The DeSmet leader. (DeSmet, Kingsbury Co., Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1890-05-31
CONGRESSIONAL MATTERS.
Various Questions Before Co onRress
Of Especial importance to the
Northwestern States.

Of Especial importance to the
Northwestern States.
Senator Wilson. OF Iowa, on the
9th INST. reported from the judiciary
committee the following bill as sub
stitute for the original package liquor
bill now under consideration in the SEN
ate. THAT any Intoxicating liquors
which shall be transported from one
state or territory to another, or from
any foreign country, such liquors shall,
when actual and continuous trans.
por tation oil the same shall have ter.
minated. be considered to have ceas-
ed to be subjects OF interstate com.
merce and be part OF the common
mass OF property within The state or
territory and subject to the restrlc-
tive powers OF the state or territory
IN respect to all police regulations OF
prohibition, regulation or taxation"
TIMBER CULTURE ACT.
The senate committee on public
lands has concluded it's consideration
OF the house bill to repeal the timber
culture laws, and Chairman Plumb
reported to the senate n substitute
therefor. The house measure was
comparatively brief, while the senate
committee bill is voluminous docu-
ment, relating to desert land sales,
and town site entries as well. The
bill repeals the timber culture act Of
1878, except rs to the state of Ne
braska. and all acts supplementary
thereto with provisions that no val
Id rights under the act shal, be dis.
turbed, that entries made in good
faith may be proved up and paid tor
at the rate Of $1.25 per acre, and
that no lands acquired under the
terms OF the bill shall become liable
Tor debts contracted prior to issuing
the final certificates therefor. The
act OF 1877, making provision for the
sale OF desert lands is amended by the
addition of FIVE sections for the gov
ernment issue Of patents OF lands to
be irrigated and giving parties the
right to associate together for the
construction Of irrigation canals and
bitches.
ABANDONED RESERVATIONS.
The bill also provides that no pub
lie lands OF the United States shall be
offered at public sale except abandon
cd military or other reservations, iso'
lated and disconnected fractional
tracts and mineral, and other lands,
specially authorized to be sold by con.
gress. Provision is made for entering
town sites i'm Alaska, limited to l60
acres and for requirement OF tracts
not exceeding 100 acres in extent by
manufacturing or trade associations
at $500 per acre. From operation
Of these provisions are excepted coal
lands and lands containing precious
minerals, public reservations, fish
culture lands on Kodiac and
Ofaguak islands, and islands OF
the Pribylor group, and tracts
of land not exceeding $40 acres
in extent, occupied as missionary sta
tions. The right to regulate the tax.
ing and protection OF salmon is also
reversed. Townsite entries, the bill
provides, may be made by incorpo-
rated towns aud cities on mineral
lands Of the United States, but they
shall not acquire title to any vein OF
mineral ore when mineral veins are
possessed within the limits OF an in
corporated town or city and such
possession is recognized by local au.
thority or the Jaws OF the United
States. The title to town lots shall
be subject to such recognized posses
sion and necessary use thereof, and
the possesRor OF such mineral vein
may enter and receive q patent there.
fore aud the surface ground pertain
ing thereto.
NORTHERN PACIFIC LANDS.
A bill was introduced by Senator
Saunders providing that no patent
issued to the Northern Pacific Roll
road compsny shall be construed to
convey to the company any mineral
lands, iron and coal lands excepted.
The conferees on customs administra-
tive bill have reached an agreement.
The law is to take effect August l,
but Il section providing for the ap-
poIntment OF nine general appraisers
is to 60 into effect at once.
IRRIGATION, ...a.
The following resolution, introduced
by Senator Stewart, was unanimous
ly passed.
Whereas, by act OF October 2, 1888,
an appropriation OF $l99, was
made for telegraphic surveys, and
100000 for investigations and sur.
veys Tor the purpose OF irrigation, and
whereas, by act OF March 2, 1889. an
appropriation Of $500, 900 was made
for Topographic surveys, therefore, be
1t resolved, that the secretary OF the
interior be directed to inform the sen.
ate how much, il any. Of tho money
appropriated for irrigation investiga-
tions AMI surveys has been diverted
and used for topoGra phic surveys and
matters connected Herewith, but il
any OF such money has bean so divert
ed and used, TO inform the senate by
what authority OF law where appro-
priaticns are made by congresx for
several purposes, money approrflat.
Il L.. IL