The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1903-09-23


tion was going on.
The committee on resolutions strug-
gled all morning with the land laws
question to come before the congress.
1t was finally decided to favorably re-
port resolutions favoring the repeal Of
the timber and stone act, aad the com.
mutation clause of the homestead act,
but only after considerable sharp de.
bate. No decision as to the desert
land act has yet been reached. The
Oregon deleg alton caucused this morn.
ing and decided to favor the repeal of
all existing laws and the re.en actment
OF the old fve.year homestead law and
it is probable that a brisk fight for
this action will be made
The Idaho deleg alton held caucus
this afternoon and instructed Con-
gresham French to lead the fight
against the action in favor of the re.
peal Of the existing laws and mem bers
of other northwestern delegations are
also preparing to oppose to the last
any such action. An attempt, it is
stated, will be made to bring the SUBJ
ject before congress the moment
next years meeting place, vote on
which will be taken on convening in
the morning, has been decided upon
and protracted debate is looked for
before the National Irrigation takes
its stand as body on the existing Ia
tional land laws.
OGDEN, Utah, Sept. lS.-The elev.
enth National Irrigation congress
came to an end late this afternoon. 1t
reelected Senator Clnrk, OF Montana,
president, and decided to hold the con-
gress of 1904 in Ell Paso, and adopted
a platform which requested congress
to make needed notifications of the
existing land laws in order that specu-
lation and monopoly of public domain
be prevented. Over the adoption or
rejection of the cluuses of the majority
report requesting that congress repeal
| the desert land act, timber and stone
act, and Communication clause of the
homestead act, occurred debate of
four hours duration. Mr.. Shafroth
opened the debate against repeal of
the land law as provided by the minor
ity report and was followed by Attor.
ney General Donovan, of Montana, in
favor of the majority report. Other
speeches followed on behalf Of each
side OF the proposition. The matter
was finally settled by Congressman
Needham, of California. offering this
substitute resolutions:
"Whereas, The timber and stone
act, the desert land law and commuta-
tion clause Of the homestead act, have
in many instances in their admins
tration been found to result in specu.
lation and in monopoly of the public
domain to exclusion of actual home
building: therefore, be it
"Resolved, That we request the
congress of the United States to make
such notifications in said laws as
will save the remaining public lands
for actual settlers who will found
homes and live upon said lands.'
Amid much confusion the roll was
called and resulted in the adoption OF
the Needham substitute by vote OF
PIP to l4S.
Mrs. Gilbert McClurg, of Colorado o
| Springs, offered a resolution favorlng
Indian corn as the national floral en-
blem of America. It was adopted.
The committee on perm anent organi.
zation recommended the selection OF
officers as follows:
|. President, w. A. Clark, Montana:
first vice president, L. w. Shurtliffe,
| Utah: second vice president. w. G..
! johnson, Denver: third vice presi-
dent, John Hall, Texas: secretary, j.
/ B. MaXson, Reno, Nevada. The state
| vice presidents include Herbert Strain,
Montana: G.. \. Richardson, North
| Dakota, and Thomas Shaw. MINES
Otd.
! Fire Started BY Scnnalnhulist.