The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1900-01-26
RIGHT .OF Why GRANT
To the Rock Island Through
Indian Reservations
APPROVED IN THE SENATE
What Flynn Had to Say for
1t in the House.
APPROVED IN THE SENATE

Especial Correspondence of the Eagle.)
Washington, Jan 25.-In the senate to-
day the house bill authorizing the Chi
cage, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad
company to use a certain right-of-way
through the Fort Reno and Fort Sill mill
tary reservations, was passed. The dis
cussion in the house preceding the pas
sage of the bill, few days ago was de-
cidedly interesting. The bill was reported
from the committee of military affairs
by Chairman Hull and reported unani-
mously. Mr.. Hull first asked for unani-
nous consent for the bills consideration,
but objection was made. Later, this Oh
lection was removed. and Mr.. Hull again
asked for unanimous consent. Mr.. Lentz
Of Ohio, very officious Individual, who is
always worrying any member who is try
ing to do anything. sugG1Sed that he
wanted some information and might OBJ
ject. Replying to him, Mr.. Hull said that
the bill was supplemental TO legislation
had by congress granting right of way
through Oklahoma to the Rock Island.
Congress-, he said, believed it had the
right to give ample power to the road to
build through Oklahoma, but on the line
were the two military reservations Of
Fort Sill and Fort Reno, andthe sec
rotary of war had held that the general
law on this subject did not include mill
tary reservations The war department,
he continued, reserved the right to con-
troll through these reservations. and that
it was of great value to the people of
Oklahoma Mr. Hull then yielded to Mr..
Flynn, who said in part:
cit was always customary, until last
congress, whenever q railroad desired to
build through Indian or oklahoma terri
tories. there being so much >of military
reservations and allotments, to come to
congress for the right of way. These re-
quests became so numerous that congress
took up the subject and passed a general
bill which gave the authority to grant
this right to the interior department,
subject to such rules and regulations as
it might make. Now the situation there
is this: Here is a railroad that has built
in my territory during the past year
probably a hundred miles~o road. They
are UP against a military reservation,
which they must traverse in order to
reach the state Of Texas. The war de-
partment holds that the general act fail
ed to confer authority on the department
officers to approve a right of way across
IA military reservation. and consequent
ay there has been nothing left but to
come to congress and ask it to grant a
right of way. across that reservation"
Further in answering questions asked
by s9lifferentl members, Mr.. Flynn said:
when the road is built, it will develop
this country and, there is no question
that they will build it if the bin is pass
ed" It was then insisted by several
members that, the road might not build
it's line. even though the bill were pass
ed, and Mr. Snodgrass of Tennessee want
ed a bond or guaranty put up by the
road This was met with the respon that
no road ever rid this, in the event that
fight Of way should be given. Finally, |
there was, no objection to the bills con-
sidefation. and it was passed.
( According to the terms of the amended
census law. among the towns to be with !
drawn from the enumerators for tho pur-
pose of taking manufactures and indus |
trial statistics and data, are the towns OF
Wichita. Newton, Hutchinson and Nc |
Pherson in the Seventh district. There |
will be two special agents to do this work |
for these towns; one for Wichita and |
one for the remaining three towns. An |
other provision of the amended bill is that |
supervisors may travel over their terri |
tory on business, andh ave an expense al |
lowance for the same.
Mr.. Long has been notified by the bu- !
reau of pensions that it has granted in |
crease to David Brown of Wichita and |
an original widows pension to Mrs. Eva |
Utley of Kingman.
o. H. Coulter, department commander
of the G. A. R. for Kansas. is in the ci0. |
Mr.. Coulter is a member of the special |
committee of the national G. A R. to
the bureau of pensions and |
he is now here TO confer with other mem
bers OF the committee ana the national
commander.
The Washington Post, in an interview
with Mr. Bailey of Kansas concerning
some legislation i'm which he is interest
ed. concludes with a statement Of its
own, of course.'in which is this sentence:
Mr.. Bailey is now engaged in a friend
" contest with Congressman Curtis for
the Republican nomination in the First
district" R. H FAXON.