The herald., 1897-02-24
IN THE SENATE
The p Presidents Action Criticized-SIow Pro-
rress with Appropriations


rress with Appropriations
WASHINGTON, Feb. 2S.-The senate
made slow progress today on the appro-
priation bills, disposing of only one item
of the Indian bill, that directing the
oneninp of the Uncompahgre Indian res
ervation in Utah. 1t involved a con-
flict with the executive branch, wnicn
steadily resisted opening these lanos
on the ground that there were valuable
mineral deposits. Villas endeaVored 10
have a royalty reserved to the govern
ment. but was defeated in this ana the
clause was agreed to after an ail-day
debate. ,.,
During the day a resolution by Mills
of Texas was adopted. asking the presi-
dent for inforamtion as to the death OF
DR.. Ruiz at Guananbacoa, CUBA.
Morrill, (Vt, Rep) announced CUBAN
speech on Thursday.
In the course of the debate wilson
wash. Rep.) alluded to the presidents 5
order of yesterday withdrawing from the
nublic domain some 21, 100000 acres OF
land constituting forest reserves MI
Cannon declared that there was not the
slightest knowledge of the subject on the
part of the order making the deslgna-
ton and that land in Utah had been des-
ignated as forest land when IN tact tnere
was no timber on IL larger liai jam
rabbit bush.
The amendment opening tfS Arncom-
pahgre reservation was agreeu to, 81 10
i6.
The Uncompahgre question came up
again when consideration OF the lndlah
bill was resumed. 1t was held that the
former vote did not have the erect ol
carrying the amendment.
Brown utah, Rep) spoke for the
amendment.
clark (Wyo., Rep) made a vigorous
speech in which he criticised the presl-
dents order of yesterday withdraWlhg
2l O00, 900 acres of land from publlc use.
1t was an order without authority OF
law. declared Clark. 1t was part of that
solid wall of opposition to western IN
terests, 1t drew away from the puDllc
millions of acres of land which should
have been open to happy homes. Us
tensibly the withdrawal was for fores-
try purposes, when, from personal op
eervation, Clark said, there was not
enough timber on some of this land 10
build a four-rail fence around 1t. Ihe
senator criticised other orders and lana
rulings. particularly the "ipse dixit OF the
secretary of the interior" as TO placer
mining companies.
White (Cal.. Dem.) interjected the sug-
gestion that a recent ruling as to the
meaning of the word mineral not only
took land away from individuals, pu'
gave it to railroad companies.
Clark asserted the west should be
consulted as to western land interests.
Palmer Gll, Dem.) advocated putting
up valuable gilsonite mines at pubic
sale.
Jones (Ark., Dem.) opposed the amend
ment on the ground of injustice TO the
Indians on the reservation.
Vest (Mo., Dem.) said this compli&a-
tion resulted from the refusal of the
president to execute the law for opening
this reservation. Vest offered an amend
ment excepting certain lands at the
mouth of the White river
Villas commented on Vests attack
on the president.
The Missouri senator responded that
he had made no attack. He had re-
cited certain facts showing that the eX-
ecutive had usurped legislative func-
tions, and had refused to obey the law
Villas then offered an amendment pro-
viding for survey and SUBDIVISION OF
these lands, a royalty or price per ton
to be fixed for asphaitum, gilsonfte and
other minerals, and that, instead of
patent a lease shall issue for each lot for
25 years, subject to the payment of the
royalties
After further debate the various
propositions were brought to a vote.
The Vest amendment was accepted by
the committee. The Villas amendment
was lOSl NllHoul ulN lSlol lie ColH-
mittee amendment was then agreed to
yeas 48, noes H. The provision as
finally adopted follows:
That all the Uncompahgre Indian
reservation in the state of Utah. except
about 10000 acres of bottom LANDS eX-
tending about ten or twelve miles up the
White river on both sides from its
mouth, is hereby declared open to pub
lie entry under the land laws of the
United States. Provided, that no one
person shall be allowed to make more
than four claims on land containing
giisonite. The bill was then laid aside
In view of the informalities in some
of the credentials of the new senators,
Hoar, chairman of the judiciary COM
mittee, presented a resolution reciting
that credentials will be sufficient if in the
following succinct form: This is to
certify that on the - day of -, A. d.
- - was duly elected by the legis-
lature of the state of - senator from
said state, to represent said state in the
senate of the United States for the term
Of six years, beginning on the 4th day of
March, 1S9-.
The resolution went over.
At 445 p. m. against considerable op-
position the motion of Smith, Democrat,
of New Jersey to go into executive ses-
sion was carried
At 5;45 p. m. the senate adjourned.