The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-07-17
PUBLIC Land SURVEY.
Senate Passes Amendment to
Sundry Civil Bill.
APPROPRIATION OF $500, 600.
Congress. Weary Of Irrigation Fight,
Will Discontinue Survey.
Democrats Object to Consideration Of
Land Forfeiture Bill-General Clark
sons Report shows Increase OF Four
Thousand PostefIices in Past Year.

appraisers of merchandise recently made
by the president under the customs ad-
ministrative bill. The five general ap-
praisers, whose nominations were con-
firmed, are: Charles S. Hamm, of Illi-
nois; James A. Jewell, of New York !;
George H. Sharpe, of New YORK; George
c. Tichenor, of the District of Columbia,
and Joseph B. Wilkinson. of Louisiana.
Pasco offered a resolution, which was
referred to the committee on foreign rela-
tions, calling on the secretary of state for
Information as to the arrest by Spanish au-
thorities in Havana of A. J. Dacey, an
American citizen, and minister of the gos-
pei.
Power offered a resolution. which was
agreed to, calling on the secretary of the
interior for information as to the personnel
of the geological survey, its duties, COM
pensation, etc.
The resolution offered yesterday by Gull
lom, as to the transportation of goods in
bond between the Atlantic and Pacific
ports of the United States over the Cana
dian Pacific, was taken up.
Washburn offered an amendment ex-
tending The scope of the inquiry to the
Grand Trunk line. He intimated a sus-
picion that the object OF the resolution was
to make war on the Canadian Pacific.
Cuilom diSclaimed any such intention.
He accepted Washburn's amendment to
the resolution. The amendment was
agreed to.
Teller introduced bill giving pension
OF $4,000 year to Mrs. Jessie Fremont:
referred to the committee on pensions.
Sawyer introduced bill to establish a
limited postal and telegraph service; re-
ferred to the postoffice committee
The Senate proceeded to executive bus
mess, and when the doors were re.opened
resumed consideration of the sundry civil
appropriation bill, and adopted the pend
ing amendment increasing the appropria-
ton for surveying public lands from $780,
GOO to 5000 900. The next amendment that
provoked discussion was the increase OF
the item for n Typographical survey from
100000 to $300. .0c0. and adding these words
.'One-half of which sum shall be expended
west of the l0lst meridian, aud SO much OF
the act of October 2, 1855, entitled san act
making appropriations for the sundry civil
expenses OF the government for the fiscal
year ending June 80, f8oO,' as provides for
the selection and location ,t.f reservoirs and
canals upon public lands. snd the raserya-
ton OF irrigable lands, Is hereby repealed
provided, that the reservoir and canal sites
heretofore located or selected shall remain
and reserved from entry or settlement un-
til otherwise provided by law"
Spooner announced his intention to vote
for the amendment reported by the COM
mittee on appropriations. The cost of the
irrigation survey had been placed, he said.
at 100000. His own opinion was that ii
it was to go on the cost would be nearer
100000. Under the construction given
to the act of 1888 by the interior depart-
ment, and which construction he endorsed
as correct, lands have been withdrawn
from settlement covering two-fifths of the
area OF the United States, and comprising
100000 square miles or $50. coo 900 acres.
For what and for how long were these
lands withdrawn? In order that the rov-
ernment might have reservoir sites mapped
out for irrigation purposes. The Lord only
knows how long it will take to carry out
the plan. He thought that congress made
a great mistake when it appropriated a
single dollar for the irrigation survey, and
the sooner it retracted its steps the better
it would be for the people.
Dawes, from the appropriation commit.
tee, reported the Indian appropriation bill
carrying an appropriation of 81, 153 ,s11.
The discussion was resumed, and Plat
argued in support of the amendment and
in general defense of the desert land laws
the swamp land law and other land laws oi
the United States. He favored repeal oil
the irrigation law. and said its retention
meant that not a single acre OF public land
affected by it would ever be entered by any
homestead settler, aud charged that thai
was the object contemplated by the shrewd
man who drew up that provision in the
conference committee.
The discussion continued until O'Clock
when the Senate adjourned without action
on the pending amendment.
NOMINATIONS.
General A. B. Ne.tleton. of Minneapolis
assistant secretary OF the treasury; James
Russell Soley, of Massachusetts,. assistant
secretary of the navy; Jacob r. Welty, re-
ceiver of public moneys at Olympia.