The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1897-12-18

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Washington, Dec 17.-Secretary Bliss
lately referred to the senate committee
On Indian affairs a draft of q bill gov
erning the final opening of the Uncom-
pahgre Indian reservation for settle
ment. This bill postpones the actual
opening to- April 1, 1899, which will be
nearly five years from the passage of
Senator Rawlin5' original bill authoriz-
ing the allotment of lands in severalty
and the opening of the reservation.
Senator Cannon, who is q member of
the committee, said this afternoon that
he was adverse to the bill as drafted
by the secretary. He was opposed to
any further postponement, as there
had been ample time already for the
completion of any necessary arrange
ments. Senator Cannon added:
This bill provides that the excepted
GilsOnite lands in the reservation may
be leased in the discretion of the sec
rotary for a series Of years This would
place these lands in the hands of a
monopoly 1t is well known to US in
the west that a syndicate has already
been organized to seize the lands. This
knowledge has been one of the reasons
why we have made such a long and
stubborn tight against the leasing. It
preparation bill under which the open
ing was liked for April 1. and 1 am, Of
course, hostile to pOstpOnement."
1t appears exceedingly doubtful
whether the secretary's bill can be IA
vorably reported, the Indian affairs
committee being one of the few senate
committees not controlled by the Re
pubIicans.
WILL NOT OPPOSE MGREW.
Senator Cannon says that he will pay
no attention to the nebulOus charges
that are reported against McGrew. He
says that if the state land board is sat
isfied with McGTeWs work in the Office
of register, he certainly is. The senator
expects to undertake to secure a favor
able report on the McGrew nomination,
unless there are charges made affecting
I his competency for the Office he holds.
Asked by The Herald about the con-
troversy over Orson Smith, the nomi-
nee for postmaster at Logan, Senator
Cannon said:
ooh. that is a row among the Nc
Kinley people, and am not trying to
interfere in any of these"
WANTS AN ASSAY OFFICE.
! Congressman King made an effort in
/ the house this afternoon to secure an
/ amendment to the pending apprOpria-
I ton bill for an assay office at Salt
Lake. he made good fight, but his
amendment was ruled out by the chair
/ man of the committee Of the whole, as
new legislation, and not admissible
under the rules
Sergeant Edward McKinsie, Troop 3,
| Ninth cavalry, Fort Duchesne, Utah,
/ has been placed on the retired list.
Samuel Debolt was today appointed
postmaster at WamSutter, Sweet
7 water county. WyO-, vice " r. Luck
field, resigned
CEsSION OF ARID LANDS.
Representative Shafroth this after
/ noon appeared before the committee on
public lands and had his bill granting
/ the arid lands to the prospective states
in which they are situated referred to
/ the interior d. 9artment Tor the ak
animation and approval of the officials
/ of the land Office. If that can be OBJ
/ tanned. he says ne feels very confident
/ of securing the endorsement Of both
/ Commissioner Herman and Assistant
/ Commissioner Mondell as both express
4 ed views favorable to such u measure
during their service in congress. In
/ any event, Mr.. Shafroth will call the
/ bill up for consideration in the commit
tee after the holidays.