The herald., 1896-01-22

narS1als ana OHite0 states commissioners
would increase year by year to an enor-
nous extent.
MIR. Henderson, Republican of Iowa. said
that in the last congress the same bill had
been prepared, but had fallen, he had been
informed, of its own weight, it having been
found on examination that the salaries
provided in il would exceed the expenses
under the present system.
Mr.. Hainer, Republican of Nebraska,
challenged Mr.. Henderson's statement.
That bill, he said, would produce consider
able reduction of eXpendi ures. It had
been reintroduced and would be pressed at
this session.
A proposition in the bill to buy the pres
ent size of the United States legation at
Toxic, Japan, for $4,000 was criticized
by Mr.. Mercer, Republican OF Nebraska, as
eXorbitant.
Mr. H,t inveished against haggling with
a government for a site. The Japanese
government, he SAID, hal repeatedly Of
fered to give us the property, but we could
not accept with self-respect III we did, he
said. we would be compelled in reciproca-
ton to present the Japanese government
legation property in Washington.
Mr.. hlcRae, Democrat, Arkansas, offered
an amendment to allow each commission
appointed under the act of the last con-
eress to segTegate mineral from agricul-
tural lands i'll Montana and Idaho sur
-veyea.
Mr.. Hartman, Republican, Montana,
urged the necessity for surveyors in con-
nection with the commissions.
Mr.. Cannon made a point against the
amendment and the chair sustained it,
An amendment appropriating $4,000 for
surveying and allotting lands of the Chip
pewa Indian reservation was adopted.
Some of Comptroller Bowler's rulings
were made the basis of criticism in connec
ton with an amendment offered by Mr..
Dinsbeer, Democrat, Arkansas, for the
payment of salaries due James V. Walker,
who resigned as United States sttorn y for
Indian territory last July, and L. L.. Stowe,
decehsed, who died while serving as United
States marshal. Neither of these officers
had been been confirmed by the senate,
and under analogous rulings of the comp
troller would therefore not have been en-
titled to their salaries.
Mr.. Lacey. Republican, Iowa, recurring
to the abuses that had resulted in the pill
ing of the expenses of United States courts.
argued that the fee system was responsible
for the beginning of many frivolous suits.
He cited an instance where one man in the
western district of Arkansas held the posi-
ton of clerk of the United States district
court. clerk of the circuit court and clerk
to the United States commissioner and
drew 1000 in fees. He declared that
the whole system was honeycombed with
fraud. As amended the bill was passed.
Representative Mondell of Wyoming in
troduced bill providing for the appoint
ment of commission to treat with the
Shoshone. Arapahoe and Bannock Indians
for the surrender of and modification OF
any rights they may have 10 hunt on the
public domain. The bill was drawn for
the purpose of remedying differences grow
ing out of the opposition TO their exercises
of this privilege, and is an echo of The, set
tiers of acllson's Hole. Wyoming.
The house committee on commerce to-
a n n
luton in9roduced yesterday by Mr.. Doo-
little OF Washington requesting the presi-
dent to transmit to congress the report of
the committee which investigated the MIC
aragua canal last summer. A clause was
inserted, "if not incompatible with the
pDDlic interests"
Members of the house who have talked
with the president on the canal within a
week assert that he favorS the general
project, but wants an arrangement by
which the governments risk of financial
loss will be minlmike1.
Then, at 10, the house adjourned until
tomorrow.
FREE HOMESTEAD BILL
The house committee on public lands has
received from Secretary Smith strong ad-
verse report against the free homestead
bill. The bill absolves all persons COM
pleting five years residence on lands taken
and occupied under the homestead laws
from making further payment to secure
their title other than the fees Incident to
filing and obtaining proof. The measure
! is a sweeping one. and land officials es;i-
mate its passage would involve at least
S43, 100000 cost to the government and
$15, 100000 in Oklah oma alone, this being
| the amount paid the Indians for the reln-
quishment of their lands.
Commissioned Lamoreaux of the general
land office, in report accompanying Mr.
univ
the bill should not pass. and says:
The payment of money considerations
Tor lands by settlers thereon in these cases
appears TO be the foundation on which the
whole transaction between th9m and the
government was based, and without which
the government would not have entered
| into engagements with the Indians by
| which the acquisitions of title by settlers
was rendered possible. The purpose of
the bill seems to be to repeal all the pro-
! visions of existing laws under which home
stead entries have been made for public
lands for which a certain price per acre is
I 10 be paid by the entrymen.
| Large tracts Of land have been acquired
/ through purchase from Indians. For some
| of this land the Indians have already been
/ paid by the government, and for other por-
! tlons the government is still responsible.
/ There are also abandoned military reser-
vations involved. which have become val
| liable because of their location, usually in
| settled communities, and persons entering
! them have had distinct understanding
| that they were TO pay for them at a certain
| price per acre.
THE SUGAR BOUNTY
The house committee on judiciary today
took steps to investigate the action of
| Comptroller Bowler in Withholding the gu.
| gar bounty appropriation. A substitute
/ for Boatner's resolution, drawn by Mr..
| Ray Of New York was adopted.
/ Rays substitute is as follows:
! Resolved, That the committee on Judi
! ciary be and hereby is authorized and di-
/ recled to inquire as to the condition of the
| law on the subject of the right of the exec
utIye officers of the government in the sew
eral departments thereof to refuse to en-
! force, execute or comply with the provis-
/ ions of any act of the congress of the
| United States on the ground of its alleged
uUconstitutonaiity or for other reasons,
and to report TO the house the bill or other
| wise.
If this resolution be adopted by the
| house the committee will investigate the
whole mater. 1t can recommend a stat
ute to prevent any further action based on
the Bowler precedent. and can provide for
the payment of the Withheld bountes.
Whether any further action would be
possible was matter to discuss, but it
was predicted by members of the commit.
tee that congress would adopt resolution
declaring that Comptroller Bowler had ex.
| ceeded his authnrity.