Omaha daily bee., 1888-01-05
House..

WASHINGTON, Jan. 4.-When the house re-
assembled to-day MIR. Mills of Texas stated the
speaker would not announce the committees
today, and asked unanimous consent that
members be permitted to introduce bills for
reference. Consent was granted, and the
speaker proceeded to call states in alphabet
ical order
Among the bills introduced was one by Mr..
Springer of Illinois to provide for the organ
ization of the territory of Oklahoma. The
bill provides for the creation of the new ter
ritory out of the public land strip and all that
part of the Indian territory west of the five
civilized tribes, covering an area about as
large as the state of Ohio. 1t provides all the
machinery for Il territorial government like
other territories, but does not assumes any
jurisdiction over the Indian tribes except in
conformity to treaty stipulations Section
opens the public land strip to settlement
for homesteads only, and sections 5 and 6
provide for the settlement of the Cherokee
outlets and Oklahoma lands by actual
settlers through commission to be ap-
pointed by the president to negotiate
with the Cherokees, Creeks and Seminoles,
so far as such negotiations might be neces-
sary. Section contains stringent provis-
ions to prevent fraudulent entries and re-
quires three years actual residence before
any patent shall issue to settlers Provision
is made for the settlement of other unOccu-
pied Indian lands, but in all cases said lands
are to be reserved for actual settlers only
and at price not to exceed S1,25 per acre.
Cattle leases are declared void and contrary
to public policy and it is made the duty of
the president to remove the lessees from said
lands. All grants heretofore made to rail
roads are forfeited and the power to create
any public Indebtedness by voting bonds or
subscribing for stock in railroad companies
or other corporations, by the territorial legis-
lature or by townships, cities or countless is
strictly prohibited.
BY Mr.. Adams of Illinois-For the removal
of dangerous aliens from the territory of the
United States.
BY Mr.. Townshend of Illinois-To limit
the jurisdiction of United States courts in
patent cases and to protect persons who
without notice, are bona-fide manufacturers,
purchasers, vendors and users of articles,
machines and other things, for the exclusive
use, manufacture or sale Of which a patent
has been or may hereafter be granted; also
joint resolution to amend the constitution
so as to provide for the election Of senators
by the votes of the people of the states; also
to promote the establishment of free com
mercial intercourse among the nations Of
America and the Dominion of Canada by the
creation Of an American customs union or
zollverien; also to organize the Indian terri
tory under the name of Oklahoma and
consolidate certain tribes under territorial
government and to allot lands
| in severalty among the Indians; also to es-
| tablish new department of industries and
public works. The purpose of this bill is to
| transfer from various other existing depart
ments and consolidate in the new department
| more or less the scientific bureaus of agrcul-
| ture, labor, weather, Improvement of rivers
| and harbors, coast and geodetc survey, geo.
| logical survey, construction of public build
| ings, lighthouse establishments naval observal
| tories, patents, steamboat inspection service,
| inter state commerce, fish and fisheries; also
| joint resolution providing for the elevation
| of the president and vice president by a ma
| jority of the votes OF the people and the abol-
| ition of the electoral college, and the regula:
| ton of the method of counting the votes for
| president and vice president by both houses
| of congress. ..uI,s.
BY Mr.. Hopkins of lllinois-To establish q
| uniform system of bankruptcy.
by Mr.. Payson of lllinois-Granting lands
| to honorably discharged soldiers of the late
| war for the union; also to repeal the pre-
| emption, timber culture and desert land
laws; also to forfeit certain lands granted to
aid in the construction of the Northern Pa
| citic, Southern Pacific of California, Onta-
nagon 4 State Line and Girard q Mobile
| railroads.
BY Mr.. Weaver of Iowa-For the establish
| ment of postal telegraph.
BY Mr.. Holmes of Iowa-Abolishng the
| duty on Sugar
BY Mr.. Gear Of Iowa-To prohibit the
purchase of goods manufactured wholly or in
! part by convict labor.
BY Mr., Morrill, of Kansas-To abolish all
! distipction in rank in pensions hereafter
! granted.
BY Mr. Anderson Of Kansas-To create