The Portland daily press., 1895-12-25
IN THE HOUSE.
Secretary Smith Sends His Reply to
Questions.
IN REGARD TO THE WICHITA
LAND MATTER,

Mr.. Beach's American Republics Confer
ence Bfl-Mrs Mcclellan Wants an
Issue of Bank Notes-ConsuI walters
Case-The House win Meet on Thurs
day.
Washington, Dec. 24.-The purpose of
the ways and means committee to report
two bills coupling the tariff and finan-
cial measures which they have under con-
sideration in one bill, give great satisfac-
tion of the free silver Republicans who
could other Wise have been compelled to
antagonize their own party since few, if
any of the number favor bond issue. .
Before proceeding to this extremity
they would have urged on the floor of the
House the separation of the two measures.
A hasty advance made by them yesterday
developed the fact that their proposed
protest would have been warmly sup
ported by many of the anti-silver Repub-
licans on the ground that it would be
manifestly unfair to place them in an at
titude of hostility to their party when no
necessity for it. The silver Republicans
proposed holding conference today to-
consider this subject further, but it is
now likely to be abandoned in view of
the action of the ways AID means COM
mittee in deciding to report two bills.
kilograms are already arriving from
some of the 1870 absentees'of of the House
announcing that they will reach Wash
ineton in time to vote for the tariff and
bond bills which will be reported
| When the House met today on motion
of Mr.. Dingley, it was agreed that when
the House adjourn it should be unit.
Thursday next.
/ At IL. 40 the House adjourned to Thurs
day.
Secretary Hoke Smith sent to the
House today reply to the resolution in
troduced by Delegate Flynn of Oklahoma
adopted by the House, calling for infor-
nation relating to the allotment of the
Wichita Indian lands in Oklahoma. Re-
plying to section Of the resolution as to
the cause of delay in opening the lands
to the settlement, the Secretary says, the,
matter of ow wnership of the lands is not
yet definitely settled. He is Of the
| opinion it would be unwise to throw the
lands open to settlement while the claims,
of the Chocktaw and Chickasaws are un-.
| settled.
1t is unnecessary, he says, to discuss
| the serious complications which might
arise involving the settlers, Indians and
the government by such action. Reply
| ing to that part of the resolution asking
| if ally of Secretary Smiths relatives are
interested in delaying the opening of the,
lands to settlement, the Secretary says:
| "One of the counsel for the Wichitss,
in the litigation, is the husband of the
second cousin of my wife. 1t will be seen
the compensation of this counsel is to be
a percentage of money derived from the
sale of surplus land in case it is decided
the Chootaws and Chickasaws have no
| into roCtf ~, lar l1
am not aware of any interest which the
counsel for the Wichitas can have in de-
| laying the allotment and sale of surplus
lands. Neither has he ever suggested an
interest or desire on their part or the
clients part, for delay. No connection
or relation by blood or marriage of mine,
is acting as attorney for any party or
parties interested in delaying the opening
of these lands to settlement. No party
or parties have presented the interior
| Department any objection to full and
immediate execution OF the act of March
2. 1895, which provided for the opening
Of the lands"
Among the bills introduced in the
| House today were by Mr.. Beach. Repub-
lican OF Ohio. providing for the rec!pro-
| cal Interchange of products between the
United States and other nations; similar
| to the provision of the Mckinley law.
Authorizing tho President TO call an in
ternational conference of American Re-
| publics to me in this city a year from,
the passage of the net for the formal ac-
ceptance ard declaration of Nthe Monore
@doctrine as principle of international
law. Fifty thousand collars is appro-
priated to pay the expense of the United
States in conference.
By Mr.. Mcclellan, Democrat of New
York, authorizing an issue of banr note
circulation to the amount Of $500, ,OO0, OOC
| to be issued to National banks to the ex-
tent of so per cent Of the paidup unim-
paired capital, upon the deposit Of bonds
or United States legal tender notes. The
Secretary of the Treasury is requested to
maintain the redemption fund for re-
deInption of the notes. issued under this
act
By Mr.. Hull, Republican Of Iowa.
authorizing the Secretary of War to issue
to the governors OF the states for the pur-
pose of arming the militia with the
Springfield rifles lately discarded by the
army.
By Mr. Tracey, Republican of Missouri,
to prevent the stopping and reduction Cd
pensions without investigation.
By Mr.. Gibson, Republican Of Tennes-
see increasing to $50 por month the
pensions of all helpless soldiers and
sailors.
i By Mr.. Price, Democrat of Louisiana,
to supply revenues by placing the duty Of
one and fifteen -hundreths cents pound
on sugars imported, with the duty of five
cents pound on candy sugar and siz
cents gallon on molasses.
Representative Curtis OF Kansas,
presented two resolutions to the House
today. asking Congress to investigate the
case of ex-Consul Waller's arrest and i'm
prisonment in Madagascar, and that he
be protected in person and property as ar
American citizen One paper contained
6743 signatures CT citizens of Kansas, in
Guiding the governor and state officers