Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1896-03-26
ASPHALT LANDS.
Secretary Smith Criticised for Not
Opening a Reservation.
The BAYARD CENSuRE RESOLUTIONS.
Mr.. Cousins Speech tho Feature In tho
H0use--1he Nicaragua Canal Bill
Agreed Upon by tho special
sub. ommittee

WASHINGTON, March 10. -Owing to
the indisposition Of Mr.. Mills (dem.l OF
Texas, VINO had the floor on the sub
ject, the Cuban debate was not contin-
ued yesterday An animated discus
sion arose over the resolution OF Mr..
Cannon, OF Idaho, directing Secretary
Smith to execute the law for the pub
lie opening Of the Uncompahgre In
dian reservation, Utah. Mr.. Cannon
said 100000 acres were involved and
he wished this. mandatory resolution
to overcome the delays OF the secretary
OF the interior.
Mr. Gordon (dem,), Of Georgia, re-
sponded that after conference with
Secretary Smith, he had learned that
vast mineral wealth, particularly
asphalt. existed on those lands. The
secretary felt that the government
ought to receive some benefit either
by royalty or otherwise, so that the
public might receive the benefits, in
stead Of giving them to some great
corporation.
Mr.. Wacott followed In sharp crlti-
cism Of the secretary for failing to exc
cute the law
Mr.. Vest followed in criticism Of the
secretary's course. This reservation,
he said, contained the greatest asphalt
10 existence sufficient to supply this
country for centuries. A law was
passed directing the opening OF the
lands, but the secretary Of the interior
nullifed IL. II was nullified on the ex-
cuse that congress did not know what
1t was about. The secretary's course
was In behalf Of rich investors, who
were the only ones who could bid on a
public auction Of the lands.
Mr.. Villas followed Mr.. Vest, detail
ing the history Of this land legislation,
and at two o'clock the Dupont case
was taken up.
The house yesterday entered upon
the consideration OF the resolutions
censuring Mr.. Bayard for speeches de-
livered by him before the Grammar
school at Boston, Eng and before the
Edinburgh (Scotland) Philosophical in
stitution last fall. The galleries were
crowded TO overlooking, Mr. Hit,
chairman OF the foreign affairs com.
mittee. and Mr.. McCreary, who was
chairman Of the committee in the last
congress, opened respectively for and
against the resolutions Mr. Draper,
OF Massachusetts, announced his inabil-
ity to bring himself to vote for the
resolutions OF censure, II the utter
ances were inappropriate, the punish
ment was too harsh. Mr. Cousins
speech In support Of the resolutions,
was the feature Of the proceedings,
iIe won for himself the highest dis
tnction as an orator His bursts OF
eloquence, set off by keen and pene-
trating wit, aroused the house and
galleries to unbounded enthusiasm.
Mr. sDinsmore (dem.), Of Arkansas,
who was minister to Corea during the
former Cleveland administration, In
closing the debate for the day, defend.
ed the utterances Of Mr. Bayard as to
the effect Of protection, and to the
great delight Of the democrats read ex-
tracts from Senator Chandeliers inter-
view alleging that the Mckinley boom.
ers were levying on the protected in
dustres The debate will continue to.
day.
THE NICARAGUA CANAL BILL.
WASHINGTON, March lg.-The Near
aqua canal bill, which probably will
be pushed in the house, was agreed
upon yesterday by the special sub-com-
mittee which has for several weeks
been wrestling with the many schemes
introduced, The bill provides for the
reorganization Of the Maritime Canal
Co., the payment Of all its debts, so
that satisfactory statement snail DC
presented to the secretary OF the treas
ury, the selection OF a board OF 10 al
rectors, ten OF them named py inc
United States, three BY the canal com.
pany and one each by Nicaragua ana