The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-07-02
.EDMUMDS ADMITS IDAHO.
The Frigid Vermonter the Only Sem
ator Who Votes on the
Bill.
Prospective Appointees for the
New Land Omces at Lewis
town and Missoula.

Town ana Ml99Oul0
j. b. Walker Calls ON Russell's Pa to Ex-
plain the Late Lamented
Herald Editorials.
WARRINGTON, July 1.-[Special.-It il pos
sible that there will be two Fourth of July
states this year, as with little activity in
agreeing to a slight amendment in the
Wyoming bill, that one and the Idaho will
be ready for the presidents signature by
that time, and the president, it ia said, has
an appreciation of sentiment that would
lead him to sign the bills on that day If he
could properly do SO. Idaho had an easy
time of it at the hands of the senate. The
democrats exhausted their objections when
the Wyoming bill was under discussion
last week and it was as easy a thing for
Idaho to come in as going down
a toboggan slide. Senator Cullom was
in the chair when the bill came up to-day.
It's title was read, and Mr.. Cullom repeated
the usual formula for bills unobjeoted to,
and on which no one wants to make a
speech. Nobody objected to the third
reading and engrossment, and no argu-
ments were presented. The title was read
for the last time, and Mr.. Cullom said:
"Shall the bill pass? Senators in the af-
frmative will say 'aye;' senators in the
negative will say no." The strong voice
of Mr.. Edmunds, as he said "aye," was all
the response. and so the bill was passed,
without roll-call or single vote.
The appointments for the new land
Offices in Missoula and Lewistown,
Mont. will probably be made in
a few days. Charles w. Cook.
of Lewistown, is booked for register, and
Charles H. Bird, of Lewiston, for receiver
at the Lewiston Office. John Anderson, of
Missoula, will be made register of the office
in his town. and John B. Catlin, who re-
Gently resigned as agent for the Blackfeet,
will be made receiver. It is believed that
Catlin resigned the Indian agency because
theland office is better paying position. It
is quite likely that George Steele. of Sun
River, will succeed Catlin as Indian agent.
James b. Walker, candidate for postmaster at
Helena, called on the president to-day, but
it is not recorded that he received very
much comfort from the visit.
A decision in the case involving the val
uable tract of land in Spokane Falls for
merly occupied by the Indian Enoch, is ex-
pected in few days. Several papers, in
Guiding an affidavit made by Enoch, have
been filed with the department of the
interior since the hearing about month
ago. Assistant Secretary Chandler said to-
day that the decision had been prepared
once, but other points came up which
caused some delay. Gen. Shields, attorney
for the department., who heard the case
with Mr.. Chandler, is now out Of the city,
and the assistant secretary will wait until
his return before making his final decision.
1t will probably be given in week, Mr..
Chandler said. Representative Wilson has
had G. g. Chase appointed pension exam
liner at Montesana, Wash. Ellensburgh,
WASH. was not satisfied with the figures of
the census enumerators, and made COM
plaint to the delegation in congress. A
new count has been ordered. Senator
Squire, who has been absent in New York
with an investigating committee, is back
in the senate, and voted for the admission
of Idaho to-day.
Senators Casey, Moody, Allen and Col.
Sanders, representing North Dakota, South
Dakota, Washington and Montana, will 90
before the committee on appropriations to-
morrow and urge the recommendation of
the public lands committee that $500, 900 be
added to the sundry OWL bills for
surveying lands in the new states. 1t is be-
ieved the committee will accept the amend
ment. In this connection Senator Paddock
to-day reported from the committee on
public lands a recommendation for an
amendment to the sundry civil bill,
cutting down the amount in the house bill
for an irrigation survey from $s2o,OOO to
$22O,0O0, the five hundred thousand saved
here to be applied to the land surveys in
the new states. This amendment also con-
tains provision that the act of 1888, with
drawing arid land from settlement, shall be
construed to mean only such lands as are
needed for reservoir sites and canals. The
construction placed upon the law at present
withdraws all lands west of the one hun
dredth meridian to the Cascade mountains,
and all the western people have objected to
the construction of the law. It is feared
that Edmunds may make point of order
against the proposed legislation. but in any
event there will be lively q zht in the SEN
ate upon the proposition. Director Powell
will not only make a strong fight to retain
control of the lands, but fight hard for the
five hundred Thousand which it is proposed
to deprive him of, but there is a growing
conviction that the geological survey has
become fungus on the government, alb
sorbing large amount of money with very
little return.
To Quiet Title.
WASHINGTON, July 2.-The president to-
day transmitted to congress the correspond
ence between the department of state and
the Mexican government, concerning the
right of certain Mexican citizens to have
their claims to lands in Arizona and New
Mexico, ceded to the United States by treaty,
adjusted and confirmed. The United States.
says the president, owes a duty to Mexico
to confirm to her citizens those valid grants
that were saved by treaty, and the
long delay which has attended the
discharge of this duty has given
just cause of complaint. The entire COM
munity where these claims exist, and in
deed all our people, are interested in an
early and final settlement of them. No
greater incubus can rest upon the energies
of a people or the development OF new
country thar that resulting from unsettled
land titles. The necessity for legislation is
30 evident and urgent that venture to ex-
Drosa the hnnA thRf ralief will lsa Uivan ~