The record-union., 1897-02-24
Yesterday Disposing of Only One Item
of the Indian Bill.
The House Completes Consideration
of the Last of the Appropriations
Bill, Disposing of and Sending to
the Senate the Naval Bill, 1t Pass
ing Practically Without Amend
ment.
ment.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 23.-The Sem
ate made slow progress to-day on the
appropriation bills. disposing of only
one item of the Indian bill, that direct
ing the opening of the Uncompaghre
Indian reservation. in Utah. 1t involv-
ed a conflict with the executive branch,
which steadily resisted opening these
lands, on the ground that they We're
valuable mineral deposits. Villas en-
'deavored 10 have a royalty reserved to
the Government but was defeated in
this. and the clause was agreed TO after
an all-day debate.
During the day a resolution by Mills
of Texas was adopted, asking the Pres
fdent for information ais to the death
of DR.. Ruiz at Guanabacoa- Cuba.
The Uncompaghre resolution came
up again when consideration of the In
dian bill was resumed. 1t was held that
the former vote did not have the effect
of carrying the amendment
Clark CR) of Wyoming made a Wig
orous speech, in which he criticised the
Presidents order of yesterday with
dra wing II 900. 900 acres from public
use. 1t was an order without authori-
ty of law, declared Clark. 1t was part
of that solid wall of opposition to West
ern interests. 1t drew away from the
public millions of acres of land which
should have been open to happy homes.
Ostensibly the withdrawal was for for
eStTy PURPOSES, when, from personal
observation Clark said, there was not
not enough timber on some of this land
to build a four-rail fence around it.
The Senator criticised other orders and
land rulings, particularly to ipsi dixit
of the Secretary of the interior as to
placer mining companies.
White CD of California interiected
the suggestion that a recent rufdng as
to the meaning of the word mineral"
not only took land away from individ-
uals, but gave it to railroad COM
panies
Vest offered an amendment except
ing certain lands at the mouth of the
White River
Villas commented on Vests attack
on the President.
The Missouri Senator responded that
he had mnde no attack; he had recited
certain facts showing that the execu-
tive had usurped legislative functions
and had refused to obey the law.
viding for a survey and subdivision of
these lands, a royalty or price per ton
to be fixed for asphaltum, gilsonite and
other minerals, and that instead of a
patent a lease shall issue for each lot
for twenty-five years subject to the
payment of the royalties.
After further debate the various pro-
positions We're brought to a vote The
vest amendment was accepted by the
committee. The Villas amendment was
lost without division
The committee amendment was then
agreed to-years As, noes H.
The provision as finally adopted is
as follows: That all the Uncompaghre
Indian Reservation in the State of Utah
except about 10000 acres of bottom
lands extending about ten or twelve
miles up the White River on both sides
from it's mouth, is hereby declared open
to public entry under the land laws of
the United States; provided that no
one person shall be allowed to make
more than four claims in land con-
tanning gilsonite.
The bill was then laid aside.
At AS p. m. the Senate, against
considerable opposition of Smith Cd
of New Jersey, carried a motion to go
into executive session.
At o:4o p. m. the Senate adjourned.
HOUSE PROCEEDINGS.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 23.-The House
sent the naval bill, the last of the ap-
preparation bills, 10 the Senate to-day.
Mr. Boutelle Chairman of the Naval
Committee, was in charge of the meas
ure and displayed such skill in its
handling that it's provisions aroused
little opposition, and it was passed
practically without amendment
The feature of the day was an ex-
| ceedingly interesting political debate,
which occurred late in the afternoon,
on the subject of civil service reforms.
1t occurred during the consideration of
bin to permit the Governors of the
Territories to appoint certain officers
of the Territories in case of vacancies
without the consent of the legislative
councils which is now required by law.
Bailey CD of Texas fought the bill
on the ground that the Democrats and
Republicans of Arizona should not
bring their squabbles to Congress. In
the course of his remarks Mr.. Bailey
rendered to the Republicans his sym
pathy for the troubles of patronag ge
which would beset them on March 4th.
The bill was lost sight of in the po-
ltical maelstorm that followed. Flynn
| (R) of Oklahoma aroused many of the
Republicans to applause by declaring
that if he could have his way he would
wipe out the civil service law and fill
every office with a Republican
| Mr.. Grosvenor ridiculed the civil SER
vice system and predicted. amid up
roarious applause from the Republi-
| cans that the tide was rising which
would sweep the law out of existence
and give the young men of this country
| chance.
| Brosius (R.) of Pennsylvania denied
| that it was antagonistic to young men.
On the contrary, he said the merit sys-
tenn gave the young men the right to
| aspire to office without the humilia ton
of being subservient 10 politicians and
| beggars at the feet of BOSSES
| Mr. Bailey again secured the floor,
and after remarking upon the peculiar
relations existing between the gentle
man from Ohio (Grosvenor) and the