The Wichita city eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1872-1883, 1880-05-13

tiOu Vi tue COIIlbaHt Nio t:cIt'u iCu-
tenant, serving until 1864, when, being
severely wounded in the battle Of the
Wilderness. he was mustered out as
captain. Removing to Topeka, Kansas,
in 1865, he entered upon the practice OF
his profession was subsequently chos-
en- county attorney, and soon achieved
local reputation tor courage and etiicicn-
cy in reforming. outstanding abuses i'll
county affairs, and more especially for
his remarkable zeal and success in the
prosecution of criminal offenders. lie
held the Office four successive terms,
when hc was appointed assistant United
States attorney for the State, declining
a fifth term, when lie was elected to rep
resent the third district in the Forty
fifth Congress.
Ills record in Congress has been mark
cd with great success from the begin
ming. Although his bill for arrears Of
pensions did not itself pass, still the pro-
visions of it have finally become law.
The Forty fifth Congress formally de-
clared it would not authorize any new
federal buildings, notwithstanding
which MIR. Ryan succeeded in getting
bill passed providing for the construc-
ton of new courthouse and postofficc
at Topeka, costing $500 600. With one
exception, this was the only appropria-
ton made for Il like purpose by that
Congress. During the same session he
succeeded in enlisting Congress III in1u-
gurating a survey of the Arkansas river
TO the line of his State, with a view to
its Improvement for the purpose of nav
atcd $4,000 for the improvement OF
that river from Fort Smith to Wichita,
and will this session appropriate like
sum. II the stream can be made navl-
gable for onc-half of the year, it will be
of incalculable advantage to the State
Of Kansas. TWAS Mr.. Ryan who caused
what is known as the Cherokee strip to
be put in market; it is now nearly all
taken by actual settlers. lie was also
untiring in his efforts to bring into mar
kct that magnificent body of land, the
Kansas Indian trust and diminished re-
serve lands, at such reasonable rates as
would be just to the settlers. The last
legislation essential to n final consum-
nation Of this scheme became a law a
few months since. There is no measure
of more Importance TO his State gcner-
ally, but more especially to the people
in that part to which its provisions are
applicable. than his bill in relation to
that immense tract of country known
as the Usage diminished reserve and
trust lands. lie having laborcd most
earnestly for the success of this bill, il
finally passed the House last June: is
still pending in the Senate, but will
doubtless become a law during the
present session. MIR. Ryan's relief bill
for the relief of colored immigrants, al
ter stormy passage through The SEN
ate. is now law. His bill creating a
new land district in the southwestern
part OF the State passed the House and
is pending in the Senate. His bill TO re-
store the Fort Dodge reservation 10 the
public domain, and directing the
Secretary of the Interior TO dis
pose Of il 10 actua! settlers, also
passed the House and is soon likely
10 pass the Senate. His bill for the
relief Of settlers in the western part OF
Kansas who lost their crops from una
voidablc causes last year, by which it is
provided that such settlers may have
leave TO be absent from their claims I'M
Ill October IL, 1881; and that during
such absence no adverse rights shall at
iach, and giving one year after cxpira-
ton Of leave of absence in which to
make final proof of payment. passed the
House a few days ago, and it is to be
hoped will soon become IA law. Ano,h
err of his bills, directing the Secretary of
the interior 10 certify TO his State about
IL .l.n
laAds, has been unanimously reported
by the Committee on Public Lands. and
will doubtless pass the House this scs-
sion. He introduced bill also direct
ing The Secretary of the Interior, with
the consent of the Osages, to sell TO the
highest bidder for cash. a. not less than
seventy-!ivc cents per acre, all the Usage
trust and diminished reserve lands lying
east of the sixth principal meridian re-
manning unsold July /. 1881 : all remain
ing unsold July /, 1882, to be sold AT not
less than fifty cents per acre. and all re-
manning unsold July /, 1888 to be sold
at not less than twenty-five cents per
acre. The Committee on Public Lands
have unanimously approved the bill and
il will no doubt pass in its order.
cure legislation TO give the right of way
to one or more railroads through the
Indian Territory, and has so attracted
the attention OF the House TO its inpor-
lance to the commerce of the West and
South that il is probable that some
measure of the kind Will soon be passed.
VERY many of his private bills have
passed the House, some of which have
also passed the Senate, and others are
still pending in that body. lie has also
several special pension and other special
relief bills on the House calendar, which
have been reported fayorably upon by
the Committee of the Whole. Mr.. Ryan
worked vigorously 10 extend the free
delivery system, and secure the benefits
of the same for Topeka, Kansas. lie
takes a deep interest in al, the measures
that come before the House, especially
those relating TO the interest of the
West. 1t has been the practice of the
Indian Office to let all contracts for In
dian supplies in the city OF New York,
although the supplies are produced up
on the very borders of the Indian coun-
try. He recently. in the House, when
the Indian appropriation bill was under
consideration. exposed the absurdiiy of
the practice. and the extent 10 which il
excluded the Western producer and bus
mess men from bidding. and fcstered a
ring of professional contractors. who
had monopoly of the business. He
sought 10 amend the bill BY aprovision
that all bids for Subsistence supplies
should hereafter I've opened NJ some
suitable place in the West. Although
the amendment was -uled out Of order
the same proposition is likely h. sue
coed In the senate. He succeeded. how
ever, in 20 amending the bill that the
Department must give six weeks pub
lie notice by advertisements before il
can award contracts for Indian supplies.
Thi. will give the W. .tern people time
To make their bids, which heretofore
has been practically denied theIl. M.
Ryan's speech on the political riders AT
the extra session of Congress received
s.sst complimentary notices from all
the leading Republican papers in the
country. Al the same session he boldly
moved to suspcns the rules and pass the
army appropriation bill. the Hcpahli-
can side of the House stood saIidly with
him. tut the Democrats moved and
carried az adjournment, amid ercs, OK
element. la the Department il Is said
tina; he has procured more increased
mail facilities for his distriei than any
other man in Congress for any other
district, He is much respected in Al
ministration circles. and Is very efficient
in Department: affairs. He is one Of
the hardest working members of
the House, Averaging about sixteen