The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-02-19

In the house to-day Morrow, OF Califor-
MIA, from the appropriation committee. re
ported the pensions appropriation bill.
The speaker laid before the house a mes
sage from the president transmitting with
out, comment communication from the
interior department proposing an amend
ment TO the net providing for the allotment
OF lands in severalty TO Indians.
The senate bill providing FOR the appoint
mont of nn assistant secretary Of war WAS
laid before the house. II IL substantially
the Same as the house bill already favura-
bly, reported from the military committee.
The speaker held that under the rules il WIS
entitled TO Immediate consideration. SO the
hopse went into committee of the whole
thereon. The discussion continued till
l3l, when the committee rose without
action, and the house resumed considera-
tion Of the bill 10 provide n temporary gov
ernmont for Oklahoma.
The general debate wns limited 10 three
and a half hours, despite the appeal of
Barnes ehd others for tive hours time, aud
IN retaliation for the enforced limitation.
they called for the reading of the original
senate bill and the house substitute, to-
gether iifty-nine printed pages. One hour
and twenty minutes WAS consumed in the
reading and il was after 3 o'clock
before Struble. of Iowa. took the floor in
support of the bill. lie criticised the senHie
bill because il failed 10 include oil the Creek
and Seminole lands purchased under the
last administration. The house bill EN-
braced all of the territory not occupied by
the five civilized tribes. This tract. IN area,
compared fayorably with the surrounding
states; II was in the heart of the country,
well watered. with l,30O miles Of railroads..
with business enterprises, coal lands, agri-
cultural Industries and population Of y0,-
0(O people. The house bill proposed TO
organize il into territory. The frat
part of the bill related 10 territorial
officers, and was similar in that 90
the senate bill. For convenience six coun-
lies were to be established, provisions were
made for the establishment of supreme
court and for the trial of cases; national
banks could be established. No Mans Land
WIS 10 be opened for settlement and town
sites would be reserved. The section of the
bill provided for speedy settlement OF the
controversy between the United States and
the state of Texas respecting the owner
ship of Greer county. What might be call
ed the second division of the bill related
solely To Indian territory, exclusive of Okla
homa, ana created supreme court and
three district courts 10 administer the laws
of Kansas 50 far as were applicable 10 that
territory.
Barnes advocated the senate bill in pref
erence to the house substitute. Springer
said Barnes Intentionally tried to misrepre-
sent the scope OF the bill. Under the treaty
the United States had as much right TO leg
islate respecting the lands OF the Cherokee
outlet as il had TO legislato on any subject.
Hare had read as part Of his remarks pro-
test from Gov. Bird. of the Choctaw uHtlou
against the passage of the bill as a violation
OF the treaty made at Dancing Water IN
1880. Mansur and Perkins both insisted
that they had had Communications from
Gov. Bird asking TO have couri established
at n certain point. The committee arose
before the debate had concluded and the
house adjourned.