Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1902-12-04
DOWN TO BUSINESS.
Oklahoma and Indian Territory
Recommended for One State,
BILL TO KEEP LANDS FOR SETTLERS.


yesterday began the real work o.
disposing Of the business before 1t
although the session lasted only al
hour and q half. When an adjourn
ment was taken at 1880 o'clock, on,
OF respect to the memory of Repre-
sentatives DeGraffenreid and Shep
hard, Of Texas, the bill to amend the
immigration laws was under discus.
sion. Early in the day Senator Mel
son, from the committee on terrific.
ries, reported substitute for the
omnibus statehood bill with the rec.
ommendation that Oklahoma and the
Indian territory be admitted into the
union as one state under the name
OF Oklahoma. When the immigration
bill was brought up Senator Quay
precipitated a discussion over the
status of the statehood bill, which
was terminated by ruling from the
chair that beginning December 10 it
would be the unfinished business and
that at the closing hour each day
it would be laid before the senate
unless displaced by vote of that
body.
Senator Quarles, of Wisconsin, in
troduced bill for the repeal of the
desert land law bill and the law au-
thorizing the entry to timber and
stone lands under the placer mining
laws and also a provision for the
homestead law permitting the COM
mutation of homestead entries. Sem
ator Quarles said the intention of
the bill is to preserve the public
lands for actual settlers and to that
end he desired to have all laws for
the opening of the public lands ex-
cept the homestead law repealed.
A joint resolution providing for
commission to investigate the pen
sion laws was introduced in the SEN
ate by Senator Scott, of West Vir-
ginia. The resolution provides that
the commission shall consist of two
senators and three members of the
house. 1t is given authority to make
inquiry into the advisability of pro-
vision for pensions to all persons
who served in the civil war for 90
days or more.
Senator Cullom, chairman Of the
senate committee on foreign rela-
lions, says he is going to press con-
sideration of the reciprocity treaties,
the French agreement.
He does not know when time can
be obtained for calling up the treaty,
but thinks the senate should vote
one way or the other.
The house yesterday passed the
bill to appropriate $4,000 to defray
the expenses Of the anthracite coal
strike commission and then ad-
iourned until Friday, when the Lon
don dock charge bill will be consId-
cred. There were two hours Of dis
,ussion on the commission bill, dur
ng which the presidents course in
treating the commission was highly
commended, except by Mr.. Burton, a
Missouri democrat, who commended
hat the commission was created
without authority Of law or constitu-
lion. There was some criticism Of |
The feature Of the bill allowing
louble salaries to members of the
commission now in government en-
hoy and also because the bill left
he amount Of the compensation OF
he members to the president. But
III amendments were voted down.
The bill was passed without division.
The subcommittee of the house
committee, consisting Of
representatives Littlefeld, of Maine;
Thomas, of Iowa, and Clayton, OF
Alabama, to which was referred the
nti-trust bills, met yesterday and
evoted several hours to the consid-
ration Of these measures. One OF
he bills before the committee pro-
'oses an amendment to the Sherman
law and another provides
or publicity. Considerable attention
1as devoted yesterday to considera-
ion of the latter. This bill requires
Il corporations engaged in inter-
tate commerce to file returns with
authorities disclosing
heir true financial condition and
heir capital stock and imposes a tax
pom such as have outstanding capi'
Al stock unpaid in whole or in part.
he bill was introduced by Mr.. Lit
lefield at the last session. While
o general conclusions were reached
esterday, good progress was made