The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1900-06-17
Saves Fort Hall Bill.

estly. 1t passed the house of Tepresen-
tatives April 2, after unanimously IA
vorable report had been secured from
the house committee on Indian affairs.
Without this unanimous report the pas
sage of the bill would have been prac-
tically impossible. During the Fifty
fifth congress when the Republicans
had large majority in the house, no
report on this bill could be secured
from the house committee until near
the end of the session, and the report
then obtained was one abrogating the
treaty, which. if it had been enacted
into law would have necessitated a re-
submission of the treaty of the Indians,
who, 1t is known, would never have
agreed to it in its modified form
Had similar action been taken in the
ttfty-siXth congress there would have
been no likelihood of the passage of the
measure. A unanimous report in favor
of the bill which made no change in
the treaty was secured in this con-
gress, largely through Mr.. Wilson's ef-
forts, and a Democrat on the commit
tee made the report.
The Idaho representative next inter
viewed all the leaders of the house on
each side who were present and the
bill passed practically without discus
sion. The house added several amend
ments TO the bill. The senate amend
ments were agreed to in conference,
and with the active assistance of Sena-
tor ShOup in the senate, the bill passed.
1t opens to settlement 41S.0O0 acres of
land and causes an expenditure of
100000 in southeastern Idaho.
Provides For Boise Building.
The house committee on public build
ings and grounds has unanimously
agreed upon an additional aDDrOpria-
ton of S100,000 for the Boise building
The speaker declined TO permit the
consideration OF any public building
bills at this session, on account of the
large appropriations already provided
for; but an agreement has been reached
whereby this bill, with many others,
which have carried in the senate, will
be taken w next winter and passed.
This will not in any way delay the
building, as even If the item had not
been secured at this session work could
not be commenced on the building until
next year. When this bill is passed
Boise viii have one of the best build
ings in the west, costing 100000 Rep
resentative Wilson won the original ap-
preparation for this bill on the floor of
the house by a yea and nay vote for
Boise in the Fifty-foUrth congress, and
is naturally much gratided that his
city will secure another 100000 for the
building.
Kills Anti-public Grazing Bill.
Early IN the session an effort was
made to secure legislation which would
provide for the leasing of large tracts
of public grazing lands. Being on the
public lands committee, the Idaho con-
gresham was early cOgnizant of the
fight which was made Tor, this bill. He
at once opposed the measure as a whole
and cooperating with other Rocky
Mountain members, succeeded in Sc
curing an indefinite DostDonement of
bills on this subject by the public lands
committee, thus effectually killing them
all for this congress.
Pensions For Indian War Veterans.
At the beginning of the congress Mr..
Wilson introduced bill providing for
pensions for Indian war veterans, and
has zealously endeavOred to promote its
passage. The Republicans of the east
ern states, however, are opposed to any
pensions to these veterans, and so far
have been able to prevent a favorable
report on the bill. He also endeavored
to advance all beneficial legislation for
the arid lands, particularly enlarged
appropriations for irrigation inquiry.
with a view to ultimately securing di-
rect appropriations for reservoirs.
Opposes New Forest Reserves.
Large areas in Idaho have been set
aside as forest reserves, very often
without any regard to their utility. The
department has in contemplation the
creation of additional reserves in that
state, embracing millions Of acres. Con-
gresham Wilson says:
The members of the delegation from
Idaho have strenuousIy opposed their
establishment. The effect of these re-
serves is to retard DEVELOPMENT and
settlement >Of the country, for no lOca-
ton or entry can be made within their
boundaries except mineral entries.
Through the creation of these reserva-
tiOns land grant railroad companies
have been enabled to exchange their
worthless lands for very valuable tim
Der lands on unsurveyed public lands.
This evil has been corrected by an
amendment to the sundry civil bill
made on my recommendation Such ex-
change has heretofore been very profit
able to land grant railroad companies
and has been a motive for the creation
of these reservations to the great detri-
ment and injury to the settlers within
these areas"
Fights Noxious Rules.
Mr. Wilson secured the passage of a
house resolution calling for informa-
ton on the subject both as to reser-
vations already created and those IN
contemplation. A vast amount of data
and information has been compiled and
printed as a result.
He has also introduced a bill pro-
hibiting the creation Of any forest re-
serves within the state of Idaho ex-