St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1889-12-10
MINNESOTA AFFAIRS
Now Under Discussion Among
the Lawmakers at Wash
ington.
President 0akes,of the North
ern Pacific, Urging Trri-
cation Measures.
Northwestern Men vitality
Interested in the Com
mittee Selections.
Montana and Dakota Legisla-
ton Heavy and Minne-
sofa Very Light.

Special TO the Globe.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 9.-President 7.
f. Cakes, of the Northern Pacific, real
ICES that the irrigation problem, as it
affects the Dakotas and Montana, is
one of gigantic Importance to that part
of the country, and therefore to the
Northern Pacific railroad. Congress
sional action in the matteris sought, but
there are several different schemes and
so little general knowledge of the neces-
sites of the case that it is feared the
measure passed may not be entirely sat-
isfactory and may fail to effect the pur-
pose for which it is intended. Mr..
Cakes wants authority from the legisla-
lures of the new states TO form irrigation
companies. or to allow others to form
them, and by way of giving them more
stability, to have the Northern Pacific
guarantee their bonds. He wants reSer-
voirS, bikes, canals. fumes and all the
other paraphernalia of irrigation sys-
tens built and operated at once. The
Northern Pacific runs through large
part of this arid region and would be
benefited in corresponding degree to
the country. Mr. Cakes has arrived in
the city and is staying at the Arlington.
Col. James Mcknight. general counsel.
and j. M. Hannaford, general traffic
manager of the road, accompany him.
He gave a dinner party at Chamberlin'S
at which he entertained the senator's,
representatives and delegates from
North and South Dakota, Montana. Ida
no, Washington and Oregon. Over the
wine he detailed to them his scheme
and soliced their cooperation, urging
upon them
THE IMPERATIVE NECESSITY
for immediate action. The irrigation
companies which it is proposed to form
would be greatly strengthened. and
their bonds placed with more facility
with the Endorsement of the Northern
Pacific. Mr.. Cakes was asked what he
thought of the roasting the Northern
Pacific was getting from certain Re-
publican papers in Montana, which
charge that the influence of the road
was thrown into the political scales so
as to secure the election of men who
would cOnnive at the steal of mineral
lands. He smiled, saying, "Fhe matter
is so trivial that l have given 1t no
thought. l suspect those papers are
kicking because the Northern Pacific'S
influence was not thrown into the cleo
ton at all"
Besides the irrigation scheme it is I'M
derstood that Mr. Cakes is trying to
have a Mr.. Strive appointed United
States district judge in the state of
Washington.
THE COMMITTEES AND THE NORTH
WEST.
Northwestern men are taking an act
i've part in the work of trying to in
fiuence committee chairmanShips. So
far as can be learned. none of the MEM
beers are asking for chairmanships them
selves, for various reasons, the most
prominent being that they are almost all
new members, while those few who
have served before did not support
Reeds candidacy for the speakership,
and cannot expect many piumS on that
account. Comstock is thought to be
pretty sure of place on the rivers and
harbors committee, but so far his is the
only name mentioned. The chairman
ship of the committee on territories is
likely to fall to Baker, of New York,
who is being supported by the Western
men. The Western representatives are
protesting strongly against the appoint
ment of Payson, of Illinois, as chairman
of the committee Oh public lands. 1t is
urged by them that his notions are hide
bound. and 1t is believed his policy
would be detrimental to the West. The
committee on In 1ian affairs is also one
that interests the West, and the men,
bers from that region are suggesting the
name of Perkins, of Kansas, for the
Craftsmanship. 1t is thought altogether
likely that he will get 1t. They
are also active In their opposition
to the confirmation by the senate of
the presidents appointment of Morgan
as commissioner and Dorchester as
superintendent of Indian affairs. 1t is
believed that the president would be
more than pleased if the senate re-
lie cted these two appointments, as he is
beginning to realize that they are
mistake. He has been told so by most
of the men who are familiar with Indian
affairs. and might be glad to have an
other chance and see if he cannot select
two more suitable men.
MONTANA MATTERS
will occupy good deal of the time of
the present congress. Besides the ir-
rigation problem. which also affects the
Dakotas to large extent, number of
bills are being prepared by Represent
alive Carter. Among th csc are bills
establishing land offices at MissOula
and Lewiston, which are badly needed.
there being at present only threo in the
state. situated at Helena, Bohemian and
Miles City. Another of his bills in one
which provides for cutting off all the
land in the Fort Keogh military reserva-
ton east of the Tongue river, and
granting it to Miles City as public
park. To these bills the consent of the
war and interior departments has been
secured. so that if passed by congress
no objections will come from that
quarter. The most important of
Mr.. Carriers bills, however, is one that
contemplates cutting Off large
slice of the Fort Maginnis military res
ervation and opening it up to explora-
ton by prospectors. This is in the
heart of one of the richest mining dis
tricts in Montana. An indication of
what may be expected there Is to be
found in the Spotted Horse mine which
is as close to the edge of the reservation
as possible. This is one of the richest
gold mines in the world, ank furnished
a large part of the metal that composed
the 100000 brick exhibited at the Min
neapolis exposition. This bill would
have been prepared by this time had it
not been for the delay caused by the
slowness of those on the spot in fur
nishing the requisite maps.
MINNESOTA LEGISLATION
will not be very prominent in the house
this session. Mr.. Dunnell says he has
no measures but pension bills. Mr..
Lind has none prepared so far, and
none Of the members seem to have
formed any definite idea Of what they
are going to do. Mr.. Lind was asked
yesterday if he had secured his salary
before Silcott bolted. He replied that
he had not. but was not worrying much
about it,as he was sure of getting it. He
does not agree with the prevalent Opin-
ion that an act of congress will be
needed to reimburse the members, but
says that though they gave their re-
ceipts in advance, these receipts are ut