The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-05-23
Measures Approved by the Com
mercial Congress in Ses-
sion at Denver.
Ten Millions for the Mississippi
and Big Sum for Gal
weston.
Strong Silver Declaration AdOpted-Tw0
Sorts Of Irrigation Laws Advocated
Two Meetings Annually.

DENVER, May 22.The report Of the COM
mittee on resolutions of the transmlssis
sippi congress, which WAS made late last
night, recommends that congress the Bur-
roughs bill appropriating $10.oo0,000 for
building and maintaining leveeg on the
Mississippi river; demands government
supervision OF railroads; recommends
granting liberal charters and subsidies to
steamship lines under the American flag;
favors the admission of New Mexico and
Arizona into the union; asks congress to
pass the Torrey bankruptcy law, to cede to
the different states all arid land
except mineral lands, to enact
such legislation as will foster our mining
interests; recommends more stringent nat
uralization laws. and the immediate COM
pletion OF jetties at Galveston. Upon the
silver question it asks that congress be pc j.
toned to repeal all laws which in their ef-
feet work dishonor upon, or in the least
challenge the sovereignty of the silver dol
lar as an absolute measure of value, and to
restore to silver the place given it as per-
feet money by the trainers our government.
The congress also asks the president and
congress to attempt to bring around the
of the status of silver as money, or that q
united agreement be sought with the
nstions of the Latin unions whereby the
mints of those nations may again be-
opened for the coinage of silver. 1t also
favors negotiations with Spanish Ameri-
can nations, south of Canada.
In the minority report the silver clause
simply "Delnads the free and unlimited
coinnge Of silver.''
The fine hand of the Louisiana lottery
combination was manifested in the defeat
of a resolution calling for constitutional
amendment by which lotteries could not be
legalized in any state. The vote stood
ninety five to eighty. The remainder of
the day was spent in consideration Of the
resolutions. All passed as reported by the
committee, but warm debate was pro-
voked by the question of the government
ceding arid lands to states and territories.
The resolution deplorinQ the law
of the Forty-nnth congress pro-
hibiting foreign capital from investing 10
real estate and mines. was adopted. The
majority report on arid lands approved the
cession of arid lands to the states in which
they we're situated, and limiting individual
purchases to 1920 acres at not less than 81 .25
per acre, and that only citizens of the
United States be eligible as purchasers.
Funds derived from such sale to be devoted
to the development, irrigation and reclama-
tion of arid lands.
The minority report was devoted to a
strong argument for system of govern
ment irrigation that would bring the lands
under cultivation. After much debate, pa :
ticipated in by Senator Warren, of Wyo-
ming. Judge Belford, of Colorado, Dele
gates Gun of Idaho, Morse, of Colorado,
and Hardy. Of Utah, various amendments
offered were voted down and the majority
report adopted by a large vote. 1t was
voted to hold two meetings each year, one
in February and one in November. A basis
of representation was fixed.