Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-05-29
He Answers an Interview With Mai.
Powell in "The Star"
POLITICS AND BUILDINGS.
The House Operating Under a Rule
Of Two to One.
A SYSTEM DENOUNCED AS VICIOUS.
SENATE.

The presiding officer (Mr. Ingalls, prese nted
message from the President with a COM
munication from the Secretary of the Interior
recommending an appropriation to continue
negotiations with the Cherokee and other In
dams for the cession of lands. Referred to the
committee on Indian affairs.
SENATOR STEWART AND THE GEOLOGICAL SURVEY
Mr. Stewart, arising TO a question OF personal
privilege, sent TO the clerks desk and had read
an article from the Washington EVENING STAR,
containing statement by Maj. Powell.
director OF the geological survey, in reference
10 resolution recently offered by Mr.. Stewart
as to the diversion of 600. 900
appropriated for irrigation purposes TO the
use OF the geological survey. Major Powell
IN the interview spoke of the movement as one
lnstlgated by land sharks and spectators for
the purpose OF "gobbling up the irrigable lands
and establishing a sort of hydraulic feudal sys-
tem."
Mr.. Stewart sketched an outline of what had
oeen done recently Ill the work of stimulating
irrigation in the far west, and of the appropria-
ton made for that purpose.
MIsAPPLIED APPROPRIATIONS.
Maj. Powell, he said. had used more than
half OF the appropriation in vast and expensive
surveys Of no practical use for the object in
view, and he intimated that Maj. Powell had
enormous power III both houses from his Civ
ing employment to lot of young
men, the SONS and relatives Of
members of Congress, and that he kept
an enormous lobby in Washington to control
geology and mineralogy was nothing, he
said, but mass OF humbug and foolishness-
"a great iying-in hospital for lame ducks"
WHO MAINTAINS THE LOBBY.
He denied Maj. Powelrs statement that there
was lobby behind the movement The only
lobby on the subject was that maintained by
Maj. Powell himself, who boasted of his being
able to control Congress and who intimidated
by his dlctatorlal manner, his subordinates.
lie protested against any man attempting to
run the west in that way. lie protested in the
name OF the enterprising pioneers of the west
SENATOR GoRMAN DEFENDS MAJ. POWELL
Mr.. German replied to some of Mr. Stewards
assertions and defined Maj. Powell, speaking
of him as valuable public officer who had
discharged his duty faithfully and honestly.
He did not approve, however, of Maj. Powelrs
making such a statement for publication.
Mr.. Stewart desired to say something addi-
tional, but was prevented by a call for the
regular order of business.
EULoGIEs OF MR.. cox.
Mr.. Evarts gave notice that he would ask the
Senate on the 10Th of June to listen to eulogies
on the late Representative S. s. Cox of New
York.
TO ADJOURN TILL MONDAY.
On motion of Mr.. Spooner it was ordered
that, tomorrow being Decoration Day, the
adjournment today shall be till Monday next
LIQUOR LICENSES NEAR SOLDIERS HOME.
Mr.. Edmunds introduced bill to prevent
the issuing of liquor licenses within one mile
of Soldiers Home. Referred.
EXCAVATIONS ON 14TH STREET.
Mr.. Vance offered resolution (Which was
agreed to- directing the Commissioners of the
District of Columbia to report as to the authority
under which the United States Electric Light
Company Ga corporation not chartered by Con-
gress) has dug up 14th street, from New York
avenue to Il street, for the purpose of putting
In conduits and manholes
HOUSE.
Mr.. Payson Oil. from the committee on pub
lie lands reported back Senate bill with
amendments) for general forfeiture of land
grants Ordered printed and recommitted
On motion Of Mr.. Springer Qll.) a Senate
bill was passed for the relief of the widow Of
Rear Admiral David McDougal
Mr.. Rowell CIll.) gave notice that he would
on Tuesday next ask the House to consider the
McDutiie-Turpie contested election case.
PUBLIC BUILDINGS.
The House then went into committee of the
whole (Mr. Burrows Mich, in the chair) on
public building bills. The special order setting
apart the day for the consideration of meas
ures OF this character provides that the bills be
taken up according to the direction of the COM
mittee on public buildings and grounds.
TWO TO ONE.
Mr.. Mills (Tex.) inquired what that direction
was
Mr.. Millilen (Me.) replied that, regarding
the bills politically, two republican bills would
be called up and then one democratic bill
This was about the proportion Of republican
and democratic measures on the calendar.
Mr.. Mills thought that this arrangement was
unfair, and that the committee should alter
nate between the two sides.
VICIOUS SYSTEM
Mr.. Allen Mich declared that the whole
system of passing public building measures
was vicious. A general law on the subject
should be enacted. But as long as the system
prevailed there was nothing fair in passing two
republican bills to one democratic Politics
should have nothing to do with the question
and he could not sit calmly and hear men talk
about dividing post offices according to the
politics of the House.