Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-02-29
The Arizona Land Bill Again Passes
the House.
an OVERWHELMING MAJORITY FOR IT
Rule as to the Abolition of the Fee
System.
THE MATTER DISCUSSED

the House today, and the bill was sent to
conference.
Mr.. Lacey, chairman Of public lands then
called up the bill to lease certain lands in
Arizona for school purposes, which was
vetoed yesterday by the President, and
moved that it be passed over the veto.
Mr.. Lacey, in support OF his motion, said
that the House was confronted with the
constitutional interference of the President
on bill that had passed both houses unani.' :
mously.
rs it an interference?, asked Mr. Miles
CMd.).
"A constitutional interference, / said"
replied Mr.. Lacey, land one that NAV be
fatal Two great bodies going in opposite
directions have encountered each other"
Proceeding, Mr.. Lacey explained that the
bill was Identical with that authorizing
oklahoma to lease her educational lands
for school purposes which had been pre-
pared and passed by the last Congress at
the request of the Secretary of the Interior
and the commissioner of the general land
ofhce. AS a result of the Oklahoma bill
sSS.VU had been realized in that territory
last year, while under the former system
but s46,0o0 had been obtained. Was it now
implied, he asked, that the governor of
Arizona was not as competent to lease
these lands as the Secretary of the In
terror, 1850 miles away. Both were Mr.
Cieveland's appointees. The veto message
mad called attention to the opposition of
clllZeuS IN Arizona. Naturally
such opposition would exist. The cattle
barons in Oklahom had protested, yet the
law in that territory had worked admir-
ably. Some of these lands were now oc.
cupied without authority and without
rental. The President. Mr.. Lacey said. had
undoubtedly been deceived. He had been
influenced by men who had, perhaps, been
influenced by others interested in obtaining
the use OF these lands free of charge.
The Bill n Good One.
Mr.. Underwood tAla.l a member OF the
public lands committee. coincided with Mr.
Lacey that the bill was good one, and
should become law.
In answer to question by Mr. Savers
CTeX.) Mr. Lacey said that the bill had not
been submitted to the Secretary of the In-
terror. The committee, he said, had relied
upon the report of the Secretary of The H.
terror in the case of Oklahoma where the
conditions were practically Identical In
hoth cases the cattle barons We're in Dos
session and paid no rent.
There was no reason why We should naka
fish of one and fowl Of the other
Mr. Sayers asked that the matter go over
until the opinion of the Secretary of the
Interior gould be obtained.
Il would be unwilling to ask the Secre.
eafy OF the Interior, even with his collos- :
sal assurance" replied Mr.. Lacey, ITO ask
MIN to make recommendation that We
should override the presidential veto."
Delegate Murphy's Assurance.
Mr.. Murphy, the Arizona delegate. made
the positive statement that the bill had the
approval Of the Secretary Of the Interior
and the commissioners of the general land
office, end that their opinions in writing
had been laid before the President while
he was considering the bill. Notwitbstsnd-,
ing this statement Mr.Turner (Ga) thought
IT could be safely assumed that the Presi-
cent mad had the advice of the Secretary OF /.
the Interior, and that the latter probabl had
inspired the veto. One of the principal OH
jections raised by the President was that
the lands, If leased by the local authorities
OF the territory, could be denuded of their
TIMBER, rs by the terms of the bill 1t was
not necessary to submit the leases for the
approval Of the Secretary
Mr.. McRae Ark), who was chairman Of
the public lands committee of the last
House. said he would vote to pass the bill
over the veto.
Mr.: Murphy reiterated his statement that
the bill had received the distinct written
approval Of the Interior Department The
protests received by the President, he said,
were from persons who were being benefit
cd by the use of the lands. rent and taxes
free.
The vote was then taken upon the pass
age of the bill, the veto of the President
Notwithstanding. Under the Constitution
this vote was taken by yeas and nays.
Passed Over the Veto.
The vote resulted 200 to IS, more than
two-thirds having voted in the affirmative.
The bill Was declared passed over the pres,s
Dental veto.
side.
Mr.. Henderson Qowa), from the commit
tee on rules. then presented the special
order, of which he had given notice yester-
day, making it in order to offer the bill to
abolish the fee system in the case OF United
States attorneys and marshals, an
amendment to the legislative appropriation
ba
strongly in favor of this measure, and that
the adoption of the rule would give Con-
gress an opportunity to work this much
needed reform He expressed the belief
that reduction Of over s2OO.OO could be-
effected. The appropriations for United
States marshals and deputies had Increased
from ssU0.UO in 1890 to 81, ,6S0,OO0 in 1896;
for United States attorneys from S.,SgEN
10 $i10,W0. and for United States ccmmis-
sioners from slS5,000 to $4,000. The total
appropriations for the United States courts
had increased since 1885 from $3,2l0,oUo to
81, 461 600
Mr.. Cntchinsx' Question.
Mr.. Catchings CMiss.) asked if an amend
ment would be in order to abolish the fee
system in the case Of the United States
clerks. Mr.. Henderson replied that he did
not think 1t would.
The subcommittee, which had frepared
the bill, he said did not include clerks be-
cause clerks were not engaged i'm working
up n11SatlOn, whereas attorneys ana mar
shals were at the fountain head
Mr.. Crisp CGa.) said that ordinarily Re
would not favor such an order, but realiz-
ing that IL this urgent reform was to be
effected it would have to be in the shape
Of an amendment to this appropriation bill
he should vote for the rule.
Mr.. Cooper Fla.) protested against the
Passage of such sweeping bill IN such a
manner. He thought the bill was defective
IN many respects. Every member. he
thought, would desire an opportunity to
consult with his constituents, practicing
lawyers and the officers Of the courts be-
fore voting
The special order was adopted without
division.
Contested Election Report.
Mr.. Daniel (N. ", chairman Of the cleo
tions committee No. 2, presented the report
of that committee on the contested election
case of Aldrich against Robbins from the
second Alabsma district. The report fa-
vcred the contestant, Mr.. Aldrich. who was
voted for by a fusion of republicans and
populIsts. He gave notice that he would
call up the case in about ten days. The
House then went into committee of the
whole and resumed the consideration of tho
legislative appropriation BILL