The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1883-12-13
WASHINGTON NOTES.

WASHINGTON NOTES.
QUITE commotion has been created in
political circles at Washington by the gen.
eral distribution among Senators, members
of Congress and journalists of copies of a
memorial to Congress, on the part of the
citizens of the Cherokee Nation protesting
against the alleged illegal lease of 100000
acres of their lands to the syndicate OF
capitalists for grazing purposes.
SENATOR HILLS resolution, introduced
into the Senate, calling upon Secretary
Teller for copies of all papers relating to
the transfer of the land grant of the New
Orleans, Baton Rouge & Vicksburg Rail.
road to the New Orleans Pacific Railway
Company, is regarded in Washington as
opening the war on the methods by which
nnearned grants have been illegally given
other roads.
SECRETARY TELLER has decided that the
Choctaw and Chickasaw Indian Nations
have no claim against the Missouri, Kan
sas & Texas Railroad for material furnished
in its construction, as the Indians were
paid individually.
GENERAL PRYOR requested United States
Minister Lowell to apply for a respite fer
O'Donnell, with view of obtaining time
to set on foot proceedings for a commuta-
tion of the death penalty. Lowell would
refer the matter to Washington.
A MEMORIAL was presented to the Senate
by Senator Coke, setting forth that the
United States District Judges of Texas are
failing to hold the terms of court fixed by
law, and charging that they appoint sons,
sons.in-law and brothers-in-law to places
as District and Deputy Clerks in their
courts, and keep them in office, to the great
wrong of the public.
SENATOR PLUMB has introduced bill
providing that every non-commissioned
officer, private or other person discharged
from the army during the war of rebellion,
within two years from the date of enlist
ment, on account of disability incurred in
the line of military duty, shall receive a
warrant for one hundred and sixty acres of
land.
SENATOR LOGAN recently introduced a
bill providing that every person who en-
tered the service of the country during the
late war, either in the army or the navy,
and was honorably discharged therefrom
for any period of service less than one
year, shall be entitled to eighty acres of
public land, either for himself or heirs !;
for service between one and two years,
one hundred and twenty acres, and over
two years. service one hundred and sixty
acres.
THE President, it is said, will make the
Mississippi River Improvement, the Henne-
pin Canal and other public works the sub
feet of special messages to Congress. Ref
erence to these subjects was omitted from
the regular message in view of treating
them more in detail in supplemental COM
munications.
TIE Secretary of the interior rejected the
application of the Mayor and City Council
of Leadville TO enter certain lands for town
site purposes, on the ground that the great
er portion was already patented as ''placer
claims,' - or reserved for hospital and ceme-
terry purposes. Such portions of lands,
however, not already disposed of and
can be aggregated, will be held subject to
entry by the city.
EX-SENATOR Ross, formerly of Kansas,
but now Of New Mexico, is in Washington
working up project for a system of five
lines of narrow gauge railways radiating
from the city of Albuquerque, N. NJ.
PHYSICIANS state that it will be fully
three months before Congressman Haskell
can resume his of1c duties.
TEE Deputy Commissioner of Internal
Revenue says the internal taxes already
collected for the present fiscal year are at
the rate of $123, 3,00o, 900 per annum. He esti-
mates that the collections of the entire year
will amount to $780, 100000. This estimate
includes between 5000, 900 and $1,000, 900
to be collected for special taxes of April
and May, but does not include the increase
anticipated from spirits forced out by law.
TIE bill introduced by Senator Cullom
10 reorganize the legislative power of the
fe~ritory Of Utah, provides that the legis-
iative power be vested in the Governor
srd Legislative Council composed of
nine members, to be appointed by the
President.
TIE tenth annual reunion Of the National
Association Of Yetersns of the Mexican
War was recently largely attended in
Washington. The following officers were
elected for the ensuing year: President,
General Denver; First Vice-President,
General Manson; Secretary, A. n. Ken
nedy; Treasurer. s. V. Niles.
THERE was considerable talk in Washing
ton concerning the charge of Colonel Bou-
dinot that Colonel William A. Phillips, of
Kansas, some short time since received
22,50e from the Cherokee Indians upon the
statement that this sum was to pay Senator
Dawes and Secretary Teller for their in
fuence in securing last year a large sSpro-
rristion for the benefit of the Cherokee
Nstian. Senator Dawes Indignantly de-
nisd sny connection thsrpatth. h sssd hs