The Butte inter mountain., 1903-12-23
SHOOTS ANSWER
DURING HOLIDAYS
SAID UTAH SENATOR DOES NOT
MEAN TO LIE QUIET UNDER
WHIPS OF MYRIAD FlAYERS.
SENATOR HEYBURN'S BILL
important Measure on Public Lands in
Forest Reserves From the Cen
ator From Idaho.
Inter Mountains Washington Bureau,
3O9 Jenifer Building.
srEctAL coRNEsroNnENeE.

SPECIAL ruRRESpONDESCE.
Washington. Dec. io.-New York and
Boston papers state they have letters from
prominent Utah Mormons rosenting pub
lished statements by Senator Smoot, that
he is not n polyFamst and is not III sym
pathy with poygamy. These letters de-
clare that Moses Thatcher was disielow-
SHIPPED for saying less than this.
Smoot was TO have submitted to the coSi
mittce on privileges and elections at their
meeting Friday, written answers to the
protests filed by 10 citizens OF Utah. lie
has been called home by the Mormon au-
thoritics. il is alleged, and has left for
Salt Lake without making answer.
Ills answer, it is claimed. will be
prepared by the church authorities at Salt
axe during the holidays. The committee
will postpone action pending his reply to
charges rs it is desirous Of receiving
written answer thereto.
John g. Carlisle and Ex Congressman
Taylor Of Ohio wil conduct the case
against Smoot 1t is understood that
William II. Dickson will be Smoot's attor
ney.
Senator Heyburn's Bill.
Senator Hepburn introduced the follow
ing bill in the senate OF the United States,
which was read twice and referred 10 the
committee Oh public lands:
BE i, enacted by the senate and the
house OF representatives Of the United
States Of America in congress assembled,
That no right Of selection OF public lands
heretofore given 10 any person OF corpora
ton in lieu of lands surrendered by such
person or corporation because OF such lands
being within any forest reserve heretofore
created or hereafter TO be created, shall be
exercised by the selection OF any even
numbered section OF the public lands of the
United States. except III cases where the
land so surrendered was upon such even
numbered section.
Section THAT when forest reserve
is created in one state, all lands taken III
cNchangc for lands which may he surren-
dcred by any person or corporation within
such forest reserve shall he exchanged only
for lands of like character within the same
state in which said forest reserve is situate,
and the provisions Of this act shall apply
10 all exchanges made or TO be made by
reason OF the surrender OF lands within
any forest reserve whether said exchange
is made through the medium Of land scrip
OF otherwise.
Section 3.--That nothing in this act
shail DC construed rs recognizing inc
validity OF amy selection or entry Of even
| numbered sections OF land either within
or without the limits OF any railroad land
grant heretofore made by such railroad
company or its assigns in exchange for
lands included with any forest reserve.
Its Object.
The bill is framed to prevent railroad
companies from scrippiug even numbered
sections and thus securing in solid blocks
large tracts of land. Owing to the odd
| numbered sections. the lien land scrip
| issued to them has given them opportunity
| of increasing their holdings and in solid
| tracts
Senator Hepburn has taken a deep inter
| est III the subject Of public lands, and is
| thoroughly informed as to the legislation
needed in the states which contain large
areas Of public domain.
Oyster cocktails, phone 7so-B; A. L.
| Dansereau.