The herald., 1896-02-05
IN COMMITTEE
Conclusions Arrived a. and Matters Still
Under Discussion

Conclusions Arrived at and Matters Still
Under Discussion
WASHINGTON, Feb. 4.-The house COM
mittee on public lands today reconsidered
its action of last week in adopting bill to
carry out the recommendations of Presi-
dent Cleveland's message that the limita-
ton of five years for the bringing of suits
to annul titles to patents established by
the act of March, 1891, bs repealed. An
other bill embodying the views of different
members of the committee and intended
to furnish full protection to purchasers in
good faith, drawn by Mr.. allen of Utah,
was substituted for the first bill. Chair
man Lacey will report it to the house. AS
this legislation may effect the title 10 co.
OOO,OOO acres. it has been difficult for the
committee TO draw q satisfactory bill. .-
The new bill provides that suits be
brought by the United States to annul
patents to lands enormously issued under
special grant shall only be brought with
in five years from the passage of the act,
and suits to annul patents hereafter issued
must be brought within ten years after
the titles of bona fide purchasers, and pIo-
vldes that if any party claiming to be a
bona tide purchaser presents his claim to
the secretary of the interior before the in
stitution of a suit to cancel a patent and
his claim is found to be valid,
the secretary shall request that
suit be brought against the original
patentee for sum not less than
the minimum government prices for the
lands, and not more than the amount paid
by the purchasers. Another section makes
the courts having jurisdiction over suits
under the act the final authority on the
bona fide claim of purchasers, and pro-
vides that claimants who have not submit
ted their claims to the secretary of the in
terror may intervene in suits begun and
have their claims adjudicated by becomirg
parties in that way to the litigation. The
bill also provides that no suit shall be
brought to annul patents when parties
have presented claims to be bona fide pur-
chasers until the secretary has passed
upon their claims.
The ways and means committee today
decided to report bill fixing penalties for
knowingly selling and Shopping or keeping
for sale wines or liquors under names of
different brands. The penalty for the first
ofense is fixed at $500 fine and six months
imprisonment, and for the second offense
double that.
Mr.. Hill, from the senate committee on
judiciary, reported substitute for the
resolution providing for a special commit
too to inquire into the Imprisonment of
Eugene Y. Debs. The substitute directs
the judiciary committee to investigate the
law upon the whole subject of contempt of
court, as enforced by the federal courts,
and to report to the senate whether addi.
tional legislation is necessary for the pro-
lection of the rights of citizens; If so, to
report such legislation.
Representative Munsell of Wyoming to-
day succeeded in getting through the house
his bill directing the appointment of
commission to treat with The Bannock and
Shoshone Indians for REIMBURSEMENT of
their hunting resorts in Wyoming. He
says the Indians are willing to come to an
understanding of this character, and such
a treaty Is the only means of preventing a
recurrence of the Jackson Hole trouble
last summer. The bill was passed by the
senate without trouble.