National Republican., 1882-07-31
RECORD OF BILLS,

RECORD OF BILLS.
The bill to organize the State of Dakota was re.
ported iayoraby to the House in January last, and
recommended by majority of the committee,
the pemoerafs ,, OF course, opposing measure
The, bill to organize the Territory of North Da-
kota was reported favoraby and unanimously
recommended by the committee.
The bill to establish assay office was favorably
reported and unanimously recommended by COM
Inittee.
The last named bill was introduced in Senate at
instance of Delegate, and passed in May last
Bill to establish two additional land offices has
become law, and the offices are in full opera
ton.
Bill donating land for insane asylum reported
aud unanimously recommended by committee.
Bill to put Fort Randall reservation i'll market
reported In both Houses and unanimously recon-
mended
Bill to put Fort Rice reservation in market re.
ported in both Houses and unanimously recon-
mrnded
Bill to open up the Great Sioux Reservation
passed the House on sunday civil bill
Bill to resurvey Sioux reservation near Big Stone
Lake and appropriaIing a. 600 therefor passed the
House.
lavorably reported in both Houses. This measure
has history Mr.. Pettigrew always assumed
that the Indians claiming this land had no valid
title, and during Mr.. klrkwoOds regime in the
Interior Department he went before the Commits
| soner of Indian Affairs and made an argument to
Iigrews views, and the latter appealed to the
Secretary, who sustained the Commissioner and
decided in favor OF the Indian claim, when, OF
associates in Congress with the result already
stated.
WHEN Mr.. TELLER BECAME SECRETARY
Delegate Pettigrew renewed his argument be.
fore him, and the new Secretary decided that the
Indians had no valid title and ordered the lands
into the market. Upon this decision becoming
known Mr.. Pettigrew asked for and had the bills in
each house recommitted, where ofcourse they sleep
the sleep that knows no waking. Mr.. Pettigrew in
serted clause in the bill providing for the admis
sion of Dakota prohibiting the sale OF school lands
for less sum than 50 per acre, and requiring that
they shall be sold by auction after thorough adver-
tisng No such protection has ever been thrown
around the school fund in any State heretofore
admitted into the Union.
By reviewing this record II is found that action
has been taken on eleven bills out of thirty-six
introduced by Nj. Pettgrew or nearly one ont of
every three has reached the calendar of one or
both Houses and some of them have become laws
and gone into operation.
1T CAN DO NO HARM TO COMPARE
what has been effected by Mr.. Pettigrew in his
comparatively short career In Congress with the
average work of his fellow members, while it
may crafty his friends who are about TO renew
iheir trust in him. Since its organization there
have been few more than 1900 bills introduced
in this Congress-say $3.50 in the House and 2,525
in the Senale-or an average OF about twenty five
TO each Senator and member. OF This number of
bills only about 40 have reached the calendar or
the least fraction bill TO each Senator and
member III the midst Of these vast duties Mr.
Pettigrew has found time 10 prepare an elaborate
article upon the resources Of Dakota, which ap-
peared in the National Fdrmer short time since,
and has attracted wide attention from the pres
because of It's valuable statistics and lucid State
ments. He is one OF tue most Rppruachable Rep.
resentatives in Congress, never being too busy TO
tmpart information TO whoever may require Ii. All
who know Mr.. Pettigrew Will congratulate Dakota
upon her good sense In again comm lssoning him
TO look after her interests at the National Capital