The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1885-01-08
CONGRESSIONAL.


WAsHIEerOS, D. c., Jsn; THE
chair laid before the senate the report of
the Missouri River commission and 9
report showing the maintenance by Cap
tain Eads Of channel IN the south pass
of the Mississippi river.
Among the petitions presented was
one by Plumb from the Oklahoma set
tiers, who set forth that the lands they
occupy has been long since bought from
the Indians by the United States and
paid for that the United States did not
expect or intend the Indians
should again occupy the laud and the
petitioners therefore see no reason why
they sh0ald not Be allowed TO remain in
homes established for themselves and
their families They protest az aiust the
cruelty OF their rem wal ami say they
would not have been disturbed but for
the great influence of wealthy and pow
esful cattle owners, who do not pretend
to have any title TO the land but
who use the land for grazing cattle. The
petitioners add that they have gone to
Oklahcma to stay, with their plows and
oxen. and that thousands of their friends
expect TO go there, and they pray con-
gress to withdraw the military forces
and instead take eally steps to organize
the territory of Oklahoma into a state.
In presenting the petition Plumb said
that although these settlers may be
guilty of techuichsl violation of the law
as the lsY was Interpreted by the attor.
ney general. yet congress had already
SAID the lands IN question should not be
again occupied by Indians, and it seemed
to him the time had come when con-
gress shoull say yea or nay on the ques-
tion of occupation of Ihess lands by
the white settlers. He hoped the COM
mittee on Indian affairs would act on
the subject at the earliest opportunity.
Dawes saiG the committee had already
examine d the subjec and reported that
IN the PRE- sept condition of the title to
the lands, they could not be opened to
settlement, aud that the senate had
adopt d that report.
The Committee on Indian sff1IIs con-
tinued the Investigation of the Icdian
land leases to-day. R. B. Hunter of ST.
Louis Was the only witness examined.
He lie The lessee OF 100000 acres of land
belonging to they CheYenneS and Ara
pahoes. HiseYidence was substantially
a repetition of that given yesterday by
other Jesse es of these lands He was
searchinglY examined with regard to
any payments 10 third parties to secure
leases, ami declared be knew of no such
payments. No agent, employe or official
OF the government and no member of
congress held, Sd far as witness knew,
any interest in leases Senator Vest,
under whose resolution the investigation
Is proceeding. was present and stated to
the committee that before he introduced
his resolution and made his remarks
upon the subject. he had
found in an executive Cocu-
ment letters from Augustus IYey,
of VInita, /. L making most serious
charges in connection with the procur-
ing of land leases for grazing purposes.
He did not personally know IveY, but
had received several letters from him
upon the subject. He now understood
that Ivey refused ID cone before the
committee TO testify. Senator Vest
asked the committee as matter
of Justice to himself and to promote the
public interest, to take steps to bring
testify. He did not propose to submit
to such an attempt 10 make him ridicu-
lous.