The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1889-04-19
WASHINGTON NEWS.
OKLAHOMA BECOMING 4 LEGAL
PUZZLE
THE FIGHT OVER THE TELE'
PHONE IN NYENTION
SOUTHERN CARPET. ARE
~fT BACH
Fifteen Ihousand Dollars in Gold pissp-
pears -Court-msrtial TO Try Enlist :.
ell Men-A New York Lineman
KilIed-Iive Men Drowned
-rram nnr Rerllar correspondeni.I

WAsmfNGT0N, Ap il lS.-The Atior-
nev-General to-day received the first oi
number Of questions growing out of the
opepinr up Of oklahoma, which he will
be- called upon 10 decide The question
came from the Treasury Department
and relates 10 the establishment of banks
i'm that Territory. \ number Of applica-
lions have been received by Secretary
Window for charters to open National
banks in Oklahoma The National
Banking law requires that the president
and the directors oi every National bank
shall be residents Of the state or Territory
I'm which that bank is located for at least
one year before the charter issues. This
wouid apparentlv prevent the issue OF
charter 10 banks in Oklahoma. But
Oklahoma is neither q State or a Terri
tory The question is, therefore, very
nice one. The Attorney-Gcneral is in
clined tO cOn.true the law as literally as
possible in order 20 establish firmly The
new communities which may 90 into
Oklahoma. and he may therefore decide
that charters may be issued 90 National
blnksthere, although there's no Ia" on 'he
statute books which contemplate such p
thing The Treasury Department has
also another troublesome question about
the new county. and which will IN the
course of time De sent 10 the Law De
partment. The Commissioner of the In
iernal Revenue has received an applica-
tion for licenses TO sell liquor in Okla
boma The Jaw says that no liquor shall
Dee sold upon any government rcserya-
ton or Indian territory, except at milf
tary posts and under military superyi.
sion. So when Oklahoma Is opened
for settlement under tho procla-
nation recently issued by Presi-
dent Harrison 10 will no longer
be government reservation Can IT,
censes TO sell liquor there be granted .
This is another nice question for the At
fOrnev-Gencral 90 decide The two cases
mentioned. show how incomplete are
the United state statutes where Oklaho-
ma is ,olcened As the bin opening
Oklahoma was passed at the tail end
OF Congress. and was mutual
compromise in conference com
mittec between the two houses
il Is perhaps natural that incomplete
laws should add tQ the chaotic condition
of the Affairs of the section of that
country 10 which $50 many people are
rushing i'm the hope of securing homes
The next Congress will have no small
iob on hand when IL undertakes, as il
must. 10 straighten ont matters IN Okla
hOma.
Solicitor General jerks who, as 10 was
stated in these dispatches some time ago.
will be retained as counsel for the GOV
ernment t0 take charge of the cases
against the Bell Telephone Company,
when his successor as Soiicit0r-Gcnerall
is chosen, and Is already preparing 20 go
ON with those cases. The first step 10 be
taken Is 10 secure an the evidence pos,i
bic 10 sustain the claim which the govern /
ment makes. There have been number
of decisions I'm minor matters in United /
States Courts, and including the United /
States Supreme Court, which were adj +
verse % the government, but there has /
never been u decision on any point i'm /
yolying the real merits of ihe ease. The +
claims. as Mr. jerks to-day /
told yOur correspondent, that the Bell /
patent was obtained either through fraud /
or by mistake. and that Bell Was not the /
urst inventor OF the speaking telephone /
Government agents IN Europe have col /
lected a large amount of evidence bear .
ing on the case, tending 90 show that F.
long before Bell appeard 40 the United /
States Pension Office foreigners had /
used telephone for purposes of speak +
ing \ great deal more evidence has 90 /.
be taken in this country before the /
United States Commission. That work 7
will be commenced in q short time /
Evidence will be taken wherever IL can /
be found. Mr. jerks expects, however /
that the great mass of il will be secured /
at Harrisburg, Philadelphia Pa, and /
Boston. Mass.
The Southern carpet-baggers have, in /
an appointment which was made to-day /
bv President Harrison, received de- /
cided setback. John b. Donnelly, of +
Louisiana. who is made United States .
Marshal of the Eastern district Of that .
State. was supported by Representative /
Coleman and other native Republicans +
The carpet bag element, headed by eX- /
Senator William i. Kellogg. had "a [
candidate Of their own. whom they tried /
TO force upon Mr Harrison. The latter
sat down upon them and as a resu q ey .
feel very sore kellogg tonight ielt 80
badly that he actually refused to talk,
saving that he is out OF politics. The
native Republican element in other States
are greatly pleased az Mr.. Harris0n's
appointment of Donnelly. They take IL
as an earnest that INSTRUMENTATION in
tends 10 recognize them and TO extend /
the principal of home rule 70 the South
arn States as well as TO the Territories.