The advocate and Topeka tribune., 1893-11-01

Mr.. Curtis, Of Kansas-AEe you sure about
that2
Mr.. Wheeler, of Alabama-We had the
maps before us and the engineers appeared
before the committee, and we gave the SUBJ
ject che fullest investigation possible.
Mr. Curtis, Of Ksnsas-Have you any Ob-
isCtion to letting this bill 80 over until TO-
morrow OF next dayG
Mr.. Wheeler, Of Alabams--Mr. Speaker,
think it is almost criminal for congress to
stand here and allow 1900 people TO be de-
prived of the privilege Of having their
freight delivered and ordinary railroad
facilities given TO people by railroads.
Mr.. Curtis, of Kansas-Then your COM
mittee must have been criminal in delaying
thiS matter 30 long.
Mr.. Wheeler, Of Alsbsms-It is possible
we were dereliOt in our duty, but quite a
number Of the members Of this house in
formed US that the bill as il stood did the
railroads great injustice, and asked the COM
mittee to give the railroads hearing before
acting on the bill. believe my friend from
Kansas was one Of those who made this re-
quest. Any delay that has occurred was
caused by the desire on the part Of the COM
mittee to extend to members Of this house
and their railroad friends every courtesy
possible, and we had a great desire to see
that no injustice was done to the railroads.
/ will say TO the gentleman that intro
duCed thls bill in less than an hour after /
received the first intimation Of the refusal
OF the railroad TO stop their trains at the
town Of Enid, and the first day after the in
PRODUCTION Of the bill that there was q
quorum Of the committee in the CITY Of
Washington reported the bill to the house.
The gentleman will see that but four days
intervsned from the introduction Of the bill
TO the date Of the report.
should have asked for its immediate
consideration had il not been that we were
almost overwhelmed with requests Of men,
berS TO give hearing TO the railroads. The
committee complied with these appeals and
gave the railroads every hesEing that they
desired, with the understanding that the
committee would propose any amendment
which che railroad desired, and it would not
do injustice 20 the people. The committee
completed the work less than an hour ago,
and we are here now, Notwithstanding the
opposition Of the gentleman from Kansas
and the gentleman from POnnSylVania, ask
ing the house TO consider the bill.
do not think the committee on territor-
les has been guilty Of any very serious de-
lay or neglect.
Mr.. Springer-SeverRl years ago congress
authorized the creation Of a commission
consisting of three persons appointed by the
president Of the United States to treat with
the Cherokee nation for the Oession Of what
10 known a. the Cherokee outlet to the
United States for settlement By actual set
tiers. That commission performed it's duties
and reported TO congress an agreement en-
tered into with the Cherokee nation by the
commission acting on behalf Of the United
States.
Congress, when that agreement was sub
mitted, amended it in several particulars
One Of the portions Of the original OesSiOn
which was slightly amended by congress
had reference to the rights of about seventy
sO-oalled Cherokee Indians-or white men,
practically, who claimed TO be Cherokee In
dians-who had settled upon portion Of
the outlet, without authority Of course, be-
cause the supreme court Of the United
States has held that a. 10 that outlet no per-
SON had any right under the law 10 settle
upon IL or 10 take ownership Of land in 1t.
But these seventy persons had done so,
nikhAp hu Iniaknka or haainnAnlR. and khARA