Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-02-17
NO CHANGE TO PASS
Littlef1eld Bill Too Drastic for the
Senate.
PENSION LIKELY FOR MRS. RUMBLE
Question of Statehood Makes Little
Difference in Amount of Land Open
ed for Settlement in Territories Ask
ing Admission.
=. TBY II. J. MAHIN. !

BY H. J. MAHIN.
seems practically certain that the only
trust measures which will become
law at this session are the Nelson and
Elkins amendments. The trust legis-
lation question, however, is in such
a chaotic state that all positive state
ments must be taken with an allow
ance. The Nelson amendment pro-
Vides for publicity of matters regard
ing the trusts and for compulsory tes-
timony in regard to the same. The
Elkins amendment deals with the ques-
ton OF railroad rebates. Many promi-
nent legislators think that these two
measures are strong ones and will be
|effective, together with the Hepburn
bill appropriating 100000 for prose-
|cutlons, which has already passed
both houses of congress. The develop
'ment of the trust legislation is mat
ter OF daily interest at the capital. 1t
lis not safe to say one day what will
be the condition the next. The Little
field bill was passed and relegated to
1.-THE background almost within twenty
-four hours and other measures may be
|given the same treatment. 1t was
found soon after the Littlefield bill
had passed the house that it stood no
,chance whatever to pass the senate.
| 1t is too drastic for the senate, and
some doubts were also entertained as
to its constitutionality.
Col. Hepburn is taking a prominent
part in all of the trust legislation be-
fore the house. The Elkins bill was
referred to his committee and through
Ibis influence promptly reported favor
ably. The bills that Col. Hepburn
has not had his hands on in his COM
mittee have come under the eye of
Congressman Thomas in the judiciary
committee. so that Iowa is better rep
resented than most states in this, the
most important work of this congress,
or, in fact, of any congress for many
years. One of the mysteries of the
week has been the alleged Rockefel-
Ter kilograms. The story that Rookie
Teller had sent kilograms to certain
senators, urging no trust legislation,
is said to have been made public
through the medium of the President,
to whom it was communicated by
senators supposed to have received
the messages. Neither of the Iowa
senators have been spoken of as re-
cipients of the kilograms, except SEN
ator Allison, and he only because of
his prominent position as a leader of
the senate. Friends of Mr.. Rockefel.
Ter absolutely deny that any such tele.
grams We're ever received, saying that
the Standard Oil magnate would only
do such a foolish thing in fit Of aber
ration. Others say the kilograms were
received but were unauthorized and
sent by parties having no connection
with Mr.. Rockefeller. The messages
are said to have been direct protests
against the Nelson amendment, which
provides for publicity, and according
to the rumor nine prominent senators
received kilograms worded practically
the same.
Major Lacey received an inquiry the
other day in regard to the possibility
of the opening of new lands in the
event of the admission of the terri
tories by the passing of the statehood
bill. He says in reply that all the
public land in the territory is already
opened except Indian lands and these
would not be opened anyway for some
years. Outside Of the Indian reser-
vations the territories have no LAND
to be opened to settlers and the condi
ton of statehood would make scarce
ly any difference in the condition
which prevails in the territorial state
The only thing the states could dc
that territories can not would be tt
sell rhe land which has been granted
to them for school purposes. The
state legislatures would have to pas.
an act to make this legal. There are
wide expanses of Indian land in thu
territories which will be opened some
day, but the question of statehood
makes no difference in this con.
nection. 1t is governed entirely b.
the condition of the Indians.
The Iowa congressman have sue.
ceeded in getting an item in the gen
eral deficiency bill appropriating al
amount equal to Congressman Rum.
| pies mileage account, (about $444
to his widow This bill is one tina
comes in the last of the session ant
as the item is almost positive to pas
Mrs Rumple will probably be pal,
this amount about the end of the ses
sion. 1t is also qualification to tn,
Iowa congressman to hear Favorable
reports on the pension bill which ha
been presented for Mrs. Rumple. Thi
matter will come up in the house mex
week and is practically sure to pass
There was some talk of putting in
bill authorizing the payment to Mrs
Rumple of two or three thousand der
lars in lump sum. These bills, how
ever, have rarely been successful an,
while the Iowa delegation could pre-