The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-03-02
As TO MINERAL LANDS.
Thomas G. Merrill Anent the Killing
Of the Bill for a Conn.,
missioner.
It Was Just Such q Estate Lobbv-
list" as the Mining interests
Want.
The Writer Thinks the Opportunity for
Favorable Legislation at Washing
ton Was at This Congress.

To The INDEPENDENT: The committee on
mines and mining of the senate after a
joint meeting with the same committee in
= joint memorial to congress, a joint resolu-
ton to the governors and legislatures of ten
OF the gold, silver and copper producing
states and territories of the west, and a bill,
all having in view the preservation
to the people of our mines and
mineral lands, which are now in
imminent danger of becoming the
property Of the land grant railroads and in
Montana especially endangered by the
Northern Pacific railroad company. The
memorial is addressed to congress. and asks
for such action as is absolutely necessary to
save these mines and mineral lands to the
people and the joint resolution asks these
ten other states and territories to join us in
memoralizing congress for action and to
select some n who should nave AUTHORITY
to represent and act for them in a JOINT eff
fort, with Montana, to prevent the land
grant Pacific railroads from acquiring title
TO our mines and mineral lands, which they
claim. but to which they are not entitled
under their granting acts. They were
passed by both houses of the Montana leg
islature under suspension of the rules.
The bill providing for the appointment
OF q mineral land commissions to repre-
fort, and prescribing his duties and pro-
vidinR for his compensation and expenses,
Is a measure OF the greatest importance to
the people Of Montana, and upon it the sue
cess Of this effort depends.
II was passed by the senate under suspen-
sion OF the rules and sent to the house.,
where it was referred to the committee on
public lands. Hon. j. X. Clark, of Butte,
chairman OF the committee was called
homo on Feb. I'D and before he left, not
having an opportunity to call a meeting. he
prepared and signed a report recommend
ing the passage of the bill, which report
was placed in the hands of one of the COM
mittee and he was asked to consult with the
other members and have it signed if il met
with their approval. Concerning the prepara-
tion and signing OF the majority report of
this committee recommending that the bill
tsenate bill No. 201 do not pass. l do not
desire to speak at present, but | desire to
speak Of the substance of the report and
some OF the remarks upon it when under
discussion. The last clause of the report is:
w return the same with the recommenda-
tion that It do not pass, and assign az our
reasons tho fact that we have duly nccredit-
ed representatives in congress- Mt Washing
ton, and We regret the appointment of a
state lobbyist as an impolitic measure.
Signed,
J. X. BaRRows,
w. II. HARLAN,
A. NJ. HoLTyR.''
We have duly accredited representatives
at Washington, AMI what have they lone
for the people OF Montana in this matter?
There never has been n congress when such
legislation an would have for ever preserved
our mines and mineral lands to the people
could have been as easily obtained az from
the present congress, and there may never
be another such. The secretary Of the in
terror, in his report to this congress- ut the
first day of It's ~s.ssion, showed the danger
10 our mineral ls.1s. and asked Of congress