Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1906-03-03
Proposal 10 Prevent Railroads from Buying
Coal Lands Starts Discussion.
SENATOR LAfoLLtTTs TAKES THE LEAD
New Member Makes Strong Speech on
Regulation Of Carriers,
AMENDMENT is LAID ON THE TABLE
senate Makes Many Changes In
the BiII and ~ VIII Now
he Sent To Com
ference.

WASHINGTON, March 2.-The senate
today passed the bill providing for the set
tlemtnt of tho affairs of the five civilized
tribes. Under the guise Of considering the
hill the senate spent practically the entire
day in the discussion of the railroad ques-
ton The subject was raised by Mr. La
Follette's proposed amendment to the In
dian bill prohibiting railio companies and
their stockholders from acquiring the coal
lands In Indian Territory, and when the
question was once before the senate It held
its place persistcntly until almost the close
of the days session Notwithstanding Mr..
Ia Toilette has sat in the senate less than
three months, he led the debate and oc-
cupied more time than any one senator. He
conterded that the prohibition contained in
his amendment is necessary to prevent the
railroads from controlling the coal business
OF Indian Territory He enlarged his re-
marks so as TO cover other territory and
thus gave the debate somewhat general
scope. Several other senators. while ex-
pressing themselves in sympathy with the
purpose of the amendment, raised constitu-
tional objections to the provisions. and con-
siderable time was spent in discussing that
phase OF the question Late in the day the
La Toilette amendment, together with all
tho Indian committees amendments to the
sections, was laid on the table.
The bill has passed both the house and
the senate, but as the senate amended Il in
many respects 1t will now go into confer
ence. II Is a general bill for the adjust
nent of the affairs OF the five civilized
tribes upon their abandonment of their
tribal organizations Following are the
more important features of the bill:
Requires the enrolment OF the members
Gff no ~ q
fixes the rights of the Indian freedmen:
2 continues in office the present principal
chiefs for the execution of tribal deeds:
transfers suits from the Indian to the
United States courts; authorizes the secre-
ss sf & q. sa ,9s bSnS 70 for he Of
tribes; gives him control OF the cGools
until regular state or territorial school
system Is adopted; prohibits sale of the
coal and asphalt lands until after the ex-
piratfon OF the present leases of those lands
secretary to sell the umallotted lands for
the benefit OF the tribes: removes some Cs
the restrictions placed upon allottees in tho
sectional line roads; gives authority to cleo
trie reads and light and power companies
To- locale canals, reservoirs and cams; eN-
terds some OF the Oklahoma laws to In
dian Territory and extends the present
tribal relations and government until March
4, 1907.
senator LafOIiette speaks
The senate began it's session today py
agreeing to the conference report on the
joint resolution extending the tribal gov
ernment of the Indian tribes IN Indian Ter
iitory. As agreed upon the resolution
reads;
That the tribal existence and present
tribal government Of the Choctaw. Chicka-
sha, Cherokee. Creek and Seminole tribes
on nations of Indians in the Indian Terri
tory are hereby continued In full force and
effect for all purposes under existing law
untl al property or such tribes or the
proceeds thereof shall be distributed among
the Individual members of said tribes un-
less hereafter otherwise provided by law
The bill for the settlement of the affairs
of the FIVE civilized tribes of Indians was
then laid before the senate with Senator
I.aFolette's amendment prohibiting the
sale ol coal lands in Indian Terrtory "a
railroad companies being The pending
question. Mr. LaFollette continued his
speech in support of the proposition. IL,
said senators had said to him that his
amendment went too tar, but meeting that
contention, he said that legislation to be
effective must be positive: that to attempt
to do less than is proposed by his amend.
Inent was to give husks instead of the
kernel 10 the people who We're crying out
for relief.
Refers 10 Pennsylvania.
He laid special stress upon the necessity
OF prohibiting railroad stockholders from
acquiring The lands ana IN support Of hi,
contention referred TO the fact that through
their officers the railroads OF Pennsylvania
own - per cent of the anthracite coal II
that state. lie declared that they hac
driven the independent operators out OF
business thus rendering all the peopl,
who use anthracite dependent upon eight
or nine corporations for their fuel. lie de
clared that the people must be able TO as
sert their sovereign authority over tn,
transportation lines, and they must be 81
controlled TO protect the geenraI public
II had been said that IL the railroad com
panies want the coal lands they will ge
them, regardless OF what congress may do
lie could not agree to that doctrine. 81
want" he said, TO put on record th,
- protest Of one individual against the doc
trine that the railroad companies can Sc
cure the mastery OF any of the nationa
products of the country so as to interfer,
with their being fair and even HANDED
transporters of the products OF the country
want II put on record that this govern
nent of the United States is stronger that
any of it's creatures, stronger than IN,
railroads in the aggregate and all IN,
power OF the corporations represented b,
unlawful corporations and trusts. I woul,
write II in the statutes that the raiIruat
companies must he common carriers and
nothing else, and write It so as to make 4
effective"
he presented a letter from 4. p Gore o.
l~aWton. 7. T.. complaining OF railroad dis
examinations and suggesting the appeal o.
railroad commission FOR the territory.
ClRPp Replies 10 LafoIIette.
MI Clapp said in reply to MI LaFollett,
that the Indian committee had hesitate,
To accept the amendment because Il deal
with the regulation OF the railroads. which
- provided for In another bin before IN.
senate
MI Stone announced his concurrence in
the views Of Mr.. Clapp. but expressed m,
opinion that there should not only he n,
present. sale Of the coal lands. but rba,
iiirther leases also should he prohibited
Mr, Teller doubted the right OF conRres,
TO say that railroad Stockholders shall mo-
become the owners OF coal lands. He he
heyed In restricting the railroads. IN,
ecOntinusd on Second PsseJ
N