The new North-west., 1897-04-09
WILL MODIFY THE ORDER.
Forest Reserve Matter Before the
President.

Washington, April 2.-Although this wa!
cabinet day at the White house, there
were Il large number of callers between /;
and II o'clock, the hour when the cabinet
meeting began.
I General Stuart Woodfnrd of New York
was one of the earliest callers. His name
has been mentioned in connection with
the mission to Spain, but he denied that
he had any aspirations in this or any 9th.
| er directions. Senator Foraker of Ohio
hadse a few Hinutes' conversation with
President Mckinley, and left bundle OF
applications for postmasterships and MI
nor Offices.
In connection with Senator Forakers $
visit there Is & revival of the report that
President Mckinley is to appoint Con-
gressman Bellamy Storer OF Cincinnati to
the position OF assistant secretary of
state.
| All the members of the cabinet were
present at the meeting today The cabinet
was in session a little over an hour and a
half The only question of public import
ance discussed was the question of re-
| scindng the order of ex-President Cleve-
land setting apart q forest reservations
IN the west. This question has engaged
the attention of Secretary Bliss for some
time. The secretary today took to the
White house the maps and papers relat-
ing to the matter.
was at times vigorous, and all the mem
bers took part. The. outcome was instruc-
tons that the national forestry commits
sion be summoned to Washington to talk
over their work with the president. 1t is
understood that the sentiment that Cleve-
lahds proclamation was too comprehen-
s1Ve, and 1t was stated that the object OF
the commission which investigated the
subject and on whose report the reserva-
uohs-~Tefe proclaimed, to take in
enough territory to preclude the possi-
BILE future claim that any land legitimate
~ deserving or requiring reservation had
been omitted. The cabinet held that the
commissions investigation was made
quate. The president announced his pur-
pose to act on conservative lines and not
TO act without more information.
Secretary Bliss led the discussion and
submitted notes of the contentious of the
western senators who protested against
the order. The amendments to legisla-
ton now pending authorizing money for
the work were carefully reviewed and it
was decided that no action should be
taken pending such survey of the re-
served country. This general opinion was
that the amendment would be made
law early next week, and it was deter
mined that surveying work should be be-
gun Immediately upon the amendments
becoming law and the reports of the sur
vey expedited to the end that any defect
should be promptly remedied
AS. at present determined the forestry
proclamation will not be revoked, but the
provisions adjusted by the presidential
orders as to specific tracts. The Black
Hills reservation in South Dakota in all
probability will comprise part of the lands
which will be subjected to the first sur
vey. When the work there Is completed
the president will exempt from the pro-
visions of the proclamation such lands as
are of farming or agricultural character
or where the settlers rights are injured
Then the survey will be transferred to
other tracts, and the exemptions pro-
claimed separately as the work pro-
crosses. The forestry commission is cX-
pected to come to Washington some time /
next week to talk over the matter with |
the president and the members of the
cabinet.
Sylvester Scovel, the newspaper CORE |
spondent who was imprisoned in Cuba |
saw President Mckinley this afternoon. |
Between 500 and 600 persons were present
at the public reception. They were re-
ceived in line, and Immediately after the
reception closed the president went out
for his daily walk.