, 1900-10-09

dition to the great cost of reclamation.
There was considerable opposition to
the bill in the committee on public
lands but he finally succeeded in Sc
curing a favorable report, and would
have secured the passage of the act
had it not been for the active oppo-
sition of certain paid railroad lobby
lists who made every effort to defeat
this measure which would enable the
Door man to secure and reclaim des-
ert land. These railroad lobbyists
wrote to various organizations
throughout the country who had no
knowledge of the conditions in the
arid land states and by making the
greatest kind of misstatements sue
ceeded in getting these organizations
to write letters to their members of
congress opposing the bill. The true
character of the opposition to the
measure will be thoroughly ventilated
during the recess and if necessary in
the neXt congress and the friends of
this legislation, of such great import
ance, confidently believe that it will
be enacted into law at the next session
OF this congress.
Post at Sheridan.
The largest appropriation carried by
any bill passed as an independent
measure. except public measures pro-
vided for by special rules, in the ses-
sion Just closed is that for the estab-
lishment and erection of a permanent
military post near the city of Sheri'
dan, Wyoming, and carrying an appro-
priation of S1OO, 900 without any limit
as to future cost. The passage of this
bill, under suspension of the rules, was
only after months of earnest and eff
~fective work, and the very statement
of the unique position it occupies
among the bills passed by the session
of congress just closed, indicates how
earnest an effort was made to secure
its enactment.
Russell Improved.
Mr.. Mondell was instrumental in
securing the passage through the
house of an item on the sundry civil
bill of $4,000 for new buildings at
Fort d. A. Russell, near Cheyenne. He
also succeeded in securing a favorable
report from the committee on pubic
lands on a bill granting to the state
of wyoming. $4,000 acres of land fol
the benefit of the Wyoming soldiers
and sailors home. A member of the
committee on public lands filed a min
ority report on the bill which prevent
ed its being brought up during the late
session of congress-, but there is ev
cry prospect that it will become a low
at the session neXt winter.
During it's territorial days the state
of Wyoming expended in protecting
and preserving the Yellowstone Ma
ltional park, over 81 1000. A bill to re
Iimburse the state this amount wa:
passed by the senate and Mr.. Mondel
succeeded in having a favorable re
port by the committee on claims o
house of representatives and it is con
fdently hoped and expected that i
will pass the second session of the 56tl
congress, next winter.
Soldiers Benefited.
The laws granting those who serv
ed in the army or navy during the re
| bellion a reduction in b time requlr
led to perfect title under the Homestead
laws has been of great benefit t.
many veterans of the civil war. Earl.
in the session Mr.. Mondell introduced
a bill extending to those who served
in the Spanish war and Philippines in
lsurrection the same benefits extended
to the veterans of the civil war,and tn
measure passed the house with liber
al provisions. Owing to the differen
views as to slight amendments thu
measure did not pass the senate bu
will undoubtedly become a law at thu
session of congress in December.
Early in the session Mr.. Mondell in
~ltroduced a bill Oh. r. 54S3,) providing
that all affidavits, proofs and oaths re
quired t. be made by applicants AM
Ientrymen under the public land law
might be made before a proper office
anywhere in the land district in which
the land is located and that this pro
visions should apply also to timbe
and stone entries. Under the law a
it now stands these a%fiidavits, proof
and oaths must be made, If not before
the register and receiver of the lant
office, before an officer in the count.
in which the lands are located. Thi'
is often a great hardship as an Office
may often be much more convenient
ly located for an entryman in an ad
Joining county; further, Under the Law
las it now stands an entryman unde
1.-THE timber and stone law must appea,
before the register and receiver of thu
land office to make entry and pay
ments. This often entails a journe.
of hundreds of miles and considerable
expense. The general land Office ant
some of the members of the commit
ltee on public lands objected to the bill