Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1888-06-22
IDAHO IN CONGRESS.
Status Of Legislation now Before Congress
Affecting the "Gem Of the Mountains"

Hon. J. w. Ried, formerly member
of congress from North Carolina, and
now resident of Lewiston, was sent to
Washington recently by the citizens of
Lewiston to advocate the division oil
Nez Perez county, in which he was
eminently successful, and on his return
he gave Bro. Leland an account of the
legislation affecting Idaho territory now
before congress, together with proba-
BILE forecast of the same, which will be
found to tally with information furnish
ed the FREE PRESS by its Washington
correspondents during the session, Mr..
Reid said:
"An executive order has been made
directieg the allotment of lands in sew
crafty to the Indians of the Nez Perez
reservation under the act of Feb. s, 'S7.
Asst. commissioner Upshaw has writ
ten Hon. Fred T. Dubois assuring him
that the special agent to carry out the
order will be speedily appointed and
the work commenced as soon as the
Indian appropriation bill is passed. Mr..
Dubois secured an amendment adding
$4,000 to the bill for this purpose and
made 1t Immediately available. l think
you will be safe in announcing that the
agent will soon be at work on the allOt-
ment. Under the provisions of the
Severalty Act each head of family will
receive 100 acres; each single person
over eighteen years of age, and each
orphan child under eighteen years of
| age, eighty acres; and to each other sim
oil oil
now living. or who may be born poior
to the date of the Presidents order,
| forty acres. The allotments made to
the Indians are held in trust by the
government for their benefit for period
of twenty-five years, then conveyed to
the Indians in fee simple. After the
allotment is completed it is provided
that the government may negotiate with
the Indians for sale of the lands on the
reservation not allotted, such sale to be
ratified by congress. All agricultural
lands released to the United States by
the Indians under the act, shall be held
for the sole purpose of securing homes
to actual settlers, and shall be disposed
of to actual and bona fde settlers only,
in tracts not exceeding 100 acres to any
one person. on such terms as congress
may prescribe, subject to grants which
congress may make in aid of education.
No patent shall issue except to the per-
son taking the land as his homestead.
or his heirs, and after the expiration of
five years occupancy thereof as home
stead. Any conveyance of the home
stead so taken, or any contract touching
the same, Orlien thereon created prior
to the date of such patent, shall be null
and void. Upon the completion of the
alotments and the patenting of the
lands to the Indians, they become citi-
zens and are clothed with all the rights.
privileges and immnnities O. citizens.
"Mr. Dubois has bill favorably r.
ported and now on the calendar, provi-
ding for an additional judge in the ter
ritory, and prohibiting the district Judge
from sitting in the supreme court at the
trial of cases from his own district. This
is good bill and will doubtless pass.
HE also has pending bill to reap
portion the membership of the terrific
rial legislature. Under its provisions
these northern counties will get two or
three additional members.
'There is also bill pending to grant
the right of way for railroad through
the Nez Perez Indian reservation to the
o. r. u N. company. The diligence and
activity displayed in pushing forward
this bill leads to the belief that the road
will soon be commenced. One terminus
will be in Lewiston. Senator Dolph
has the bill in charge"
Mr.. Reid also says that the construct
of the main line of the Union Pacific
railroad down Snake river to Lewiston
is clearly foreshadowed in documents
filed with congress by the chief en-
gineer of that company.
Mr.. Reid says that the Salmon river
wagon road bill is on the calendar, with
a favorable report, and will undoubtedly
become law.
"As to the annexation question:" said
Mr.. Reed, ait is thought that the Stew
art bill, submitting the matter to vote
of the people will pass the senate but
fail in the house. If Stewart ard his
friends should make the adoption of his
bill condition precedent to the passage
of the Omnibus bill, admitting Dakota,
Montana, Washington and New Mexico
by the senate, the house, or confer
ence committee. would be very apt to
agree to the Stewart bill and submit the
question to the people. If the question
of annexation alone is considered BY
congress. think our governor and del
egate have succeeded in convincing the
house that there has been change of
sentiment here on this subject.
at seems pretty we'll settled that the
Mills tariff bill, considerably amended,
but with free wool, free lumber and free
salt would pass the house, and its fate
in the senate be doubtful"