Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1878-03-20

| 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 chamber the timber thieves of the coun-
try found defenders and apologists, and under
this cloud of misrepresentation of the real is
sue which he raised against the secretary of the
| interior, was sought to be obscured. am for
prosecuting the timber thief and am for pro-
tecting the settler, and this amendment, if it
prevails, will force the secretary of the interior
to do the same. The amendment only guar
antees to the settler in the territory, pre-
cisely what he had enjoyed from the foundation
of the government, what the early settlers in
Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin,
Alabama, Mississippi and Arkansas had all in
turn enjoyed, and that privilege was simply
only that until timber lands were surveyed and
offered for sale in the Territories, the actual
settlers might cut timber for their own use and
| not for export.
| Senator Eustis said he would vote against
any appropriation to pay special agents of the
| department Of the interior who were engaged
in the business of discovering and prosecuting
| persons who were charged with trespassing
on public lands. These agents, instead of be-
| ing rewarded suggested by the secretary,
should be dismissed with disgrace from the
| service. The property of people of Louisiana
was seized, and in less than twenty-four hours
the owners were reduced to beggary and starva-
ton. The people absolutely know nothing of
the proceedings ordered by the department of
the interior, which were of a disputed charac-
ter, and the seizures were made on informal
legal papers.
Senator Dawes argued if the legal proceed
writs was responsible, and not the agent of the
interior department. He was glad this discus
| sion had taken place. It would teach the sec
rotary of the interior that it was his duty to
enquire into the conduct of his special agents,
charged with delicate duties. It would teach
him that this was government of law, not of
| men.
Senator Christiancy argued that the course
pursued in Louisiana had no bearing
| whatever on the course pursued in
Montana 1t was not to be expected the Sc
! cretary of the interior could have personal
knowledge of every act of the timber agents.
The Senate would not have heard all those
charges to-day, had it not been that there was
more feeling against the secretary of the in
terror then for the poor settlers.
Senator Sargent said when Western Senators
got up here and asked for the people of the
West privileges which had been enjoyed by the
people of Massachusetts Vermont and other
States, they were sneered at, and their wants
measured by some county of Massachusetts.
This provincialism he was opposed to.
1t unworthy of debate like
this. Western Senators were not to be turned
from their convictions in this matter by sneers
and statements that they desired to attack the
secretary of the interior. No thought of
attacking the secretary of the interior until
the people of the territories were dragged be-
fore the courts, their property seized, and
themselves charged with being thieves and
secretary of the interior was contrary
to the whole policy of the government
in regard to timber lands. He (Sargent)
would go as far as any man to protect surveyed
lands and punish men for stealing wood there
from. The action of the secretary of the in
l.
| reputation as a reformer. A considerate secre-
tary. instead of turning the interior depart
ment into huckster shop to peddle out wood,
would have called the attention of Congress to
the matter and asked for remedial legislation.
| Senator Dawes said the remarks of the Sena-
uncalled for by the debate they were by
good breeding, and his illusions to Massa-
chusetts-
| Senator Sargent-Win you please quote any
thing said against Massachusetts,? 1 deny
that said anything.
yield.
Senator Sargent yielded to the Senator
from Massachusetts frequently. see his good
| breeding does not correspond
| Senator Dawes-The Senator's memory is az
bad as his manners. Continuing his remarks
Senator Dawes said thousands OF cords of WOOD
were cut from public lands in territories anC
ready for market and it was that plumber the
secretary of the interior sought to stop, M
mattor how much he might be denounced fo
| being over Jealous.
Senator Sargent said the Senator from Massa
chusetts in his original speech spoke of the PEG
pie of the territories as thieves and plunderers
Did the Senator think that remark consisten
with good breeding. He thought he was EMIT
led to an apology from the Senator for ques
tioning his remarks.
Senator Dawes explained his remarks, anc
said he had no disposition to indulge in any re
marks offensive to the Senator from California
He did not mean to speak of the people of the
territories as plunderers, but he did mean tt
say that those who were taking property from
| public domain were plundering it.
Senator Hoar argued that it was bad thin.
for either branch Of Congress to undertake t,
condemn public officer for doing hi
duty, neglect of which would have beer
liable to impeachment. The secretary of tn
interior in the very first report he ever made t,
Congress, called attention at length to this YER
subject Of timber depredations. Mr.. Hoar her
quoted from the annual report of the secretar
of the interior sent to Congress in Decembe
had over and over again refused to modify o
; change the timber depreciation act, and no,
charges were being made against sworn pub
lie officer for enforcing law to protect publ
property.
Senator Matthews said it had been the prat
!
to punish those trespassing upon public land
for frewood or any other purposes, and b
challenged the Senator from Maine (Blaine) t.
point to any statute authorizing settlers to Gu
frewood from public lands
Senator Blaine asked if it was proper polio
to charge one dollar cord stumpage
Senator Matthews said it was not, but it wa
the policy Of the law, not the policy of tn
secretary of the interior.
Senator Blaine challenged Senator Matthew
to point to an instance where settlers had bee
charged stumpage.
Senator Ingalls, can do it.
Senator Blaine-Well let us hear it.
Senator ingalls, then quoted from the instru'
tions of J. NJ. Edmunds, commissioner gener,
of the land Office in 1864, issued to public Ian
officers, to punish timber depredations, whic
instructions were submitted to the Senate wit
= the report Of the secretary of the interior fl
that year.
In reply to question of Senator Blain
Senator Ingalls, stated the report showed tn,
= since the LIST of January, 1856, the sum
$199, 1898 had been placed into the treasury q
! account of timber depredations. He was NJ
- assailing or advocating the policy of the seer
: tary of the interior, but he believed in givin
= the devil his dues, matter whether it be tt
secretary of the interior or any one else. tt
= Senator from Maine, Blaine, reminded hi1
Gngalls) of the snake. in Hudibras, that ':wire
in and wired OUT
Senator Christiancy asked IT everything W,
9 paid into the treasury on account of limb,
. depredations under the late order of the seer,
> tary of the interior.
: Senator Blaine said yes, about $4,000 ha
: been wrung out of the people Of Montana. R
: plying to the argument of Senator Dawes i
regard to plundering, he spoke of that porto
! thereof as hole through which the Senate
+ might escape.
9 Senator Dawes-If the Senator thinks an
: body can beat him in lodging from hole
hole. in this debate, he very much mistakes Il
public iudpment.