The Benton weekly record., 1882-08-17
T4E EkEsEHv &'gaON HELL.
Major Magimnis Gives Reasons why
tine Bill @saOuId be aAa%~ed-fFF.
E4oianan Wants 10 Know,
Ou * m0vv he Bill
Osxtered sO "a tEaird
Akead'nGg sasad
Passed
rnE EkEsEEsv 4,caoN HE1G.

Mr. MAGrNNIs--Mr.S Speaker, some years
ago II was deemed advisable to establish a
military post at The site of Oil Fort BEN
ton, an Old fitr-;rading post, aud a Feserya-
ton about three miles long and two miles
wide was Withdrawn from the operation ot
the land laws Al that time it was cOli-
templated to establish military post at
this potnt. Afterwald the idea of estab-
fishing military post and building gar
ris0n was abandoned, aud the buildings OF
the old fur company, VI hirh had been rent
ed, were directed TO be turned over to the
owners by tie Government. The most Of
the land embraced in this reservation is Of
the ordinary character and value OF the
public lands Of the country, mostly high
tabe.lands, and by this act they are re-
stored to the public domain under the or
dinary pro, sions Of the public land laws.
The committees cf the House and the Sen
ate. however, have made two exceptions
to This general disposition OF the lands III
the reservation. THAT portion Oh the river
bottom under the bluff, amounting 10 one
hundred and sixty acres OF thereabouts,
and o.li,jitiinc The town of Fort Benton,
are u De disposed Ct by the Secretary q
the Interior under the provisions ot the
United States Statutes governing town
sitea, aud, as ti1e.genflelnan knows that TN
der The provisions Of the general toWnsife
act the lots will be disposed Of to actual
settlers only, another exception in favor Of
the owners of the old fnr-trading estab-
lishment at Fort Benton is made. The
owners are given the first right of entry on
six acres of ground on thereabouts, which
has been occupied by their establishment
for thirty years or more, and on which
their buildings stand. Their first right Of
entry is protected to this six acres.
Mr.. HoLMAN-Why is that?
Mr.. MAGIENIs Because they We're the
first settlers upon the Land, and it was only
deemed Just and proper that they should
have the first right to it. They occupied
it long before there were any white people
III that country. They were in very
marked way the first settlers, and it is only
right that they should have the privilege
in preference to other people. They
claimed forty acres, that being the small
est legal subdivision Of public lands, but
the cor3mittee allowed only six, which had
been actually fenced and claimed from the
beginning.
Mr.. HoLMAS-T is s. part of the town
site?
Mr.. 1lAG1NN1s No, str; it is d part Of
the reservation, just below the town site.
The spEAKER-Ls there objection to the
present consideration Of The bill
There was no objection.
Mr.. MAGINNIs--I move now, Mr.. Speak |
en-, 10 substitute the bill which has been
read for The House bill, the substitute be-
Ing the exact language OF the Senate COM
mittee on Military Affairs, with the
anne, d nnnts reported BY that committee.
Tie s 'EAKER-The gentleman from
Montaia moves to strike out all af erthe
enating clause ofzthe iinuse bill land in
sert the bill which has been read by tile
Clerk as All amendment. /
The amendment was agreed TO.
The bill is %amenled WAS ordered to b.
engroSstd and read !; third lime; and b.
ing engrossed, il was accordingly read tile
third time. and passed.
MIR. BAYSE moved 10 reconsi'itrth" vote
nv nnlch the bI! was passed: ad I~o
moved rhat the motion to reconsider bel
iaisI on the table.
The latter morton was agree 10.