Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-01-07

cratic by two-thirds majority, and as the COVER
nor ls q republican, the legislature adopted rule
extra sessions This Is still in force and should
vacancy occur In the senatorial representation
Ine democrats would naturally assemble the legts
lature at once and elect Senator. So that, even
SHOULD the governor appoint Senator, he would
hardly mold more than a few days There Is test
ease ease VI Iae iasI election law passed by the legsla
ture penang IN the court OF appeals and anticipat
Ing an adverse decision the legislature adjourned
unaer an arrangement that Will enable 1t TO meet,
IL oeemed necessary, early In the spring.
COMBINATIONS
The Senate In executive session Yesterday con-
1rmed the following nominations: Capt Thomas
H. McGregor, to be major I'd cavalry; I'd Lieut. VIM.
e. brown, TO be nr5t lieutenant 1st cavalry; 1st
Lieut.. Thomas Garvey, to be captain 1st cavalry.
OUR CRIPPLED NAVY.
Notwithstanding the attitude Of the House con.
ferees on the naval appropriation bill, the Senate
conferees believe that the former will yet accept
the bill passed by the Senate on the cath ut after
the House had adjourned. One OF the Senate com
mittee on appropriations says 1t is great shame
pose q vessel OF the American navy wants coal ip
some foreign port, say in Spanish port, and has
not the money to pay for 1t. Now what sort OF I'm
preston 40 you suppose the inability OF our navy
to pay for what It wants creates among the people
OF foreign nation? They either suppose that this
government 5I Is TOO poor to provide its navy with
funds or else that there Is some internal political
contest going on here which threatens the existence
OF our government"
1t begins to look as II the land grant forfeiture
bills may get Crowded out again, as at the last ses
sion, by the press OF other business.
The documents and correspondence sent to the
Senate by the Interior department., relating to
leases of Indian lands, is such huge mass that il
Will require the Indian committee some time to
read.
The Leased Indian Lands.
TESTIMONY BEFORE THE INVESTIGATING COMMITTEE
TO-DAY.
The Indian leases investigation was resumed to-
day by calling Mr. r. B. Hunter, OF st. Louis, one
OF the lessees, to the stand. He is interested in
certain leases and explained how the payments are
made in the presence OF the Indian agents, and
dollars.
Senator Bowen. (of the committee): "sensible
Mr.. Hunter testified that when he first set abou,
getting the leases he supposed the Interior depart
ment would approve them, but subsequently Sec
retary Teller decided that he saw no authority for
so doing He, however, advised the IeSSees that he
could see no objection to their getting the lands II
the indians were willing, and that the department
witness supposed the government would protect
the Indians against any wrongs at the hands OF
lessees. But upon being asked how that could be-
done II the government took no official cogni1ance
OF the leases, he replied he did not know.
INDIAN AGENT NILES AND THE LEASES.
witness testified that Indian Agent Miles, OF the
Cheyenne and Arrapahoe agency, where witness
lease IS located took great deal OF interest In get
ting up the leases. but denied that the agent vas
paid anything tor his services. He said that If the
eSSees fail To pay at the stipulated time they
felt their leases, but ne could not say who would
enforce this forfeiture. The esseeS have no pro-
teCLon against the Indians in they should try
TO break up the arrangement. He never heard OF
any money being paid To procure leases. No agent,
emplpye or Official CT the government. and Mem
Der OF Congress held, So far witness knew, any
Interest In the leases.
SENATOR VEST WANTS IvEY AS WITNESS
Senator Vest, under whose resolution the invest.-
cation is procced0g was present and stated to the
committee that before he introduced his reSoiu-
ton and made his remarks on the subject he had
found IL an executive document letters from Iiu-
gustuS j. lvey OF Vinita, indian Territory making
the most serious charges in connection with the
procuring Oh land leases Tor grazing purposes. He
did not personally know Ivey, but had received
several letters from HIM upon the subject He now
understood that iyey refused to come before the
committee to testify. senator Vest asked the com.
rtttee as an act OF justice 10 himself, and to pro-
mote the public irserest, to take steps to bring
sIvey before them and compel him 10 uesutry.
He did not propose to submit TO such an attempt tC
make him ridiculous.