Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1906-05-08
HTNSHAW HAS A HARD FIGHT
Chairman Lacey Opposes Bill to Reimburse
Purchasers Of Indian Lands,
SPEAKER CANNON GIVES LITTLE HOPE
Congressman kinkRid Secures the
Passage of Two Bills by Being
Persistent-AmendIn the
Homestead Bill.
uFrom a stan Correspondent

/ CFrom stan Correspoudont)
! WASHINGTON, May 7.--Cspecial Tcle-
I gram In 1883 the government sold at auc-
tion at Beatrice. Neb, 1000 acres Of Otoe
and Missouri Indian lands, located in Gage
| county, Nebraska. and Marshall county.
Kansas The lands were appraised at S6i2
per acre, and the land Office gave it out
that they would be sold to actual settlers
at the appraised price Afterwards
this was changed to a public auc-
ton. Much fraud was perpetrated at this
sale and some indictments and convictions
occurred. One-fourth of the purchase price
was paid down. The lands were sold at
I far above their value and at more than
twice the appraisement, due to excitement
! ana misunderstanding of the terms of the
sale. Assurances were given by the then
/ commissioner, Mcfarland. who was pres
| ent, that the government would adjust
prices at the appraisement. Afterward
many efforts were made to get an adjust
ment of contracts. Finally. in 1900. act
was passed granting a rebate to all those
| settlers who had not yet paid I'm full. I'm
der this act they were given full title by
paying the appraisement plus 25 per cent.
Congressman Hinshaw has introduced
bill to grant a rebate on the same terms
to all those settlers-about 80 in number
! who had fully paid up before the act Of
1900
This bill is recommended by the land
Office and was today reported favorably
by Mr.. Mccarthy. member OF the house
committee on public lands, over fierce
opposition. Mr.. Lacey chairman of that
| committee, is making vigorous fight on
the bill, he did against the act of 1900.
! While the equities in the two bills are
the same, there are more difficulties I'm the
..F
latter requires an appropriation of about
S2JO,OOO from the United States treasury,
while the former bill simply scaled down
contract which had only been partially
paid out and required no appropriation
Mr.. Hinshaw has been in consultation
with the speaker with view TO get an
early consideration of the BILL but the
speaker is Of the opinion that it will be a
difficult matter TO pass the bill at this
session. Mr. Hinshaw is also making can
vass Of the house, hoping to create senti-
ment favorable to the bill.
Indians May Get Money.
Congressman Cousins today. after labor
ing for several years on a bill bringing
about readjustment OF the accounts of
the Sac and Fox Indians, was successful
I'm passing his long agitated measure. The
bill puts SlOO,O0O additional into the Iowa
|
of these accounts has been going on since
1855.
Kinkaid is Persistent.
Judge Kinkaid is persistent 'cuss'
This morning he smilingly came out OF the
speakers ROOM after having been there to
congratulate Mr.. Cannon on his SEVENTEEN
birthday, and to ask for recognition for the
passage of two bills under suspension of
rules, and from the looks of the statesman
from the Sixth district, he evidently got
what he went after Late today he arose
and moved the passage of bill granting to
Charles II. Cornell the right to construct
a dam across the Niobrara river on the
Fort Niobrara military reservation and to
construct trolley and telegraph line
across the reservation. Without debate, the
measure was passed, and then Judge Kin
kaid moved to take up the second bill but
the speaker shook his head. you know
you gave me two" said the Judge. without
even so much as addressing the chair. Il
will get to that later" said the speaker.
And sure enough, later on the speaker
recognized Judge Kinkaid for a bill au-
thorizing the secretary Of the interior to
make rosurvey of certain townships in
Mcpherson county, which was also passed.
Tcn-Acre Bill Passes House.
The bill introduced by Congressman Mon
dell providing for the subdivision of lands
under the reclamation act and making
entries as small ten acres instead of
forty, the minimum under the existing law,
passed the house today. This subdivision
was made necessary in certain sections of
the United States, where the land is so
rich that ten acres will support a family
particularly in fruit and truck farming
districts that il was deemed advisable to
permit entries of this size in irrigated sec
tions of the country.
Important Indian Bill.
A bill Of first Importance to Indians passed
the house today. This bill empowers the
president to designate any individual Indian
belonging TO any tribe whom he considers
sufficiently advanced in civilization to be
capable of managing his own affairs to
apportion and allut to any such Indian his
or her pro rata share Of any tribal or
trust fund in the treasury. This bill Is
along the present policy of the Indian
ONCE in alloting shares of tribal funds to
such Indians as may be capable of manag-
ing their own affairs Ultimately the Indian
must become citizen, according to Major
Lacey, the author of the bill and work
upon new lines necessarily created by his
present environments. Large areas OF In
. dian lands have already been thus allotted
and many of the tribes have become farm
ers and stock raisers, but no general at
tempt has been made as this bill seeks to
90 to allot tribal funds i'm the treasury
The senate committee on Indian affairs
today made favorable reports on the follow
ing bills introduced by Senator Gamble:
To provide for the allotment and dlstribu-
tion of tribal funds Of the Yankton tribe
! Of Sioux Indians and Sisseton and Wahpe-
ton tribes of Sioux, residing in South Da-
kota
Oma Ina Contractors Lose.
The secretary of the interior today sus-
pended the contract with Callahan, Katz,
! Phelan & Shirley Of Omaha for construction
and completion Of the work Of division No
8 on the main canal OF the Huntley project
in Montana, because Of failure TO perform
their contract having failed to commence
the work required after due written notice.
Reclamation service will submit readyertlse-
ment
Two Dakota BfIIs.
Senator Gamble today introduced these
bills: To pay so 10 L. A. Jopeline Yank-
ton, for two months services as messenger