The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-01-30
MONTGOMERY. ALABAMA. SATURDAY,

Mr. Sulzer (N. Y.), made an unsuccess- full effort to amend the bill by inserting an item of s20OO,O00 for the purchase of the site for a new postofiice in New York city, recommended by the commission au- thorized by law for that purpose.
 The provision authorizing the President to consolidate revenue collection districts and to sub-divide States for collection purposes, went out on point of order as being new legislation.
 When the paragraph providing for the destitute Indians of Alaska was reached. MT, Cowherd (Mo.), called attention to the deplorable condition of the natives or Alaska, which he declared to exist. He said the people of this country have gone there in search of gold and have changed conditions surrounding the natives. Game laws have been passed. he said, even 10 protect the ferocious bear, while the na- tive Is left to die of starvation The Alaskan Indian, he said, Is the only h. dian who has never raised a hand against the white man. Legislation should be enacted to preserve the Indian instead or the game, he added.
 Land Frauds Discussed.
 On motion of Mir. Mondell (Wyo) the appropriation for the expenses of the dis trict land offices was increased from $S5,- GOO to $50, 900 on account of the increasing volume of business. Before it's adoption; MT. Robinson Qnd.) inquired if the in- crease was not because of the land frauds MT. Mondell replied that he did not think so.
 MT. Robinson-It Is a fact. is it not, that many millions of acres have been fraudu- lentiy entered in the last year or twoT
 MT. MondeIl-I do not believe that is true. I believe that nine-tenths of the t1ax rnado have been made by persons who had purpose in making that statement and did 1t to serve their own personal ends, and that they are largely the paid agents of the trans-continental railways. who would like to have all the public land laws repealed in order that the thirty or forty million acres which they own will find a better market.
 MT, Robinson Inquisitive.
 MT. Robinson asked if it was denied that millions of acres had gone astray by reason of fraudulent land entries.
 Mir. Mondell-I have lived in State where s5 per cent of the land is still pub- lie land, and I will say to the gentleman so far as my personal knowledge is con- cerned, and have taken some pains to investigate, my opinion Is that in this year of grace, there is le-s fraud in con- nection with public lands in the United States in proportion to the acres than there ever was before.
 Mir. Robinson--But the gentleman is not oblivious of the fact that he has evidently read the current public views which state that the Secretary of the Interior has re- peatedly stated that there Is a great amount of fraudulent land entries out in the Western country, has he not?
 Mir. Mondell-The gentleman has not carefully read the Secretary's report. The gentleman probably read the trans-conti- mental edition of the Secretary's sugges- tions.
 Mileage of -iembers-
 When the paragraph relating to mileage of members was reached. Mir. Hemen- way called attention to the fact that pro- vision for the mileage of Senators had been omitted from the bill by an over sight and 1t was inserted.
 Three or four members were on their feet seeking recognition
 Mir. Maddox (Ga.l raised a point of or der against the Item. He asked for a rnl- ing as to whether since the mileage pros vided for the regular session had been applied to the special session, the House could not appropriate mileage for Its members.
 MT Grosvenor proposed an amendment providing that any mHmber so desiring might cover any money due him under this appropriation into the treasury. Laughter followed it's reading.
 Mir. Maddox said he had heard cheap amendments offered before and he could exercise his right to accept or return money without amendment.
 Mir. Littlefleld Speaks.
 Mir. Littlefield (Me.) took the ground that there was no interregnum between the two sessions and that one merged in- to the other. He said no motion was made to terminate the session without date and that there had been no adjourn ment by reason of constitutional limit. Therefore, he argued this has been a continuous session. and the item for mile- age was unauthorized by law. MT. Lit tlefeld made an extended legal argument in support of the point of order. He held that in the early days when an extraor- dinary session of Congress extended be- yond the day of the converting of the reg ular session, they regarded 1t as a con- tinuous session. He cited precedents, par ticularly the action of the Fortleth Con- gresS.
 At 5:S the committee rose with the mileage question pending.
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