Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1890-10-18

Uuder the above caption the Dead
wood Times Of 18th inst. contains a re
sumo of the valuable services performed
by South Dakota's delegation in con
gress, which we reproduce for the edit
cation of CHRONICLE readers:
This has been u long, busy session
and the members Of the South Dakotu
delegation have had much to do aside
from legislative duties, in looking after
their constituents interests in the
various departments, particularly in the
pension bureau, general land office, of
lie of the commissioner of Indian af
fairs, census Office, the department oil
agriculture, and in adjusting the affairs
oil the new state generally, and securing
Tigbtful share of federal patronage in
Washington and ut home.
1t was early agreed, among the friends
of the ex soldies, that the wise course
was to insist upon the passage Of what
is known as the dependent pension
bill" This bill has been slowly perfect
ing itselfin congress for years it adds
at least fifty millions Of dollars annually
10 the pension rolls, and pensions three
fifths Of the soldiers in our state all
who are disabled, and from whatever
cause. 1t is in fact, a dependent bill
only so far as it relates to widows and
u inor children of deceased soldiers.
Senator Moody, who is a member of the
ension committee OF the senate, was
che of the trainers of the measure which
became a law, and his able and master.
ly speeches in its behalf in the senate,
had telling effect. Many private bills
have been put through, and this republi-
can administration is not vetoing acts
granting pensions 10 widows and child
rem Of deceased Union soldiers.
Some time ago, Senator Pettigrew in
PRODUCED a bill requireing the secretary
of the interior to cause patents to be is.
sued ut once for all lands entered under
the homestead, pre-eniptIon or timber
culture laws, where 'fna, proof was
made prior 10 Jan. ], 1889, and an in
nocent third party had acquired an in
terest in the land by deed, mortgage or
otherwise. This is a just measure, and
when passed will do much toward cor
Tecting the wrongs done the west by the
Sparks administration Of the general
land Office.
The republican votes ofthe new states
were needed TO secur the passage OF
the silver bill. 1t was necessary to
provide such an increase of currency as
would supply the loss OF circulation of
national banks, and place among the
people a medium for more prosperous
business. The stimulus of this expan-
sion is already felt in our state in the in
creased price of farm products the min
ing camps have received deserved en-
enlargement, and the advancement OF
eilver is with safety TO all interests of the
country. Wheat is keeping pace with
silver in the rise. About so, 900 a
month is being added to the currency.
BY its platform Of 1888, the republican
party promised the people this relief,
and the law was passed, Notwithstanding
the opposition and notorious methods
Of obstruction pursued by the demo
Gratis.
The repblicans had promised the peo-
pie a revision Of the tariff, and that the
principle of protection should have con
sideration. That promise il being
building up local American industries, OF
protecting them against ruinous foreign
competition and thereby providing q
home market for our farmers products,
was aggressiyely urged by II delega-
ton, and especially by Senator Moody
in his tin tariff speech. This effort at
upbuiiding the wages of miners and
laborers in tho Black Hills, and providing
employment for additional thousands
and n consequent market for all parts of
the state, is keenly appreciated. In the
fight made against the binding Irvine
trust, Congressman Pickler did some eff
fective work in the house in helping to
reduce the tariff to n cent, and when
the bill came 10 the senate, this article
was placed on the free list. Millions OF
dollars will be saved to the people Of the
northwest by the reduction finally made
in the tariff. from "a to 7-l0 OF a cent per
pound.
A bill which passed the house, and Is
being pushed by the Dakota people in
the senate, repeating the timber culture
law and permitting communication OF
claims already entered, meets with
popular approval, and will no doubt be-
come a law next session. 1t has passed
both houses and is now before u confer
ence committee.
There is great need for artesian irriga-
ton, and efforts baye been made for
relief. This, subject has been finally
wrested from the hands of the theoretic
Powell. The $4,000 appropriation last
spring, to determine positively the ex-
tent Of the artesian basin, and where
wells can be sunk with certainty of Sc
curing water, expended under the direc
ton OF the secretary of agriculture, has
been of much help, and has already de-
monstrated that Jul water supply is
practically ~inexhaustible, as over the up
turned edge Of the Dakota sandstone
runs the Missouri river, to say nothing
of other sources OF supply. The further
appropriation of $4,000 will last until
next session; and enable the investiga-
ton to continue. Senator Moody has
been untiring In his efforts to secure
this, and finally succeeded.
The obnoxious act Of October 2, 1888,
Withdrawing public lands west Of the
Tooth merriam has been repealed.
Senator Pettigrew has given special
attention to his bill re-imbursing the
Crow Creek and Winnebago settlers for
their losses to the establishment of the
United States courts to the bill authorize
Ing the secretary OF the interior to have