The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1897-05-18
1snecial to The Herald.


washington. May II. The proposition
TO open the Uncompahgre reservation
under the general land laws of the
United States, as provided by the SEN
ate amendment to the Indian appropri-
alton bill, after three hours of debate
in the house today gained a virtual vic
tory over the great opposition that has
heretofore prevailed against it in that
body.
The recommendation of the confer
ence committee of a substitute pre-
Venting titles being obtained TO any of
the gilSonite lands in the reservation,
but allowing claims 70 be worked by
paying a royalty to the government on
all gilsonite mined, was rejected, as was
also an amendment offered by Mr..
Lacey, placing close restrictions upon
occupants of the lands. Had it not
been for the arbitrary action of the
speaker, who has always been strongly
opposed to the reservation being
opened. in refusing to put a motion
made by Mr.. King instructing the con-
ferees TO concur in the amendment, the
matter would have been finally set
tied, for it was evident the motion
would have carried. However, there is
now hardly anything left for the con-
ferees to do other than to recede from
their position of disagreement and
recommend the passage of the amend
ment. The apparent change of sentl-
ment by a majority of the house in IA
vor of the senate amendment. is I'M
doubtedly due alone to the indefatiga-
BILE and gallant work Of Mr. King and
one or two others who have so ably
championed it. both on the floor of the
house and before the conferees. The
strong and forcible speech of Mr.. King
today completely annihilated the argu-
ments made by the chief antagonists,
Lacey. Sherman and Underwood and
destroyed the objections made by
others who spoke against opening the
lands except under gO[ernment sur
VIGILANCE. He pleaded in most eloquent
terms that the rights of the western
miners, who had built up the west and
poured money into the lap OF the east,
should be respected. and that no Such
discriminatory legislation as proposed
by the amendments offered be enacted.
He maintained that il was not the spirit
of American government to change the
system of the present mining laws
which guaranteed the development of
the cou1try'S resources and compel
those who wrested wealth from the
earth to pay a royalty upon their prod
ucts. and quoted the utteTances of
eminent statesmen who had declared
for the unrestricted right to occupy
the public domain. He said it would be
A crime TO her people to select Utah IS
the exclusive place in which the pro-
posed change was to be applied, while
gilsonite mines were being discovered
in other states and would be worked
without restriction. He referred TO
Mexico and Spain and other nations
which have failed in their attempts
to work mines in their provinces for
the purpose of securing revenues and
70 he demonstrate
that the scheme was utterly imprac-
tica BILE. Mr.. King was not allotted any
time by the speaker but succeeded in
getting five minutes yielded him by
Mr.. Sherman, who has charge OF the
matter. After he had occupied the five
minutes unanimous consent was given
him TO conclude his remarks, and he
was warmly applauded on taking his
seat All Ct the western congressman |
feel that if the conferees report is ac- !
cepted il Will mean the beginning of
an attempt to overthrow the mining !
laws which would be calamitous TO |
western interests.
The senate today passed the bill re- |
Gently introduced by Mr. Rawlins, FRO
viding for public building at Salt !
Lake City
Mr.. King introduced in the house the
following memorial from the legislature
and governor Of Utah:
Asking that certain residents be Ie- /
imbursed for property lost in indian
depredations: asking that section 3. ar
ticle l, of the constitution be submitted |
to the people; asking that approDria
ton be made for Improvement of Fort
Douglas: praying for restraint of
Southern Ute Indians; asking that in
dustrial home be granted to the state;
asking for opening of Indian reserva-
tons: asking that Fish lake and GER
tain lands be set aside as park; ask
ing that congress cede all public lands
except mineral lands; representing con-
ditions existing in Cuba: asking con-
gress to grant to the state of Utah the
sites reserved by the govern
ment.