Lewiston evening teller. [volume] (Lewiston, Idaho) 1903-1911, 1904-01-27
Especial to Evenlaa Teller)


WASHINGTON. D. C., Jan. 81
Senator Hepburn appeared before
the senate committee on public lands
ana delivered an extended argument
in support Of his recent bill limiting the
right Of selection of public lands of the
United States in lieu Of surrendered
railroad land grant lands.
Under the close questioning Of sew
eral members of the committee he
brought out many important features
Of the bin He is quite confident that
It will be favorably reported from the
committee.
The senator has introduced n bill
appropriating the sum Of $1,000 to
the Nez Perez tribe OF Indians under
their treaty of June II, 1865, and their
treaty of June O. 1868, which account
according to the accounting of the In
dian bureau, Is due the Nez Perce
tribe
He has also introduced an amend
ment to the Indian appropriation bill.
to reimburse the Indians in the sum
of 1895 for expenses incurred by the
tribe during the last three years in
presenting their claims to the depart
ment.
Interesting reading is often found in
looking over the pension bills. Two
of those recently favorably reported
to the senate through the efforts of
Senator Hepburn relate to pensions
for Idaho citizens. One Is a bill in
creasing to SIG a mon,n the pension
OF Honorable II. G. Riggs, a pioneer of
the state who served in the Mexican
war. Had Mr. Riggs served during
the war of the rebellion II would have
been possible to have secured for him
pension of $50 month. 1t has long
been the policy of congress to deal
more literally though the reason Is
not known. toward the civil war vet
Grams than the veterans Of the Mexi-
can war, Nearly forty years elapsed
before the Mexican war veterans We're
granted pensions and then the rate
was only SIS per month. A pension of
John w Lay. formerly Of Boise but
now of Mullen. amounting to SIS a
month from 1897 to March . 1899, by
reason Of allowance Of a higher rate
by special act at later date. has been
allowed Mr.. Lay received pension
previous to November 1897. but was
dropped by the Clev Gland administra-
tlon for the geason that he formerly
served in the confederate army. He
has been able to prove to the salts
faction of Commissioner Ware that his
service I'm the confederate regiment was
involuntary. and that ut the first OPP
portunity offered he Joined the Union
forces with whom he served credita-
bly,. An increase In the pension of
Charles Reed of Emmett viii probably
be granted. Mr.. Reed is now getting
sig but has. on account of an accident
causing the loss of n leg, become
wholly incapacitated. The senate spe-
cial committee will probably recon-
mend an increase.
Senator Hepburn is strongly advo-
eating the passage of the service pen
sion bin granting all civil war vet
Grams. regardless of disability. the sum
OF $12 per month. He says lnasmuCh
as all the veterans are of advanced
age, tney are pfacucallN lncapacltated
for hard labor. This bill would save
the soldiers the large expense now en-
tailed In securing pensions, and Mt the
same time would greatly simplify the
work of the pension bureau.
Mrs. Fred T. Dubois gave a beauti-
fully appointed luncheon at her resi-
dence In honor of Mrs w. r. Hepburn.
wife of Senator Hepburn Covers were
laid for the following; Mrs. Carter,
wife of former Senator Carter of Mon
tana, Mrs Callinger. wife of Senator
Calllnger of New Hampshire, Mrs.
Durham, wife of Senator Burnham
of New Hampshire. Mrs. Fulton, wife