The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1890-07-08
IN THE HOUSE.
Representative who Talk Much and Do
Little.

WASHINGTON, July In the house to-
day Bland rising TO a question Of privilege
had read dispatch stating that he was
absent from the silver conference meet
ing on Saturday. He also read a note
from Chairman Conger stating there
would he no meeting on Saturday. He
did not desire 10 he advertised as not at
tending TO his duty when he was notified
his presence was not required.
After the transaction OF some other bus
mess the house went into committee of the
whole for consideration Of the senate bill
to forfeit certain lands heretofore granted
for the purpose of aiding in the constr,Ic-
ton of railroads, with the house substi-
ttite therefor.
Payson explained that the bill in its gem
eral provisions proposed to forfeit and re-
store To the public domain all public lands
wherever situated which have been
granted in aid Of construction, where the
railroads have not been completed AT this
time. There have been 81 railroads aided
by acts of congress which have not been
completed within the time flxet. by con-
grcss. Twelve of these roads have been
forfeited, comprising nearly JO,0OOOO
acres. That left % roads which have not
been acted upon. Nine have been fully
completed. That left III roads now not
completed and the house substitute rec
ommended the forfeiture Of all lands
lying opposite such portions OF roads as
are not now constructed. II was his
opinion that no bill Of a broader charac-
| and become law. A careful estimate was
To the effect that the bill would restore
10000 acres To the public domains.
Stone of Missouri, took the position
that forfeiture should he made of all land.
which had not been earned by railroads
AT the time fixed in tho granting acts fol
the compilation Of the roads. The North
| ern Pacific road, he said, was mos
vitality Interested In this measure. II,
quoted from speeches by Payson in the
twenty-eighth and ,wenty-ninth con
| gresses upholding the right of congress
10 forfeit the lands unearne'
AT tbethe time fixed by th'
granting acts and attacked tina
gentleman for wha. he declared was
change Of front on the pending legis
lation, which the situation especiali,
In the case of the Northern Paciiic'
demanded of congress. The spcdse
| Reed III the i7th congress, when chair
man of the judiciary committee, reported
| that congress had no power 90 forfeit al
| acre Of the Northern Pacific grant. Sinc'
! then Thomas B. Reed had been recognize,
as she founder and the jealous champion
| of that great, arrogant and corrupt cor
/
corporation knew its founder and stoo,
by him most Loyalty. IL was an opeI
secret that no influence had becu more
i potential in the reorganization of th'
house than that exerted by the Northern
Pacific railway. The passage of the bill
under consideration was matter of the
| first importance tn this corporation. The
bill would pass; the bosses mus
insist upon il, They could not Il,
| othcrw Use, and the rest Of the poo
fellows on the other side of the aisl,
with their hands tied and their lips silent
except when the parliamentary joss un
tied one, that they can clap their applaus'
To his utterance and attend others tina
they might chant "a scrvile chorus Ia th'
commanding tones of his majestic solo
and must follow blindly wherever the.
were led. But beyond their parliamen,
airy autocrat was great constituency, tn
| people of the United States, and to tina
| forum would he carried this cause, whicl
the majority stood ready To betray.
Lace Of Iowa favored the pending bill
Pending further debate the COMMITTEES
rase and the house adjourned.