The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1900-07-03

the paid articles in the Republi-
can papers of Idaho, and the
Salt Lake Tribune of Utah, that
Senator Shoup was the only rep
resentative in either branch of
Congress from Idaho that did
anything. But in the matter of
fairness to Congressman Wilson,
we desire to review his work in
Congress without prejudice or
partiality, although he is not of
our party-the Mugwump. Mr..
Wilson has been actively inter
ested in the following bills and
matters concerning the State of
Idaho, during the 1st Session of
the Seth Congress
THE FREE HOMESTEAD BILL.
This bill first came up in the
Public Lands Committee of the
House, of which Mr.. Wilson is a
member, where he actively and
earnestly worked to secure a
favorable report of the bill. This
Committee unanimously reported
the bill favorably to the House,
where he aided others in secur-
ing consideration for the meas
ure May 3rd, when the bill was
brought up through the efforts
of western members and partic-
ularly the members of the Pub
lie Lands Committee. Mr.. Will
son was one of the active memb-
ers on the floor in behalf of the
bill. He personally interviewed
many of the leaders on both sides
of the Chamber in it's behalf, and
made speech on the floor of the
House. calling particular atten-
ton to the equity and justice of
the bill, with particular refer
ence to the State of Idaho. He
showed that it would directly af-
feet nearly 1000 homesteaders in
his State, relieving them from
the payment of more than 81, :
500, 900 to the general govern
ment on their homesteads; that
the bill would be of untold bene-
fit to his State, enabling these
homesteaders to make final
proofs on their lands without
payment. They would thus be
able to make improvements
which otherwise would be impos-
sible. In its practical effect, it
will benefit the State of Idaho to
the amount of more than 50, 000,-
600 when all of these lands are
located. 1t is the most import
ant measure to Idaho which has
been passed since tina State was
admitted into the Union.
THE FORT HALL BILL.-This
measure passed the House of
Representatives April 2, 1900, a
unanimous favorable report hav-
ing been secured from the House
Committee on Indian Affairs, Feb.
%, 1900. Without this unani-
nous report the passage of the
bill would have been practically
impossible. 1t will be remember
ed that during the 55th Congress
when the Republicans had a
large majority in the House no
report on this bill could be secur-
ed from the House Committee
until near the end of the session,
and the report then secured en-
tirely and completely abrogated
the treaty, and if it had been en-
acted in law, would have neces-
STATED a resubmission of the
treaty of the Indians, who would
never have agreed to it in its
modified form. The action of
the House Committee in the 55th
Congress, therefore, was entire
ly against this bill, and had sim
liar action been taken in the 56th
Congress, there would have been
no possibility of the passage of
the bill. The fact that a unani-
nous report in favor of the bill
without any change in the treaty
was secured, and that a Demo
crat on this committee made this.
report, is attributed to Mr.. Will
sons efforts in its behalf. This