The Russellville Democrat. [volume] (Russellville, Ark.) 1875-1898, 1886-02-25


The President and the RepuDIi-
can Senators Who Want
Reasons for Removing
OfIlcials.
Arkansas Gazette Correspondence.
WAsHrxerox, February -, 1886
The senate adjourned over from
YESTERDAY until Monday, having
spent the first four days Of the week
ID business Of no very great impor-
lance. The Blair educational bill
has the right of-way at present In
the senate and Senator Morgan has
the fioor in opposition to it. Equally
strong speeches will be made In both
sides Of the chamber In support Of
it, aud, after thornngh discussion,
the bill will pass. But its chances
ia the house are not 50 favorable,
and 10 predict its fate is merely to
guess at it. Both Of the Arkansas
senators will vote for the bill.
RICH PLUM FOR FORT SMITH.
The bill providing for the erection
Of public buildings, which passed
the senate this week, contained an
item sppropriating $l25,000 TO build
4 court house and $4,000 to build q
jail at Fort Smith for The United
States. There Is not the least doubt
Of its passage through the house. for
the absolute necessity for these brild
inRs is veil understood and will re
ceive the attention it deserves. This
will give additional impetus to the
prosperity Of the Border City.
THE HOT SPRINGS RESERVATION.
On Tuesday Senator Berry intro
duced bill embodying his plan for
controlling the government reserva-
ton and distributing the hot water
at Hot Springs. It proposes to limit
present bath house leases and hot
water privileges to December 16,
1883. that being the date of the ex
piration Of the Arlington Hotel lease.
Within twenty days thereafter it re
quires all bath houses to be removed
from the reservation, failure TO do
which works an absolute forfeiture
to the government and their removal
by the superintendent OF the reserva
ton. The only buildings to be per
mitted to remain on the reservation
shall be the government hospital and
a public bath house TO De erected
forthwith for the benefit Of the poor.
1t then provides that the govern
ment collect the water In reservoirs
and distribute tie same therefrom,
bath houses to pay an annual water
tax not to exceed $50 per tub. The
present rate is SIS per tub.) All
the revenue received from this source
shall be expended for the improve
ment Of the reservoirs. The propri
etors of the Arlington Hotel may
buy the land upon which it is situa
ted at fair valuation; and upon
their failure TO do this, the hotel
shall be publicly sold to the highest
bidder.
The purpose of the bill is to clear
the reservation of all private prop
erty and make of it q handsome pub
lie improvement; to make those hot
waters, which are for .the healing of
the nation" freer and cheaper to the
public, and to subject those magnlfi
cent bath houses to state aud munic-
ipal taxation, which, being situated
upon public lands, they have hither
to escaped. Until there shall be
some action on the bill by the COM
mittee on public lands, of which
Senator Berry is member, its chanc
es of passage cannot be judged.
While it's provisions are believed to
embody the sentiments Of large
majority Of the people of Hot Springs,
aside from those whose interests it
directly touches, the country at large
has a lively interest only in the
city's hot water ard bathing equip
ments, and it is impossible TO tell
how this will effect the measure.
RAILROADS THROUGH THE TERRITORY.
The senate committee on Indian
affairs has reported favorably upon
the bill introduced by Senator Berry
granting right-of way through the
Territory to the Arkansas Valley
railroad; anu not only upon that bill
but At the same time upon every
other one offered at this session
opening the Indian country to rail
roads. This indicates gratifying
progress toward the adoption OF an
enlightened and civilized policy for
the territory. These bills will pass
both houses without doubt, and I
learn the extension of the Valley
Route will begin from Van Buren,
Immediately thereafter. This road
will connect the Kansas system of
railroads with those of the Arkansas
and Mississippi Valley system, and
open by far the shortest route for the
exchange OF products between the
guilt and south Atlantic states, on
one hand, and for the western and
pacific states aud territories on the
either. 1t is an important link that
has long been sought by the people
of Arkansas and it viii prove OF in
cstimable value to them.
| have it, too, from authority en-
tirely reliable that the extension of
the Frisco road from Fort Smith TO
Paris will begin at both points i'm