The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-01-29
MORE LAND ASKED FOR
1t Will Be Useful Some Day for
the State Institutions.
AFTER THE CENSUS OF 1900
If Montana Is in Luck 1t May Get Two
Members OF the Lower House at
Washington-Oddsa and Ends
From the Capital.
Washington Bureau of the Standard,
M LIZ ST n

Washington Bureau of the Standard,
No 1415 =, st Get N. ".
Washington, Jan. Ex-senator Mantle
has prepared bill granting to each OF
the Montana state institutions an addi-
tional land grant of 100000 acres. He
also provides 100000 acres for a state
insane asylum, and the same amount
for a miners hospital hereafter to be
established. This bill has been drafted
in response to a letter from the state
land agent, in which the board Of land
commissioners have concurred by reso-
luton. The effort is to be made to
place the Montana institutions on the
same footing as those of Utah and
other younger states. In Utah the state
institutions were provided for in the act
of admission and state constitution.
The board of land commissioners be-
leves the government will now be will
ing to give the Montana institutions as
favorable treatment as those of neigh
boring states.
1t rests very largely with Senator
Carter whether Montana shall or shall
not have two congressman after 1902
As chairman of the senate committee
on census 1t will probably be his duty
in the winter of 1901 to introduce the
bill reapportioning the representation
of the several states in congress. This
of 1900 but the ratio of representation
will first be determined by joint COM
mittee subject of course to changes by
the two houses. If Montana can show
a population of $4,000 by this decen-
NAL enumeration there is little doubt
that she can have the two members.
The ratio of representation can hardly
be below 100000, but the large excess
that the state will have should give
her an extra member. particularly with
a friendly Indian" as chairman of the
census committee.
Generally speaking, the increases in
representation after 1900 will come in
the Western states. while, with the ex-
ception of New York. the Eastern sea-
board states are likely TO show a
decline or remain stationary in the
number of members of congress. After
the census of 1890 the states east of the
Mississippi increased their members of
congress by ~, and those west of the
great river by 10. The total number of
members was increased by 81. This was
done that no state might lose in MEM
bership. There now exists a very strong
sentiment against any further Increase
in the membership of the house. The
body is believed TO already be unwieldy
by reason of its large membership, and
/ to increase 1t to the 400 limit, as has
been proposed in some quarters, will, 1t
is feared. render it about as disorderly
as the Paris chamber of deputies or the
| Vienna reichsrath.
| 1t is an interesting fact that the
/ states which went for Bryan in 1896
4 gained Is members by the last appor-
tionment against 10 gained by those
| that went for Mckinley These fig
ures for the Western and Southern
states are likely to be materially in
| creased in the Encouragement to follow
| the census of 1900
The senate this week passed the Man
tie bill providing for terms of the fed
eral courts at Butte. Under the provi-
| sions of this bill these terms will begin
on the first Tuesday in February and
September in each year. Representa-
| tive Hartman will take charge of the
bill in the house.
The commissioner of the general land
| office is still awaiting the receipt of
the plat of the coded portion Of the
Blackfoot reservation. The forwarding
| of this plat seems to be unduly procras-
| tinated. Much interest is exhibited in
| the receipt of the surveys and there
| are many inquiries at the land office
concerning them. The commissioner
/ says that the proclamation opening the
| reservation will follow promptly on the
| approval of the surveys.
Senator Warren of Wyoming has Sc
cured favorable action by the senate
committee on agriculture upon bill to
! establish a division of arid lands and
irrigation in the department of agrlcul-
ture. His plan contemplates the en-
! pioyment of an irrigation engineer, who
is to be chief Of the division, and who
shall have such theoretical knowledge
and practical skill and experience as
| viii fit him fer the position. to be paid
$4,000; enc assistant engineer, at $500:
one craftsman, at $1,500: one clerk. at
$1,000; one clerk, at 5000; in all, $500.
| The chef OF division and assistant en-
/ gineer are each to be appointed by the
secretary OF agriculture, thus being
| made partisan selections.
The new democratic congressional
committee is already busily at work or
ganzing for the campaign. Chairman
confidence that the new congress will be
| democratic by upwards of 80 majority.
| The committee Is now filling vacancies
in its membership from states that have
no democratic congressman. Montana
ceedingly probable that w. w. Dixon
of Butte will be the Montana member
for the Fifty-sixth congress. The names
Toole have been mentioned, but Dixon
seems al present TO have the lead. He
was member of the committee during
the campaign of 1892.
s. S. Huntley of Yellowstone park
fame has been here for several days
enjoying the capital citys beautiful win
ter weather.
Through the efforts of Senator Mantle
Henry Wagner of Butte. deserving
ex-union soldier. has been granted a
pension. HoSFORD.
xnfd weather I'm the East