Butte semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1886-1890, 1886-06-23
GENERAL WASHINGTON NOTES.

WASHINGTON, June 19.-Several newspa-
per correspondents were examined under
oath this morning by the Senate Commit
tee On Public Lands in respect to alleged
interviews with r. s. Dement,, Surveyor
General OF Utah whose nomination is pend
ing before the committee. The interview
contained, with other things, charges that
the Mormons had q lobby in Washington
spending money to influence legislation by
Congress, and that cert ain Senator had
been influenced in his action upon public
measures by the payment Of a large sum OF
money. The material and sensational
features of the interview were denied by De-
ment at the examination made by the COM
mittee last February, but the newspaper
men told the committee that the utter
ances imputed to Dement, were actually
made by him. At the examination Of
February the witnesses were not placed
upon oath. Since the recent inquiry was
begun by order of the Senate, Dement, has
sent written statement to the committee
reiterating hisdcnials. The newspaper, men
this morning repeated their statements and
gave additional corroborativei einformation
r'hey gave the names of several other gen.
tlemen to whom Dement, is said to have
made his sensational statements, some Of
whom have been subpenaed by the COM
mittee.
FACTS ABOUT INDIANS.
Senator Harrison, from the Committee
on Indian Affairs. to-day filed supple
mentary report regarding the investigation
of the condition of the Indians in the Indian
Territory and other reservations. The re-
port OF the committee says regarding the
Crow, Creek and Winnebago reservations,
in Dakota Territory, that there are about
1,O5O Indians drawing rations there. The
trouple which the subcommittee composed
of Senators Harrison, Ingalls, and Jones, OF
Arkansas, were sent to inquire into, grew
out of the throwing open to settlement by
order of President Arthur certain lands
embraced in this reservation, and the sub
seouent revocation Of that order by Presi-
dent Cleveland. On this subject the report
SAYS the committee are OF opinion that the
reservation is much larger than is needed
and can be wisely used by Indians re-
siding thereon but if laws are COW
enanted by treaty with them, we cannot
dispossess them without the consent OF the
Indians. They believe it entirely practical
BILE to procure the consent OF the Indians
to a reasonable reduction of the reserva-
tion. as we'll as the greater one lying west
of the Missouri River. An attempt in that
yery direction has already beeninaugurated,
and the necessary legislation has heen
nassed hy the Senate, but the commttee
believe that the settlers who went upon the
lands thrown open to settlement by the
Executive order OF February ~, 1880, ana
in good faith made settlement thereon, are
entitled to be protected as fully as possible
from the consequence OF this unfortunate
complication.
tho report recommends taat it be reduced
to such proportions as to enable the H.
diana to use what they retain and vest the
titles in individuals. In the opinion OF ooa the
committee the consideration Of $50 W;,"oa GDo
20 The rental of between $500, 900 and
&c !, ,ooo, 900 acres OF these lands is very in, n,
adeouate, and the report says charges OF
fraud in the negotiation Of the lease were
made. It is enough" the report conglnues; .;
ssto sav that the Indians arc incapabe OF
the intelligent transaction Of such business
r. 1aoses are to be allowed at all, the De-
nartment should have taken the entire so'
neryision of the business.