The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1881-02-04
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER
News Notes From the Ma
tional Capital.
Special Correspondence NEW NoRru.Wrsr
WASHINGTON, Jan. 26, 1881.

uonal Capital.
Speciai correspondence NEW NORTH WEST
WASHINGTON, Jan. 26, 1881.
THE TERRIToRIEsIN CONGRESS-.
or the eight Territories, four are KNOCKING
at the door Of the Union for admission aS
States-Dakota, Washington, New Mexico
and Utah. The latter has persistcntly knock.
ed at every Congress for the past generation.
and might as well stop II unless there is a
moral reform.
Judge Bennett, Delegate from Dakota, has
bill to divide that Territory. Out of the
western portion he proposes to create the
Territory of Pembiua, or "IIoly Bread" and
the Northern portion, or Dakota proper he
wishes admitted rs a State. The sub Com
mittee OF the Committee on Territories, to
which this bill was referred, will on to-mor-
row, report the bill to the full Committee
without recommendation, deeming II mat
ter OF such Importance that it should be con-
sidered specially.
Mr.. Brents, of Washington Territory, Is
not very confident of any action being taken
on his bill this session.
The Senate bill for the admission of New
Mexico, has not come out from the Commit
tee room. Perhaps il will be permitted to
passed bill for the admission of this Terri
tory, but the House Committee sat down upon
il when il was discovered that the Mormon
Church had purchased league of land not
far from Santa Fe, and that the saints were
preparing for an exodus to the new land Of
promise.
The bill introduced by the four-wved
Delegate from Utah for the repeal of the bill
giving the Governor of that Territory the
absolute veto power, has not been heard of
lately aud will likely be lost I'm Committee.
Utah Is the only Territory In which the
Governor exercises the absolute veto power.
Were 1t otherwise, the Mormon Legislature
would overthrow his veto and tax the Gen.
tile miners out of existence.
There Is also bill before the House Com
mittee on Territories allowing the Terrific
| ries to elect such officials as are created by
| their constitutions and whose salaries are
paid by the people thereof There are main.
ly the Territorial Auditor, Treasurer and
Superintendent of Public instruction. These
| officials are now appointed by the Govern
ors, who naturally object to the bill, In that
it takes away about all of their patronage
Yet, Utah has been electing these officials
straight along, in direct violation of section
1857 OF the Revised 81 atutes, which provides
that they shall be appointed by the Governor
and confirmed by the Territorial Council.
A prominent Delegate was asked, How can
Utah do this?" He answered by relating an
anecdote Of Dutch Justice Of the Peace,
who was asked how he could give judgment
for $500 when his Jurisdiction was limited
to 500. ~ shust do 1t, anyhow" said the
Dutch justice.
Monday, dnder the call of States and Ter
ritories, none Of the Territories seemed to
want anything, for neither of the Delegates
introduced bill. The Committee on Ter
ritories reported back favorably the bill of
Delegate Campbell, of Arizona, annulling
a legislative act Of that Territory, which
subsidized the Southern Pacific railroad
through Maricopa county.
Last week, the Senate bill to provide for
ascertaining and settling private land claims
in the States and Territories, was taken up,
and after short discussion, laid on the table
for future debate.
There is also a bill before the Senate
granting lands to Montana, Dakota, Idaho,
Wyoming and Arizona for the construction
and maintenance Of universities.
TERRITORIAL COMMITTEES.
The Senate Committee on Territories Is
composed of seven members, four Demo-
Gratis and three Republicans, as follows. The
first four named are Democrats: Garland
of Arkansas, Butler, of South Carolina,
Vest, of Missouri, Slater, of Oregon, Saun-
ders, of Nebraska, Kellogg, of Louisiana
end Logan of Illinois.
The House Committee Is composed of ~
members, seven Democrats, four Republic
cans and one Mormon. The first named
seven are Democrats: Muldrow, of Mssis-
sippi, Cravens, Of Arkansas, Bouck, of Wis
cousin, Muller, Of New York, Martin, of
West Virginia, Frost, Of Missouri, Bachman,
of Pennsylvania, Humphrey, of Wisconsin,
Aldrich, of Illinois, Young, Of Ohio, Dick,
OF Pennsylvania and Cannon, of Utah. So
it will be seen that the apostle Cannon has
gotten himself on the most important COM
mittce, rs far as Territorial interests are con-
cerned, and he is the only Delegate on IL.
This shows the friendly sentiment of the
present Congress toward the M0rmons in
not only allowing Mormon Apostle to be
zone Of them" but giving him the most i'm
portant committee membership. Delegate
Maginnis has been in Congress six years and
some little courtesy Is due him, but il seems
a Mormon was preferred over a Democrat.
Perhaps II may not be so under the new
deal.
AFTER THE INDIAN AGENTS.
Among the projeced reform legislation II
Is proposed to abolish about half Of the In
dian agencies and superintendents, or proba-
bly, do away with them entirely, aud govern
the Indians by military supervision, some
thing on the order of a police regulation in
cities. This looks well in theory, but do
not think the proposed legislation will get
through.
POSTAL TELEGRAPH SYSTEM.
There is a bill before the House Commit
tee on postotfices and post roads, establish
ing the postal telegraph system between the
prominent cities Of the Union. IL Is argued
that the Government runs the mails and that
IL might as we'll do away with the slow
process of mails by railway and stage coach,
and establish the postal telegraph system.
Some OF the European governments have
not only the telegraph lines, but the railways
also. This would no doubt be grand thing,
save great deal of time, and facilitate bus
mess by the cheapness of the rates by which
postal letters could be telegraphed But
there Is another thing to be considered, the
recent consolidation Of the three telegraph
lines, and the watering Of the stock of the
consolidation from 100000 900 to 100000
600 looks as If the company expected the
government to buy II out. Then the next
thing would be the purchase by the govern
ment of the railroad lines and running them
under government control. " may be best
after all for the Government to have exclu-
sive control Of the telegraph and railway
lines Of the country, and establish a cheap
message rae and a uniform passenger and
traffic rate on the high tariff railways. If
the Government Is going to continue to
subsidize railway lines by giving away its
best lands and loaning its credit, aud not
not being repaid, but having to pay the in
terest on the bonds, II might as well own
the roads and run them. The western
States and Territories would soon be filed
up with industrious mechanics and farmers
by the government offering them subsidy
Of free passage out there and charging full
fare back.
PERSONAL MENTION.
Tom Conner, Of Jefferson County, is look
ing at the statesmen; DIR. Hawks, of Mon
tana, IL also here. Ex-Marshal Maxwell, Of
Utah, arrived yesterday. j. M. s.
Sherman Don I Want Another Once.
CHICAGO, Feb. 2.-The Journals WASH
ington special says Secretary Sherman de-
cares his decision not to accept An appoint-
lnent to the head of the Treasury Depart