The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1886-02-18
BLAND'S BILL.
THE SILVER ISSUE AT LAST
SQUARELY LAUNCHED
IN THE HOUSE.
NANCY. IN THE SENATE, TELLS
WHY HE OPPOSES THE
SILVER BILL,
SENATE.

Etp DN tiie 1stItLAfT OF Ile lnIerlOr'
81 have che honor to acknowledge the receipt OF
the senate resolution of the 9Th inst in words fol
lowing:
Resolved, That the secretary of the interior be
directed 20 communicate to the senate copies of all
papers which h.,a been filed in the interior depart
mont, and of all papers which have been presented
TO any officer of that department, touching the Off
Cial and personal conduct of Henry Ward Indian
inspector during his continuance in said office
transmit al Official papers on file in the depart
mehr which l understand to be embraced by the
resolution.
Official reports made to this department by
Henry Ward as United States Indian inspector,
are all volumirous, and the clerical force of this
department is limited, and otherwise fully en-
pioyed, have deemed it best to transmit the org-
nal reports Az they are frequently consulted in
transaction of the business of the department,
have the honor ia request that they be returned to
tue flies as soon as they are no longer required by
the senate.
am directed by the president to say, that if the
object of the resolution is to inquire into the
reasons for the suspension of Mr.. Ward, these
papers are not to lie considered as constituting all
the evidence submitted to him in relation thereto
/ am also directed by the president to say tkat he
does not consider t consistent with the public in
terest to transmit copies of unofficial papers from
private citiZun7 held in my custody, for him. which
relate exclusively to the suspension of enCumb-
ents.
There are 239 enclosures. The letter and the
accompanying papers were referred to the com
lnltteC on Indian affairs.
The chair mid before the senate letter from the
secretary Of the interior. The letter and the ac-
Cumpanyin2 papers were referred to the committee
on Indian affairs.
Mr. HaUley pr sented bill, which was referred
10 the committee on public lands, relating to the
taxation OF railroad lands and for other purposes.
Mr. Hawley said the bill related to a very sore
subject An oAceedngly large quantity of land,
Derhap 60 O0J -luare miles, had been granted to
the Northern P4Ctfc railroad company, but it was
provided by amendatory act of congress that no
patents should lssue for the lands until after pay
uprt nv inc com Dany of all fees relating to the
surveys, etc The fee was only about cents an
acre. It had laid the fees upon only $4,000
acres Of is immense grants. 1t had, never
theHss, proceeded to give to settlers warranty
deeds, fog l4ony millions of acres of land. The
company had ingenuousy got property enough to
try aud locate the villages and cities upon its own
selected sections These lands that the company
conveyed by warranty deed had been settled and
improved, and in many cases thriving villages had
grown upon them. 1t turns out now that by a re.
cont decision Of the supreme court of the United
States tuat none Cf these millions of acres were
taxable The reasons given by the court were ir-
refra gable, but congress should Immediately pro
vide by law o remedy for the difficulty. The in
valid railroad had refused to pay the three cents
40 acre and the committee therefore counted
themselves without the power of taxation. Some
other people however, had paid the taxes; these
people were without remedy. few foreign cor
porSdous being large holders had paid the taxes un-
der protest and their rights had thus been prOtec-
ted. The protest being believed by many to have
been made by the suggestion of the railroad COM
were now liable to a large claim for
taxes that had been paid, besides which about nine
tenths of their tax list had been destroyed and
they were almost bankrupt People interested had
exhausted conversation with the railroad, the
president and the general land office of the govern
Inent One declined to take remedial action for
Vns reasau. tho other for another reason, and the
only help Tor this very serious matter lay with
congress.
nj Van Wyok added that but one half of the
enOrmiiy and outrage had been stated. All the
land Grant railroads in the west guilty of the
same oiiense he was glad to see Mr.. Lawley' g
bill introduced
Mr Teller said the fault lay with congress The
executive departments of the government had for
years been reporting to congress the full measure
Of the evil referred to, and requested legislation to
enable the executive to protect settlers. In three
reports made 70 congress by himself, as secretary
OF the interior this subject had been plainly sci
forth Il was n crying evil aud should be remedied
by congress-
Me Morgan then took the floor and resumed his
argument against the constitutonality of the pend
ing education bill
htr Morgan said he had often heard it remarked
that the people of the south were hoodwinked
lot VI slavee, VINO had been forced into rebellion
and secession BY their leaders. This he emphat
cay denied, and asserted that, the contrary, the
leadera had been forced into secession by the peo
pie, and that many q cowardly heart among the
leaders would lave failed and tainted but for the
fact that these leaders knew they didn't dare to dc
so in the presence of the faith of an enlightened
and splendid people. He characterized the bill
under decision rs bribe to the south but for his
part De neither grew blind nor shut his eyes in the
presence OF any bribe. no matter how magnificent
The bill would prove aPnadora's box and would
lead TO what had not inappropriately been termed
acOnditiGn of organized hell, between the states
aud general government He prophesied that
under its baneful influence that we would see the
people Of the south and north again trenZled with
excitement
Al the conclusion of Mr.. Morgans remarks, Mr.
jackson obtained the floor, but yielded for an eX
ecutiye session, after which the senate adjourned
WAsnReToS, February 16.-A memorial was
presented in the senate to-day by MIR. Plumb
Of Kansas, being concurrent resolution OF
may provide for right of NAY fer railroads through
the Indian Territory. Referred.
A petition from the bankers, merchants law
yers, aiC., OF Savannah, Ca was presented by Mr.
Brown, which prayed for a repeal of the silver
coinage act. NJ Brown said he felt it his duty tC
say that he could not agree with the statements o.
the petition AMI TO the fact that the law would bt
ininrious TO the country, etc. Mr. Brown added
that If IL were delirabe he could secure petitions
signed by hundreds of thousands of the people O
that state against the repeal of the coinage act
The petiti0u was referred
A resolution offered by Mr.. Mckay was agreed
to, directing the committee on judiciary to repor
what legislation is necessary in order to subjec
property removed into the Indian Territory to at
iachmeut, or to levy and forced sale. In offerin!
tha resolution MIR. Mckay complained that mucl
property had been run over the lines into the In
dian Tfritory by debtors in Texas, Kansas ant
Arkansas thus defraudng the creditors. No civi
process was in operation in that territory, ant
great frauds were the result.
The education bill was then taken mp, and Mr.
jackson took the door and addressed the senate il
favor Ot the bill
MT. jackson said that in as much as the desgl
0t the measure was not to establish nationa
schools, but 10 give temporary aid to the staes fo
the purpose OF educating their children. he woult
support II. lie dwelt briefly on the question o
suffrage 10 the south, and the indispensable neces
sty Of tbs education of voters everywhere in orde
that 1frage may not be corrupted. A cOrrup
suffrage he would regard as the most Fatal of al
mistnrtunes that could effect the republic, and a
surs as MINT followed day we would reach such
Batfrnge IL we did not secure intelligence in on
yoteis. IL Il was constitutional for the genera
government 20 10 anything whatever in aid of
measure which was beyond individual or state cor
troll surely the education of those who by suffrag
we're to exercise the governmental powers q
tho republic vas constitutional
Mr. MaNey followed He yielded to no man /
his regard tor education, but he would not conseu
20 transfer 10 the general government the duty q
state, especially as there was no warrant in tn
constitution for this departure in the government
policy. He adm itted the force of the argumen
made by the friends of this bill, that while tn
county ought 10 assist in contributing to 'he ex
pense OF the aducation of the colored people, an
N order % carry ont that idea, MI
hi6xey would ne willing to vote for the az
preparation Of the proceeds of the public land
10 Oe devoted 10 his purpose, he deemed 1t neces
sary 70 warn the country against the dangers G
Capitalization. Il had deem said by the advocate
OF tie pending measure that congress had not tn
power 10 follow this appropriation and tht
Al was executed. Mr.. Maxey insisted this was a
errlf, tor i congress had the power. to make tn