The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1896-03-19
THE F|FIY.F0URIH CONGRESS
CUBAN DISCUSSION GIVES PLACE TO
CRITICISM OF OFFICIALS
Sarcasm Is INDUCED In by Senators at the
Expense Of Secretary Smith and the
President--The House Debates the Gem
sure Of Bayard


Associated Press Special Wire
WASHINGTON, March 16.-Owing to the
tndisposition of Mr.. Mills OF Texas, who
had the floor on the subject, the Cuban
debate was not continued today.
An animated controversy arose over the
resolution of Mr.. Cannon (R., Utah), di-
recting Secretary Smith to execute the law
for the public opening Of the Uncompaghre
Indian reservation. in Utah.
Mr.. Gordon responded that after confer.
Once with Secretary Smith he had learned
that vast mineral wealth, particularly
asphalt, existed on these lands. The
secretary was desirous of protecting the
government against rapae!ous persons and
corporations, seeking to control these
valuaSle deposits, the secretary felt that
the government ought to leceive some
benefit either by royalty or otherwise, so
that the public might receive the benefits,
instead of giving them to some great cor
poration.
He followed in sharp criticism of the
secretary of the interior for failing to exc
cute the law. Mr.. Vest followed IT.. criti-
cism of the secretary's course.
'sThere was a time" said Mr.. Vest,
''when cabinet officer who violated law
would be brought before the bar Il this
senate.
.This reservation said the senator,
s'contained the greatest beds of asphaltum
In existence-s,ifficien to supply this
country for centuries. A law was passed
directing the opening OF the lands, but the
secretary of the interior ni:llified 1t. 1t
was nullified on the excuse that congress
did not know what it was about. The Sec
retary's course was in behalf of rich invest
ois, who were the cnly ones who could bid
on public auction of the lands.
~ am sorry to say" said Mr.. Vest, "but
there there seems to be a disposition on
the part of the present administration to
treat the western people as if they were
know their own rights and interests, and
that they must be informed ex-cathedra
from the east in regard to what is best for
them and what should be ,'rne for them.
.Iven the president of the United States,
lately on q missionary occasion (laughter),
spoke of the west as the land OF immorali-
ty and crime. He stood within the 9hastly
light OF the hellholes of the rumsellers OF
New York blazing upon him, s.pd cantingly
said home missions must be used to civil
lize and Christianize the men who have
left their homes in the civilized east and
gone out among the mountains and val
leys of the wild and wooily west Qaugh.
teri.
"Our president stood, with Rev. DR.. Tai
mage on one side and the Rev. Sheldon
Jackson on the other. and gave us a new
version of that blessed missionary hymn
hood:
From Montana's sinful mountains,
From Utah's wicked plains,
They call us to deliver
Our land from error chains"
There was long and loud laughter as Mr..
Vest repeated the lines in tones OF intense
sarcasm.
I'VE are told" continued the senator,
"by high ecclesiastical authority that his
excellency has lately laid down bis homage
at the feet of Jesus. l am glad to know it.
It has been the general impression of the
Democratic party that the mugwumps and
incense burners have got all those honors
and intend to keep them. have got re-
spect for the Christian religion and mis-
sions at home and abroad, but, Nj. Presi-
dent, it is q slander upon the men who,
Nth rife In one hand and an AK in the
c.Ner, have gone out and blazed the path
way of civilization in those western wilds
am a western man; I went to Missouri
when it was frontier. in sight OF the Indian
and buffalo. have lived there nearly fifty
years and l say to our president now that
If he will interrupt hunting ducks in North
Carolina and silver Democrats in Ken
lucky long enough to come out we will
show him God fearing and respecting,
law-abiding people; we will show him
churches in which there is real and unaf-
fected piety. But don't rise for the pur-
pose of again criticizing this administra-
i
this habit of secretaries or members of the
cabinet of deliberately trampling upon the
laws of congress and refusing to carry them
out have gone to an extent that demands
immediate notice at the hands of the legis-
lative part of the government"
There was another loud and long DEM
onstrai,on OH the floor and in the galleries
as Mr.. Vest closed.
At 2 o'clock MIR. Cannon's resolution was
temporarily laid aside and the Dupont case
was taken up, Mr.. Thurston addressing
the senate in behalf of Mr.. Dupont.
Tho following bills were passed: For
the relief of settlers on the Northern Pa
cific railroad indemnity lands in Minne-
sofa: amending the laws as to fees and
costs in circuit courts of appeals; amend
ing the practice as to habeas corpus cases
in circuit courts of appeals; for the recon-
struction of Rock Island bridges; authoriS.
ing the secretary IF war to issue Springfield
rifles to state troops in exchange for an
equal number of arms; authorizing the
leasing of lands for educational purposes
in Arzona authorizing the secretary of
the navy to purchase lands opposite the
Gasport navy yard at a cost not exceeding
Sl5O,OOO; fixing the salaries of the chief
Justice and associate justices of the court
of claims at $500 and amending the act
relating to the Choctaw lands; providing
for the disposition of certain property now
in the hands Of the receiver of the Church
of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints; grant
ing to California five per cent of the pro-
state; authorizing the committee on Indian
affairs to visit Indian reservations, schools,
etc.
At s $50 p. m. the senate went into ex-
ecutive session and shortly afterward ad-
journed.