The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-07-17
The Western Senator'S Probing Into
Powell's Management of the
Geological Survey.
That Body, Through Much Discus
sion, Ia Prejudiced Against the
Irrigation System.
Eighty "Opel attic MS" . Day in the Ap-
pointment Bureau of Wanamaker's
Postoface Department

of irrigation in the senate has so
prejudiced that body against the whole
system that it is very doubtful if any ap-
for any kind of irrigation can
be obtained at the present session of con-
gress. There are very few supporters OF the
Powell scheme left, and it is now probable
that even should a point of order be made
against the amendment repeating the with
drawal act of 1883, and sustained by the
chair, that the decision of the chair will be
voted down by the house. When the facts
are shown that one-third of the United
States are withdrawn from set
tlsment the senators recognize that
great injustice has been done. The feeling
now is that the states themselves should
regulate their own irrigation matters as
they see fit. There was happy lot OF new
senators to-day when the public land sur
vey appropriation Of 100000 went through
the senate. An amendment offered by SEN
ator Pierce was adopted allowing the sur
vey of lands 90 that the grants to the state
could be selected, which had not been pre-
viously settled upon. There may be
opposition to the amendment in the house,
but the senate conferees will stand by their
amendments.
Mr.. Power, of Montana, to-day opened
up the fight from the west by introducing
a resolution requiring the secretary of the
interior to furnish the senate with all infor-
nation regarding the geological survey.
The assumption of tho resolution is that
Powell has not conducted the geological
survey in a businesslike manner. He in
quires into the duties of the executive OH
Ger, w. A. Crorutt, and wants to know
what authority there was for establishing a
bureau of ethnology, and why Powell was
appointed director. He inquiries into tho
disposition of appropriations for the pay of
employees who are down on the
rolls of the geological survey, by whom ap-
pointed and the character of the work they
perform. In fact it is the intention of the
resolution to ascertain all there is in the
geological survey. 1t has been alleged that
there are many broken down relatives of
senators and representatives in the geolog-
ical survey receiving large salaries, and
with this kind of pull Powell manages to
keep going. The western people propose to
vestigation. The senators from the four
new states are behind the movement with
several others who are just finding out what
the geological survey is doing.
After many days the forfeiture bill was
again taken up by the house to-day. Oh.
jector Holman talked against the bill TO,
about an hour and half. Mr.. Hermann
replied in speech of about the same
length. giving the reasons for forfeitine
the lands, as proposed in the present bill.
He gave in detail the hardshipt
which the settlers on the public
lands located within the limits
of these unforfeited lands have
to undergo. He claimed that Holman, Nc
Rae and Stone. who were opposing the bill
were doing an injury to the settlers insteai
of helping them. There is prospect nov
that the bill may be passed, as general de
bate tomorrow has been limited to an houl
and half, when vote will probably b.
taken. OF course there is prospect of ns
quorum and long delay, but the end il
approaching.