The herald., 1897-02-13
THE EF|FlY-}OURTH CONGRESS
Hill Asks Aid for a Cuban
\ Prisoner
! MORGAN ASKS ABROGATION
OF the Ciayton.BuIwer Treaty With
Great Britain
ORGAN ASKS ABROGATION
The House Celebrates Lincoln's Birthday by
Passing the Postoffice Appropriation
BiIl-committee Action
Associated Press Special Wire

Associated Press Special Wire
WASHINGTON, Feb. 12.-The senat
today passed a resolution offered by Nj
Hill Of New York. requesting Secretar
OlDey to use every effort toward better
ing the condition of Sylvester Scovillt
the newspaper correspondent impris
.oned in Cuba, and to insist on all treat
rights to which he is entitled.
Morgan of Alabama, Democrat of
fered resolution for the abrogation o
the Clayton -Bulwer treaty and indicat
ed aspurpose to call up the resolution
the brief open session, lasting less thai
an hour, were of a routine character.
Sherman reported a joint resolution
appropria ting $4,000 for congressional ex
: penses incident to the forthcoming in
auguration ceremony. 1t was passed.
: A bill authorizing the appointment o.
an additional judge of the United State.
court of Indian Territory passed.
Frye of Maine presented bill
for the participation of cadets of West
Point and Annapolis in the inaugura
ceremony.
Hill of New York presented a resolu-
ing the condition of Sylvester Scovell
sition or comment reciting that Sylves-
: ter Scovell, a citizen of the United States
under arrest in Cuba upon no specific
accusation of crime, was being held in q
disturbed part of the island and in i'm
ninent danger of death through dis
ease or violence. The resolution con-
rHCf
tary of state to use his good offices in
Scovelfs behalf toward securing his re-
moval to Havana and to insist that he
shall have all the rights and privileges
secured to American citizens by the
treaty between Spain and the United
States.
Morgan of Ala abama followed. with the
following joint resolution: Resolved,
ETC., That the treaty known, as the Clay
on-Bulwer treaty between Great Brit
ain and the United States, which was
concluded on the 18th day of April 1850,
is hereby declared to be abrogated." The
resolution remained on the table. Nor
gan said he desired it TO go over until
tomorrow. The senator said this treaty
should be abrogated to protect our rights
respecting the Nicaraguan canal.
An important amendment was made TO
the Indian appropriation bill, which pro-
heretofore adopted for the opening of
lands to settlement. The amendment is
as follows:
That all that part of the Uncompah-
gre Indian reservations in the state of
Utah, except such lands as have been
heretofore allotted or selected for allot-
ment to said Indians, is hereby declared
open to public entry under the land laws
of the United States, provided that no
( ll.a har 70 L.
than four claims on lands containing
gilesonite."
Some years ago a treaty ceding their
lands was ratified, and in the ratification
a provision was made for opening lands
by proclamation by the president. Act
ing on the advice of the secretary. he
requested additional legislation concern
ing the asphalt deposits on ceded lands.
No further legislation has been granted
by congress, but. instead resolutions
have been introduced calling upon the
secretary to have the lands opened. Some
bitter criticisms We're made upon the
secretary at the last session of the SEN
ate for his refusal to issue the proclama-
tion. This amendment to the Indian bill,
If passed, will compel the opening. 1t is
possible, however, that the bill may be
vetoed because of this very provision,
which assumes the executive function.
Among other amendments in the leg
islative features Of the bill are the follow
1rg. Giving competent Indians the
preference in the employment of farmers
al Indian agencies; striking out the pro-
vision allowing the Quapaw Indians to
lease their land in Indian Territory, and
inserting a provision allowing the Sis
seton and Wahpeton Indians the right
to make leases; requiring the commits
sioner of Indian affairs to employ Indian
boys as assistant farmers wherever prac-
ticable; authorizing disabled Indians to
lease the lands allotted to them; proVid-
ing for commission 20 treat with the
Rosebud and Lower Brule Indians for
the cession of their lands; providing for
II commission to supeTinte the sale of
Indian lands; comforting jurisdiction up
ON the court of claims in the Cherokee
Old settler claims.
The agreement with the Shoshone and
Arapahoe tribes in Wyoming for the
cess!on Of the Big Horn Hot Springs IS
also inserted as an amendment.
As reported the bill shows an increase
of S24' ,S39 over the amount appropriated
by the house bill. making d total OF
81 800, 1876. The principal item Of this
increase is $141 800 for the re-surVey OF
the lands of the Chickasaw nation.
Forty thousand dollars IS provided for
frrigating Indian reservations instead of
$50, 600 in the house bill
A legal discussion occurred when Pet
tigreW of South Dakota, Populist, en-
deavored to amend the bill relating to
timber culture which had been recalled
from the president
Hill of New York contended that i.
was out of the power of the congress to
amend bin in substance after it had
once gone to the president. 1t was a
farce, he said. and an evasion of the
constitutional provisions. on his mo-
ton the question was referred to tho
judiciary committee for a report on the
right OF amendment Wnen bill had olce
passed.
At l o'clock the senate went into ex
ecutive session ana al AS D. m. ad
journed.