The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1900-01-26
UTAH POSTMASTERS.
The Investigation of Certain Fed
eral Appointments in Utah.
SITUATION IN INDIAN TERRITORY.
Indians Unable to Secure Possession CT AL
Iotments Owing to Re sistance of whites
Favorable Report ON Pollution of
Water supplies BILL

Favorable Report ON Pollution of
Water supplies BILL
Washington, Jan. 2o-The investi-
CATION as to the alleged polygamous
status of certain federal appointees
in Utah was resumed by the house
committee on post offices and post
roads. Mr.. Grosvenor made fiat de-
NAL of the statement made by Mr..
Lentz as to the use of the words, 1--WE
have not let the grass grow under our
feet" in reference to his charges. He
said his statement to Mr.. Lentz was
in substance that the investigation
would fail, there was nothing in the
charges and that he had taken steps
to learn the facts at the time of de-
nying them on the floor of the house.
Postmaster General Smith detailed
the circumstances as far as they had
come to his knowledge, although the
two appointments under considera-
tion were made prior to his admin
istration. He had found, however,
that attention had not been directed
to any charges prior to the appoint
ment, although subsequently papers
which had been submitted were.
| brought to the attention of the
| higher officials. One of these was a
letter from n. +. Clemenson, pastor
of the PresbyteriaB church of Logan,
Utah, addressed personal to the
president" stating that "Mr. Smith.
the postmaster at Logan, is a high
ccclesiastic of the Mormon church.
| living in polygamus status" There
| ,I.- L..
Smith presented a letter from Mr.
Porter. secretary to the president
dated yesterday, saying: "There is in
this Office no record of receipt of any
letters, petitions, or protests con-
corning the appointment of John
Graham as postmaster at Provo City,
Utah" A letter addressed to the
president, under date of Logan, Cache
county. Utah. November %, 1897, by
an. f. Clemenson. pastor Presbyterian
church. was referred to your de-
partment and an acknowledgment
from this office was made to the wri-
ter on November 27, 1897. Suisse
quently petition dated Logan. Utah,
December 6, 1897, signed az. w. Mel
son, John NJ. Boyle, William Braug-
ham and Others" relating to the same
subject was received and aclinowl-
edged December 81, 1897. This petit
ton was referred to the post Office
department on December "a, 1897"
Mr.. Bristow, assistant postmaster
general, asserted that he made up
brief relative to the presidential
appointments to postmasterships,
and when these Utah cases were
briefed, he had no knowledge of any
polygamous charges against the par
ties. The Clemenson letter at that
time had not come to his attention
nor did it get before the postmaster
general, as the clerks who handled it
did not so brief it as to call special
attention to it. The hearing went
over until Tuesday, when Mr.. Bristow
will be heard further.
Situation In the Indian Territory.
Washington, jan. 20.-The situa-
ton existing in the Indian territory
is acute. The Indians are unable to
secure possession of their allotments.
owing to the resistance of the whites,
who now hold occupancy of the lands
During the past few days hundreds of
the indians have visited the headquar.
ters of the Dawes commission at Mus.
cogee to protest against the bad faith
of the United States government, as
they assert, i'm failing to put them in
possession of their allotments, as IT
was promised should be done in the
agreements which they made with the
Dawes commission. Some of them
L
rights, while others have threatened
Mr.. Needles, of the Dawes commits
sion, writing to Washington friends
concerning the conditions existing in
the territory, says they are outrage
Gus. Unless they are changed for the
better, bloodshed, he says, is not i'm
probable. All the facts bearing upon
the situation have been laid before
Secretary Hitchcock and some action
by the department to relieve the ten
sion may be expected within a few
. days.
Pollution of Water Supplies.
Washington, Jan. 2O.-The house
, committee on commerce yesterday
ordered favorable report on the bill
/ for the appointment by the president
: of commission of three members
( to investigate the pollution of wa
ter supplies when it affects more than
one state. The bill heretofore has
been opposed by Mr.. Mann, of Hi
nois, on the ground that it was aimed
I against the Chicago drainage canal.
Mr.. Mann yesterday withdrew his OBJ
y lection and read letter from Chair
, man Wenter, of the sanitary district
of Chicago, stating that it was the
= conviction of the board that an inn
partial investigation will place them
/ in a good and advantageous posi-