, 1902-06-03
HE WON OUT At LAST
SENATOR WARREN'S STRENUOUS
EFFORTS IN BEHALF OF A
WYOMING CLAIM.
Omnibus Claims Bill Carries Nearly
Eight Thousand Dollars Expended
by the Commonwea lth In Protect,
ing the Yellowstone National Park
President Has Signed II.

hearly always win. although the pa,
t;e.,t toileT may not. himself. be par
lculaIly benefited by the victory. Per,
haps there is no place in the world
~ncIe this is truer than in the con
gress of the United States. An ex-
ample in point is the chapter just clos
ed with the signature of the president
of the United States. "Theodore Roose-
Welt" to the senate omnibus claims
bill. which carries s7.7SO.44 for the
state of Wyoming.
In January. 1884. Honorable II. NJ.
Teller was secretary of the interior:
William Hale was governor of the
territory of Wyoming: and F. E. War
Zen was a member of the Wyoming
council. or upper branch of the terri
torial legislature. The legislature met
that year in the second floor of the
Commercial building. which was then
under construction. the rooms being
not yet pa]rtitioned off. Temporary
partitions bad beer inserted. however.
in order to make it a convenient assem-
bling place for the wise ~sOlons."
Congress had previously enacted a
law laying ont the Yellowstone Nation.
al park. II providing a superintend-
mi for it. The president had appoint,
ed a superintendent: but congress had
failed to make any appropriation with
which to either pay the" superintendent
or protect the park from fires. OR from
pr S and Curio-hunters who were
Y 'troying the formations and cut
merry jinks" generally with
ational curiOSities.
arly all of the park as set aside
IS in Wyoming. a thin, narrow strip
on the west being in Idaho. and another
slice on the north in Montana. The
laws of M Of these then territories
contained any provisions for special
protection of the park. or for guarding
against spoliation OF the same. Cover
Tor Hale was greatly distressed and he
appealed to his immediate superior.
the head of his executive department.
Teller. The secretary expressed a
great deal of interest in the governors
representation of the depredations
which We're being made. but stated
that congress still refused to make any
appropriation. and that he had not. up
to that time. been able to interest
either congress or the president suf.
ticiently to obtain the assistance
of the army in caring for the
grand beauties and curiosities of that
wonderland; n that what was more
to the point. no law in Wyoming. and
no federal law which provided for the
protection of curios against spoliation,
such as the breaking of of the forma-
tons. etc.
Governor Hale then appealed to the
legislature. representing that the sec
!etary of the interior would be very
glad if the territory could spare some
appropriation; and the secretary had
especially appealed to the governor not
only on this ground. but that there
should be immediate legislation en-
acted by the territory providing for
the prevention of such spoliation, and
for punishment therefor. if committed.
Colonel Babbitt. Phil. Dater, Billie
Irvine, w. II. Holiday, Gray. Bill Dale
Irvine. w. II. Holiday. Gray Bill
Daley. and others. were members OF
the council. n they, with others, en-.
tered heartily into the proposition.
Ten thousand dollars was appropriate.
ed for the care of the park during the
two years following, and five hundred
dollars for telegraphing. etc. since the
graphed to the secretary of the inter-
ior. his approval was to be invited. and
the whole matter was to be used as a
possible inducement to to
finally make an appropriation for the
park in some of its annual supply bills.
Congress failed entirely: but the Wyo-
ming law was enacted. Under it the
governor appointed a justice of peace
and constable for the Yellowstone
country; a log Jail was built: and a
government was set up. with a deter
mination to preserve that great ex-
habit OF natures handiwork.
Time went on. The money was
almost expended. Governor Hale died,
and Warren became governor. and
later senator. Congress had. in the
meantime. provided by law for the
necessary regulations in the interior
department. and for a guard from the
army. and still later for a United
States commissioner resident in the
park. Hon. J. w. Medium being the
apPOintee. who has ever since held the
office.
Soon after Governor Warren was
elected to the senate he presented a
bill in congress for the reimbursement
of wyoming, believing that the Unit
ed States rather than the young and
struggling state OF Wyoming, should
foot the bill. The accounts had been
carefully kept and the vouchers retain
ed. Just as Wyoming accounts and
vouchers have always been cared for
at the state house: and so there seem
ed to be no difficulty in the way Of OBJ
tanning relief. But nearly all claims