The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-02-12
PROCEEDINGS OF CONGRESS.
THE SENATE.
Reservations for the Montana Indians-Debate
ON the Public land Laws.

rL
Reservations for the Montana Indians-Debats
On the Public Land Laws.
Mr.. Henderson presented as a memorial q
joint resolution Of the Legislature of Nebraska,
urging Congress to pass the bill for relief Of
settlers on the st. Joseph and Denver City rail
road lands. Referred
Mr.. Allison, from the committee on appropria-
tons, reported the army appropriation bin, and
it was placed on the calendar.
Mr.. Garland introduced q bill TO regulate the
Hot Springs reservation, in Arkansas, and a
| nemorial of citizens Of Hot Springs relating
thereto. Referred.
The Senate passed a bill providing permanent
reservations for the Indians Of northern Mon
tana.
The Chair laid before the Senate the bill to
quiet the title of settlers on the Des Moine s
river lands, and the reading of reports was pro-
ceeded with.
Mr.. ingalls, interrupted tAe reading to inquire
whether it was understood that the Senate would
resume legislative business on completion of the
electoral count to-day. After an interchange of
views, u unanimous understanding was reached
that that course would be pursued.
AT five minutes before II a message was re-
ceived announcing that the House of Represen-
tatlves would, at IL o'clock. be ready to receive
the Senate, that in Joint convention both houses
may count the electoral vote. The Chair an
nounced that the concurrent resolution providing
for a joint convention would now be executed,
and the senators. headed by its president pro-
tempore, and secretary of the Senate, and pre-
coded by the Sergeant-at-arms, proceeded to the
House of representatives.
On returning to the chamber. tine Senate re-
sumed consideration of the bill to repeal the
presumption and timber culture laws. Several
amendments to the verbiage of the bill were
made, and others, relating to various general
features of the land laws affected by the bill,
were proposed. During the debate Mr.. Harrison
said that when this bill was called up it was I'M
derstood to be a measure for repeal OF the pre-
emptiOn and timber-culture acts.
Mr.. Morgan said that was also the understand
ing in the committee on public lands.
Mr.. Harrison SAID he was glad to hear that.
Tn original measure was one general In its
scope and easy to understand. Now the Senate
was asked to take into consideration the entire
public-land system. There was no time to con-
slider these important matters at this stage of
the session. and he wanted to say to the senator
In charge Of the bill that if it was to be loaded
with these important matters, he. for one,
would vote against it.
Messrs. Morgan, Plumb and others agreed
with the senator from Indiana tMr. Harrison)
that it was Objectionable to add eXtTaneouS mat
ter to the original bill.
Thereupon the pending amendment was with
drawn, while others, of which notice have been
given. were not pressed to action.
DIR. Slater opposed the bill. He said the prop
ooilioH W Icpoai PreeUPUioH ia" was Ahoif
strous. Greater prosperity had come under the
| operation of this law than under the operation
of the homestead law. There had been evils
under the presumption law. but they were not
such as would be remedied by its repeal.
Within the past twenty-five or thirty
years the West had been covered
with land grants. No longer in the
several States could homesteaders get land,
yet the land grant roads had an abundance of
land for sale. It was saidi160 acres was enough for
a farm 1t was enough in such a State as Iowa,
but in the great West more was necessary
for the farmer to be successful in making a
home. Under the homestead and presumption
laws a settler could secure 800 acres. Mr.. Slater
would, however, be willing to repeal the timber
culture and desert acts.
The bill was reported to the Senate, and some
of the amendments rejected in committee of the
whole re-offered. Pending their discussion the
| Senate went into executive session, and soon af-
ter adjourned.