Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-02-11
AT THE CAPITOL TO-DAY.
A SURPRISE In THE HOUSE.
THE DEMOCRATS SCORE A VICTORY,
And Secure Time to Discuss the New
House Rules.
OKLAHOMA BILL IN THE SENATE.
THE SENATE,

Among the bills introduced and referred we're
the following:
By Mr.. Edmunds-Establishing a public
school system and providing for the mainte-
nance and supervision of public schools in Utah.
AGAINST FOOD ADULTERATIoNs.
Also providing for an inspection of meats for
expectation, prohibiting the importation of
adulterated articles of food or drink and au-
thorlzing the President to make proclamation
III certain cases.
Mr.. Edmunds commended the latter bill to
the earnest attention of the committee on for
elgn relations, adding that it had twice passed
the Senate but had not been acted on in the
House, and that il was of very great impor-
tance to the interests of citizens of the United
States.
By Mr.. Pierce-To create an agricultural
commission to investigate the present depressed
condition OF the agricultural interests of the
country.
FREE BATHING BEACH IN WASHINGTON.
By Mr.. ingalls, (by request )-Establishi a
free bathing beach on the Potomac river near
the Washington monument grounds.
BILLS PASSED.
On motion Of Mr.. Allison the Senate bill ap-
propriating 100000 for public building at
Burlington, Iowa, was taken from the calendar
and passed.
On motion Of Mr.. Mitchell the Senate bill for
the relief of certain settlers the public lands
was taken from the calendar and passed.
THE OKLAHOMA BILL.
The Senate at o'clock resumed considera-
ton Of the bill to provide temporary govern
ment for the territory of Oklahoma-the pend
ing question being on the amendment offered
yesterday by Mr.. Plumb to comprise No Mans
Land within the limits Of the proposed ter
ritOry.
Mr.. Vest argued In support of the amend
ment ON the ground that there was now a large
number OF persons living in No Mans Land
without laws, without government protection
and without security for life, liberty or prop
erty, and that. these people should have q
territorial jurisdiction extended over them.
He referred to the case of the Sioux reserva-
tion, where. he said.
SCENES WERE BEING ENACTED TO-DAY
that beggared all other scenes heretofore
known to the American people in the way Of
opening q new country to settlement Refer
ring to the objections of the Cherokee Indians
to surrender the Cherokee outlet, he said that
as soon these Indians realized that the
United States was in earnest in the matter, and
that No Mans Land had been added to the
territory of Oklahoma, they could take it as
au fait accomple that the Cherokee outlet was
to become a part Of Oklahoma and would abate
their demands.
AGAINST THE AMENDMENT.
Mr.. Platt Gn charge of the bilD argued
against the amendment. He attributed Mr..
Vests earnestness in the matter not so much
to apprehension for the 5000 people living in
No Mans Land as to desire for the
opening Of the Cherokee outlet to public settle
ment. He (Mr. Platt) was as anxious as the
Senator from Missouri that the Cherokee out
let should be opened to settlement. He be-
lieved that in the progress of events it was to
be opened during the present session
of Congress. That would require an
act OF Congress, and when that act
was passed the outlet could be attached to the
territory Of Oklahoma. He did not think that
there was any such pressing necessity as might
make it desirable at present that No Mans
Land should be attached to the territory Of
Oklahoma-not attached but included within
its jurisdiction.
Mr.. Dawes opposed the amendment, although
he said he agreed with the Senator from Mis-
souri, as to the importance and inevitability
of the Cherokee outlet becoming soon a
part Of the public domain and to become
SO not by spoliation. but by reason
able and fair compensation. He believed that
that end could have been accomplished long
ago, and could have been accomplished last
summer if there had not been threats mingled
with the negotiations. There had been held
up to the Indians negotiations i'll the one hand
and sword in the other. That had been the
radical defect in all negotiations with the
Indians.
1t had been announced within the last six
months by those who had been sent to negoti-
ate with the Cherokee Indians that unless
they accepted the proposition to part
with their lands at $1.25 an acre, the land
would be taken from them, and distinguished
statesman had thrown out the idea Gas ii it
would help the negotiatiOns) that it was within
the power Of the United States to condemn the
land for public uses.