Omaha daily bee., 1906-03-03
INDIAN BILL PASSED


Continued from First Page.)
would proceed in an orderly and legal way
and not in q way that would create greater
evils than Il would eliminate.
Messrs Mallory Patterson and Newlands
also found legal difficulties in accepting the
prohibition put upon the holders of stock
in railroad companies, although processing
sympathy with the purpose of the resolu
ton.
Mr.. Newlands charged that the great cor
porations practically control all the coal
lands I'm Pennsylvania and West Virginia,
and said they were rapidly extending their
operations in Colorado. Utah. New Mexico
and other states and territories.
Mr.. Teller took exception to some of his
statements. declaring that there was no
monopoly of the coal lands in Colorado.
and he defended the rights of the people OF
the west to control their own resources.
lie criticised the too great extension of the
forest reservation system and said it was
done in pursuance of "the insane notion
that the government must hold the lands
for the unborn
Mr.. LaFOlictte's second speech.
a somewhat general discussion of forest
reserves followed and at its close MIR.
LaFollette again took the floor to reply TO
the speeches gcrmane to his amendment.
He said that all the senators who had
spoken had professed sympathy with his
motive, but had contended that his pro-
vision went too far in its application TO the
stockholders in railroads.
What will it avail" he asked. IF the
railroads cut out and their stockhold-
ers are allowed to own the coal lands?"
He said that experience for thirty years
in Pennsylvania and for twenty years in
rfnfa haA gIa that 4,,l,
course might result i'm the control of the
mines by the roads. Appeals had been
made to him to accept a modification of
the amendment, but he could not see his
way clear to do so. for his experience had
taught him that it was better to go down
to defeat in support of a righteous meas
ure than to compromise il away.
Mr.. LaFolette said he did not desire to
pose a prophet, but he would make the
prediction that unless congress addressed
itself presently to dealing with the Ques-
ton of the control of the public utilities
in a way to prevent their further control
by centralized CAPITAL the country would
soon be compelled to face the problem
of government ownership in a way that
would not be put aside
Mr.. LaFollette admitted the probability
of the supreme courts holding some of
added that he was anxious to at least
permit the court an opportunity to pass
on the questions
Mr.. Bacon said that Mr.. LaFollette's OBJ
ject could be accomplished by slight
change and suggested provision pro-
hibting any persons from having an in
terest in the coal lands for the benefit of
ia railroad.
Mr.. Knox asserted that the amendment
would accomplish the confscation of the
property of innocent owners in coal mines
and Mr.. Bacon replied that his amendment
of the amendment would meet that diff
Guilty.
Evils of Railroad Control.
Mr.. Hepburn spoke in general terms of
the evil of permitting the railroads to enter
into other lines Of business than that of
common carriers. lie charged that the
ownership Of the coal mines of Utah by
the railroad companies was having the
effect of standing in the way of the de-
velopment OF coal mines of Idaho and
other western states.
Mr.. Spooner suggested THAT all the diff
culties of the situation might be overcome
by accepting the house leasing system
making the leases nonasslgnable.
Mr.. Hepburn would not agree that the
substitution would accomplish the result
and he predicted that without restraint
the railroads would soon control the coal
business of Indian Territory.
After the debate had proceeded for about
four hours Mr.. McCumber said that it
had become apparent to him that the sem
ate did not at this time desire to provide
| for the sale of the coal lands. He there
! fore moved that the committee amend
ment be laid on the table. The motion pre-
| vailed by vote of IS to I, Senator'S Bacon.
| Blackburn. Clay. Dubois. LaFollette. NAL
| lory and Pettus voting in the negative.
| The effect of the vote was to lay on the
! table not only the committee amendment,
| but the LaFollette amendment and all
/ amendments suggested to the section and
! to leave the house provision standing. Mr..
/ Clark (WyoD moved to amend the house
| provision So as to make Il read follows:
That all coal ana asphalt lands, whether
! leased or Unbiased. shall be reserved :.om
/ sale under this act until the existing
| leases for coal and asphalt lands shall
! have expired or until such time may be
! otherwise provided by law.
After several other amendments were
made the bill passed
The senate then, at 5:S2 p. M, went into
executive session and at $40 p. m. ad-
adjourned until Monday.