The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-06-22
Power Dumps a Bill Into the
Senate Hopper for That
Purpose.
The Helena Postonce Raised to
the Rank OF the First
Glass.
And tho Salary 10 Corrcspondingly In
creased From "a. 900 to o., 900
Other Capital News

WAsHlN0ToN, June 21.-tSpecial. 1T. G.
Power introduced bill providing for the
sale of public lands unit for cultivation.
but valuable for the stone on them. The
bill provides for their sale in blocks of 100
acres at the minimum price of $3.50 per
acre. Provisions are made that no mineral
lands or mining claim, shall come under
this bill and no right heretofore acquired
shall be molested. Secretary Noble to-day
modified decision of the general land office
in the case of the Northern Pacific railroad
company against Henry Crous, allowing
the latter's application to enter the north
west half of section IL, township l, range &,
of the Bozeman, Mont, district. This 10
a decision in favor of both parties, as the
SECRETARY holds that forty acres of the tract
sought to be entered was sub
ject to entry, having been select
ed as Indemnity by the company.
Senator Allen this morning introduced a
bill to reimburse H. L. Tilton and J. 8.
Kaufman for tho outlay in fitting up and
paying rent for a building to be used as
postofice in Spokane Falls, Immediately
after the great fire there last year. The
amount is $639. Senator Allen, by request,
this morning introduced bill to authorize
Challam county, Washington, to purchase
and hold in trust tract of about 200 acres
now part of the Port Angeles reservation,
south Of that port. The land is is in what
would be. if Surveyed, part of sections 4,
3, 10, II and IA, of township 3G, range 6.
The proceeds are to be used in the erection
of public buildings and the payment Of the
county debt. 4sa
The postoface department to-day COM
pleted the annual readjustment of post
masters salaries for the frst-class offices.
The readjustment is based on the postal
receipts, and there are fourteen new offices
of this class, making total of 116 in the
country. The changes will 90 into effect
July l. In Washington state there are two
changes and Seattle-where the
net increase has been Is and 76 per cent
during the year. gain hitherto unprece-
dented. This increases the salary of the
postmaster at seattle from O., COO to &8,2O0.
and at Tacoma from &2,600 to $3;10O.
Tacoma thus passes from second to first
class. In Oregon the only change is at
Portland, where the postmaster will be paid
90. 400 instead of $500. Montana has un-
til this year had no Offices of the first class,
but Helena has passed the notch and the
salary of the postmaster is increased from
$500 to $4,000. H.
Senators Casey, Moody. Stewart and Col.
Sanders called upon President Harrison to-
day to see him in regard to the withdrawal
of land in the arid reg ion, which effects
lands claimed to be arid west Of the one
hundred and first meridian. The attorney
general has informed the president that
there is no way of getting around the act of
1883, which means that arid lands must be
Withdrawn from settlement under the gen
eral laws. After the situation had been ex-
planned to the president he intimated that
he would conform to the law with as little
rigor as possible. Senator Casey believes
that the Dakotas will not be regarded as in
the withdrawn lands. There is an intense
feeling growing in the senate against Di-
rector Powell. of the geological survey, and
it may arrive at such proportions as to lop
of some of the large expenditures made by
the house for his benefit. Senator Moody
made savage attack on Powell yesterday,
which is considered ill-advised, as it has
rallied number Of Powell's friends to his
defense.