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

Through Mr.. Wilson's efforts
the House Committee has unani-
mously agreed upon an additional
appropriation of 800, 900 for this
building. The Speaker declines
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 item, with
many others, will be taken up
and passed. This will not in any
way delay the building, as even
if the item were secured at this
session, work could not be COM
menced on the building until
next year. When this bill is
passed Boise will have magniti-
cent building costing $500, 900,
perhaps the finest in the United
States for a town of that size.
Mr.. Wilson won the fight on the
floor of the House by yea and
nay vote for this bill in the 54th
Congress, and is, therefore, much
gratified to secure another 500, :
900 for the building.
| LEASING OF PUBLIC GRAZING
LANDS. in the session an
effort was made to secure legisla-
ton which would provide for the
leasing of large tracts of the pub
lie grazing lands. Lobbyists
were sent there from California,
Texas and other places in the in
terests of this legislation. Being
in the Public Lands Committee,
Mr.. Wilson was early cognizant
of the fight which was made in
behalf of this bill. He at once
opposed the measure in toto, and
finally succeeded in securing an
indefinite postponement of all
these bills by the Public Lands
Committee, thus effectually kill
ing them for this Congress.
INDIAN WAR VETERANS. AT
the beginning of the session he
introduced a bill providing for
pensions to Indian war veterans
and has zealously endeavored to
secure it's passage. The Repub-
licans of the East, however, are
opposed to any pensions to these
veterans, and so far have been
able to prevent a favorable re-
port on the bill.
ARID LANDS.-He actively en-
deavored to advance all beneti-
cial legislation for the arid lands,
and particularly enlarged appro-
priations for irrigation, inquiry.
investigation, gauging of the
streams, ETC., with view to ulti-
mately securing direct appropri-
ations for reservoirs, etc.
FOREST RESERVES. Large ar
cas- in Idaho have been set aside
as forest reserves, very often
without any regard to their util-
ity. The Department has in con-
temptation the creation of addi-
tional forest reserves in Idaho,
embracing millions of acres. The
effect of these reservations is to
retard development and settle
ment of the country, for no loca-
ton or entry can be made within
their boundaries except mineral
entries. Through the creation
of these reservations Land Grant
Railroad Companies have been
enabled to exchange their worth
less lands for valuable timber
lands on unsurveyed public lands.
This has been very profitable to
these railroad companies and has
thus been a motive for the crea.
ton of these reservations to the
great detriment and injury of
the settlers within these areas.
Mr.. Wilson secured the passage
of the resolution through Con,
gress, calling for information on
the subject both as to reserva-
tions already created and those
in contemplation. A vast amount
of data and information has been
compiled and printed as a result
of this resolution. He also in