Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1900-06-29
EDGAR WILSON'S WORK.

SO0An WIISON'S WORK..
A Review Of what our Con-
gresham Accomplished
In the Last Session.
In the session Of Congress Just
ended considerable legislation
affecting Idaho was passed.
One Of the special measures of
interest to the people of Idaho,
and especially to those in the
northern part Of the state, was the
free homestead bill, which came up
in the public lands committee Of
the house, Of which representative
Edgar Wilson il . member. On
May 3 and when the bill was
before the house, Mr.. Wilson
personally interviewed many
leaders ON both sides of the
chamber in it, behalf. He also
made speech on the floor Of the
house calling attention to the
equity and justice Of the bill - it
affected Idaho. He showed that
it would directly benefit nearly
1000 homesteaders in his state BY
relieving them from the payment
OF more then 81, 800, 900 to the
general government on their
homesteads. That tho bill would
be Of actual benefit to the state,
enabling these homesteaders 20
make final proofs on their lands
without payment. This would
enable them to make improvements
which otherwise would have been
impossible. In it, practical effect
he pointed ont that Idaho would
be benefited to the amount OIL
more than 81, 900, 900 when all
these lands are located. I'm.
questionably this measure 10 the
most important ono for the stste
which has been passed
since it was admitted into tho
Union.
THE FORT HALL BILL.
This measure passed the house
OF representatives April 2, 1900, a|
unanimous favorable report having
been secured from the house
committee on Indian affairs,
February ~, 1900. Without this
unanimous report the passage Of |
the bill would have been nearly |
impossible.
The fact that . unanimous re-
port In favor Of the bill without |
any change in the treaty was
secured, and that q democrat ON
the committee made this report. il
attributed 10 Mr.. Wilson's efforts |
in. it's behalf. This bill passed the
house without . quorum being |
present and practically without |
discussion, as Mr.. Wilson had
previously interviewed al the
leaders Of the house ON each side
who were present, thus preventing
any antagonism over the measure. |
The house committee added sever
81 amendments to the bill which
were finally agreed to in conference
and the bill passed. It opens
Alb, 900 acres Of land to settlement
and causes an expenditure OF
5000. 900 in southeastern Idaho.
LEASING OF PUBLIC GRAZING LANDS,
Early in the session an effort
was made to secure legislation
which would provide for the
leasing Of large tracts Of public
grazing lands. Lobbyists were
sent here from California, Texas
and other places in the interests
of this legislation. Being on the
public lands committee, Mr..
Wilson was early cognizant Of the
light which was made in behalf Of
Ibis bill. He at once opposed the
measure in toto, and finally sue
,eeded in securing an indefinite I
9ostponement of all these bills by
he public lands committe, thus Z
'fectually killing them for this
/.
INDIAN wAR VETERANS.
At the beginning Of the session !
Mr.. Wilson introduced . bill
'roviding for pensions to Indian '
var veterans and endeavored to
ecure it's passage. The republi-
ANS Of the eastern states, however,
re opposed to any pensions to
hese veterans, and 90 far have
'oen able to prevent o favorable .
ep0rt on the bill. z
FORREST RESERVES, 1
Large areas in Idaho have been 1
ct aside a. forest reserves, very :
ften without regard TO their 0
Utility. The department has in r
ontemplation the creation of Q
dditional forest reserves in this o
tate, embracing millions Of acre.. b
he effect of these reservations is
, retard development and settle
rent OF the country, for no Local
ION or entry can he made within !,
heir boundaries, except mineral =
ntries. Through the creation Of :. -
lese reservations land grant rail- =.
lad companies have been enabled -
exchange lands in the reserves - =.
n very valuable timber lands on =:
nsurveyed public lands. Such =
Ichsnge has heretofore bean -
'oatsble to land grant railroad il
and has thus tar been . vi
olive for the creation OF thes6 Be
serves, to the great detrimeut :!
ID injury OF the settlersy within do
ese areas. Mr.. Wilson found An di,
~ ~ l. = h.