Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1889-02-02
WASHINGTON LETTER.
The Outlook for the River and Hafbor
Bill is Not at All Flattering.
The True Inwardness of the Oklahoma QHes-
tiOR-Kilgore Opposes Another scheme
to Rob the Government
Special correspondents Of the Gazette.

whereby the Democratic party turns over
the reigns of government, and the factOf
considerable dissension within party
ranks, congress has been fairly in
dustrious thus far in the present session.
The appropriation bills are much further
advanced than usual n Ills period, and
considerable important legislation has
been done The outlook for the
river and harbor bill isn't at
all fattering If it gets through
both houses il is likely to be sent to the
president at such a late hour that it viii
: die by never reaching congress again,
should il escape the more positive form
of death by veto Nor is the prospect for
the resolution looking TO the selection OF
port on the Texas coast by a board OF
government engineers much more prom
iSing, though it would not be SAFE 10 pre-
diet its absolute failure
In brief talk with citizen of the
Chickasaw nation the other day-a man
of fine Intelligence GAZETTE man
cleaned the following facts:
You want to know the true inwardu 50
Of the Oklahoma question rs I look n iI?
Well, il is a simple matter FOuF-hfths
of the Indians want the Springer bill 70
become a law. Why? Because it would
put considerable money into the pockets
OF the Indians as a people. How is it
now? Oklahoma is, as You know, fine
grazing country, and two or three for
eign cattle companies by paying q round
sum of money to one or two OF the lead
ing men of the tribes interested are en-
titled to Craze thousands of cattle all the
year round on Oklahoma soil. Now these
their people Of this lonus,
but divide it up among their
little clique. Thus the alien syndicates
by Smelling out handsomely to this cOterie
practically have a monopoly Of these rich
pastures, but ninety-nine huudredths Of
the Indians are in no wise better Off One
of the cattle companies with headquar-
tiers at Dundee, Scotland, has in its en-
ploy several men who are kept here ut
Washington to lobby against the Springer
bill. Among them is Bushyhead, the
noted chief who lives in grand style at q
high priced hotel. He has good thing
of it as long "a the foreigners are not in
terfeTed with, although his people
get nothing, and he knows that
hls Doodle days will be over whenever the
government buys the land and opens it
up for settlement, which ought TO have
been done long ago.
Congressman Kilgore is in the habit OF
going right to the front when it comes to
attacking measures that look TO the
squandering of public money, but that
faithful representative of the people
rather Outdid his record on Monday last
in opposing one of the most reckless
schemes that has been presented in many
a year. 1t was nothing less than bill to
eXpend nearly half a million Of dollars
to buy a site ON which TO erect a postof-
flee for the city of Washington, when, as
everyone knows, the government owns in
this city scores of magnificent blocks that
are especially adapted for the purpose.
Yet there were many strong advocates Of
the appropriation on both sides of the
house. In the short time allotted to him
Col. Kilgore exposed the gross profligacy
of such legislation. He showed that i'm
mediately opposite the ground that was
valued at the enormous sum mentioned
the government owned n square that
could be utilized for a postoffice build
ing with equal convenience TO the
people. He did not propose to see
the money of the people wasted simply
for the benefit of some local real estate
dealers.
Following Cot. Kilgore came Hon.
Samuel J Randall in exactly the same
line of argument. The result was that
under such vigorous assaults the bill fell
through, and over S400 900 was saved the
country. Mr.. Randall was heard to re-
mark that Col. Kilgore IS course in con-
gress was worthy the admiration of all
honest men, as he was one Of the most
uncompromising foes to jobbery and rae
cality that ever sat in congress.
1t will interest lawyers to know that
Senator George has introduced a bill in
the senate to authorize an appeal
to the United States supreme
court in certain cases where the
amount in controversy equals CT
exceeds $1,000. This is for the purpose
of settling the construction of a clause in
the judiciary act which prohibits the as
signee of claims from prosecuting a suit
in the Federal court where such claims
were acquired to bring them within that
jurisdiction. 1t seems that Judge Speer
of Georgia lately held that an assignee in
such cases brought himself within Fed
eral court jurisdiction, a decision mani
testify against the plain meaning of the
statute, and it was thought better by Sen
atOr George that the supreme court should
settle the matter in such cases on appeal
legislation. The question was submitted
to Col. CulbersOn who concurred in the
senator IS views, and the bill viii likely
become law.
-
A bill of the very highest Importance
to Texas was that introduced by Col.
Culberson which has just passed the
house, authorizing the lease of all min
eral lands in the Indian Territory sub
iect to the approval of the secretary of the
interior. A provision is that prohibiting
any railroad company from becoming O
lessee. 1t will no doubt hasten the day
when splendid coal mines of the territory
will be developed, and thereby give to
Texas what it has so long needed a
OOuntiful supply of cheap fuel. s.
Supreme Court.
Special to the Gazette.
GALVESTON, TEX, Feb. 1.-The SUI
Dreme court met to-day, fun bench pres
ant The following cases were diSDosef