Los Angeles daily herald., 1890-01-18
WARRINGTON.
The Oklahoma Townsite Bill
in the House.
THE BALLoT-BOX FORGERY CAsR
Ex-Governor Foraker on the Wit
ness stand-Re-Rated Pen
sl0ners Bounced,

Associated Press Dispatches to the HrpA,n
WASHINGTON, January 17.-In tn,
House today Mills, Of Texas, introduced
bill to extend the trade and commerce,
OF the United States, and to provide fo
full reciprocity between the United
States and Mexico. Referred.
Perkins called up the bill providing fol
the settlement of the controversies owe,
the townsite locations in Oklahoma.
The first section of the bill authorizing
the Secretary of the Interior to appoin
three Commissioners for each portion O
public lands settled upon and occupied a,
townsite (no more than two of whom
shall be members of the same politics
organizstion), whose duty it shall bt
whenever called on by any of the occu
pants of such townsite tthe money fol
the entrance of such townsite being fur
nished) to enter at the proper land Office
at the minimum price of the land &c
settled and occupied, not exceeding one
nalf section for each townsite, in trus
for the several use and benefit of the oc
cupants thereof, according to their respec.
tive interests.
Baker, of New York, offered an amend.
ment providing for the appointment lin.
stead of an indefinite number of Com.
missioners) of four boards, to consist oi
three Commissioners each-three boards
for the eastern and one for the western
land district.
Perkins believed that at least five
boards should be provided for.
Pickler, of South Dakota, doubted
whether five would be enough.
Payson, of Illinois, while he was in
favor of having the question settled, said
the people in the towns of Oklahoma had
to come to some sort of agreement which
would greatly reduce the work of the
Commissioners. While he would err on
the side of generosity, he did not think
that the House should be prodigal.
Holman, of Indiana, offered a substi-
tute for the first section, devolving upon
the local land officers, under the rules
and regulations prescribed by the Secre-
tsry of the Interior, the duties proposed
to be performed by the Commissioners
Baker modified the amendment SO as
to provide for the appointment of not
10 ore than five boards, to consist of three
Commissioners each and as modified it
was agreed to.
Holman's substitute was rejected.
The second section OF the bill author
ICES the Commissioners to do whatever
may be necessary to execute in good
faith and justice the provisions of this
act.
Section 3 authorizes the Secretary
Of the Interior to prescribe rules and
regulations to govern the Commissioners
and make it the duty of the Commission
ers to determine all controversies arising
between claimants.
Culberson moved an amendment pro-
viding that the claim of any person for
any town site or lot shall be deemed fD'
valid if such person entered the territory
or took possession of the town site or Tot
in advance of the date fixed by the
Presidents proclaim alton.
Tarsney offered as a substitute for this
amendment an amendment providing
that when it shall be shown by satisfac-
tory evidence that claimant wes, at
noon on the 22d of April, 1889, a United
States Marshal, Deputy Marshal, or
United States officer or agent, or was
prior to that date in Oklahoma, repre-
eenting himself to be such officer, or if
it is shown that claimant entered the
territory in violation of the Presidents
proclamation, such claimant shall not
have the right to prove up or purchase
any town site or lot.
Pending action the committee rose and
the House adjourned until O'Clock to-
morrow, enabling the members to attend
the funeral of Walker Blaine.