all in
turn enjoyed, and that privilege was sim.
ply only that until the timber lands were
surveyed and offered for sale in terrific.
ries, the actual settlers might cut timber
for their own use and not Tor export.
Mr.. Eustis said that be would vote
against any appropriation to pay special
agents Of the Department Of the Interior
who were engsged in the business Of dis.
covering and prosecuting persons who
were charged with tresspassing on public
lands. These agents, instead OF being
rewarded, as suggested by the Secretary,
should be dismissed with dpgrace from
the service. The property Of the people
OF Louisiana was seized, and In less than
"a hour the owners were reduced 10 beg
gary and starvation. The people abso-
lutely knew nothing Of the proceedings
ordered by the Department OF the Inter
Tor, which were Of despotic character.
The seizures were made on informal legal
papers.
Mr. Dawes argued thatif the legal pro-
ceedings were irregular the Judge who
issued the writs was responsible, aud not
the agent Of the Interior Department
He was glad this discussion had occur
red. It would teach the Secretary OF the
Interior that II was his duty toinquire
into the conduct Of his special agents
charged with delicate duties. Itwould
teach him that this was a government Of
law. not Of men.
MIR. Christiancy argued that the course
pursued 10 Louisiana had no bearing
whatever on the course pursued 10 Mon
tana. Il was not to be expected that the
Secretary Of the Interior could have per.
sonal knowledge Of every act Of the tim.
Der agents. The Senate would not have
hurled all their charges to-day had II not
been that there was more feeling against
the Secretary Of the Interior than for the
poor settlers.
Mr.. Sargent said that when the Western
Senator'S got np here and asked for the
people Of the West privileges which had
been enjoyed BY the people OF Massachu-
se,ts, Vermont and other States, they
were sneered at and their wants measured
by some county Of Massachusetts. This
proyincialism he was opposed to; il was
unworthy Of debate like this. The
Western Senators were not TO be turned
from their connections on this matter by
sneers and statements that they desired
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 aud plnnderers. The
policy Of the present Secretary Of the
Interior was contrary to the whole
policy OF the government 10 regard to the
timber lands. He (sargent) would'go as
far rs any man TO protect the surveyed
lands and punish for stealing wood
therefrom. The action Of the Secretary
OF the interior was caused BY desire to
gain cheap reputation. A considerate
Secretary, instead Of turning the Interior
Department into huckster shop TO ped.
die wood, would have called the attention
OF Congress to the matter and asked for
remedial legislation.
Mr.. Dawes said the remarks Of the Sem
ator from California (sargent) were as
much uncalled for BY the debate as they
We're by good breeding, and his allusion.
to Massachusetts
Mr.. Sargent you please quote
an:hing said against Massachusetts,. =
deny that l said anything.
Mr.. Dawes-I have the door and will
not yield.
Mr.. Sargent-As I yielded TO the sena-
tor from Massachusetts 90 frequently
see that his good breeding does not cor
III. Dares-The Senator's memory i