Omaha daily bee., 1907-01-04
NEDRASKANS NOT PLENTIFUL
cAly One ssnator and One CONGRESSMAN
Present When Session conyensa
NORRIS HAS GOOD WORD FOR NtTTltToN
HansbrOugh Has Amendment 60 the
Homestead Law Setting Aside RuI-
ing OF Department In Matter
of COmmuted Entries.
fFrom a star cortesnondentl

/ AEEUHl SNdH 0DTTebnuUutnI.l
| WASHINGTON. Jan. Especial Tele-
gram. )-Nebraska was represented by a
lone member on the floor Of the house to-
day when that body convened. Judge Norris
OF the Fifth district being the only one to
appear when the speakers gavel fell The
other members OF the delegation are ex-
pected TO arrive in town tonight or tomor-
row morning. During the holidays Judge
Norris quietly went to his home at MeCook,
where he remained until the first of the
| year. arriving In town yesterday. Judge
kinkatd, who Is making n trip to Panama
with number Of members of the Cali
fornia delegation, is expected to return to
Washington on next Monday. on the SEN
ate side Senator Burkett was the only Ne
braskan, Senator MIard being expected to
arrive on Sunday.
Iowa was notlceRbly unrepresentcd, both
senators being at home, Senator Doliiver
looking after his fences, while Senator
Allison, who has been exceedingly III dur
Ing the summer, is not expected TO arrive
before the middle of next week Both Of
tle South Dakota senators were also alb
sent, Senator Gamble to remain In the state
until after his election as his own sue
cessor.
Pleased with NettIeton's Election.
Congressman Norris today. speaking
about the election of Dan NJ. Nettleton as
speaker Of the house. said: dan Nettleton
is one of the pioneers of our state. In my
judgment he is one Of the best qualified
members of eur legislature and he will be
found absolutely fair. He won't permit an
injustice to be done to rich or poor. corpo-
ration or Individual. At one time Mr.. Net
Teton was a prominent candidate for con-
/ fv.
feated for the nomination by w. K. An
drews. The legislature has not only hon
ored a good man. but they have done honor
to the entire party of the state, 1 have
great faith in Dan Nettleton. both as
friend and as a neighbor."
Breckenridge Appears for Indians.
r. w. Breckenridge and daughter. who
have been sightseeing in New York. arrived
in Washington today and were among the
Nebraskans present at the reception given
by the president in honor of the diplomatic
corps tonight. Mr.. Breckenridge is in
Washington in the interest of a bill now
pending before the Indian AFFAIRS committee
OF the house in the interest OF certain bands
of santee Sioux OF Knox county, Ne
braska.
Burkctt Has Some Bills.
| NOudg iNEOduCGu a Dlll
to prevent the nulliflcation of state anti
gambling laws. The intent of the bill Is to
prevent transmission by telegraph, tele-
phone or through the express companies OF
messages bearing commissions to bet upon
horse races, or in fact any other form of
gambling
Senator Burkett also today introduced
bills to increase the pensions Of the follow
ing Nebraskans to $50 per month each:
John e. Meglerrne, Lincoln; Samuel Steele.
Tecumseh; Thomas Harrop, Roca.
| Hospital for Fort Mex enzie..
Representative Mondell today introduced
a. bill appropriating $4,000 for the erection
of a new hospital at Fort Mckenzie, wyo.
He also presented a bill providing that all
lands allotted to Indians in severalty or
reserved for their use in common, suscep-
tible OF irrigation. may be leased for a
term Of not exceeding twenty-five years for
cultivation under irrigation. in the disere-
ton OF the secretary OF the interior.
Amendment to Homestead LAW.
Senator Hansbrough today introduced a
general bill relating to Communications of
homestead entries. The scope and pur-
poses of the proposed measure are thus
explained by the senator; Under a ruling
q. 1906, It was held that in order to COM
mute an entry under the homestead act
the entryman must have resided upon the
land for eight months continuously after
six months Of constructive residence Prior
to the above mentioned ruling It was pos
sible for an entryman TO leave his land
for n month or at a time without
jeopardizing his right to commute at the
end of eight months residence.
"Sinoe the ruling has gone into effect
many entrymen have acted under the old
rules OF the department, not knowing OF
the new one, and have left their land for
short periods. with the result that when
they endeavored to commute their proofs
were held up The proposed bill gives these
people the right to make their proof under
the old ruling Of the department. In many
parts OF the country II Ia impossible on
account OF climatic conditions TO remain
the entire winter upon homestead"
Protection of Min~rnI Lands
Mr.. Nelson in the senate and Volstead OF
Minnesota in the house, today introduced
In their respective bodies a bill proposing
to put into law the recommendations con-
tained in President Roosevet's message
for the preservation OF mineral lands now
embraced In the public domain. These
btliB, which are Identical as to phraseology,
provide that lands containing coal. Ignite
petroleum natural gas shall be leased
under a system to be devised by the secre-
tary Of the interior. The first section pro-
vides that all coal, ignite, petroleum OF
natural gas shall be reserved to the United
States. that patents made disposing Of such
lands shall contain provision specifically
making such reservation.
Another provision OF this bill is to the
effect that unless the transfer expressly
mentions that coal, Ignite. petroleum OF
natural gas are conveyed. IL will be pre-
sumed that such deposits are not conveyed
Entries for land containing coal. etc., shall
be made at the local land Offices and pat
ents issued as under the present law by
authority of the secretary Of the interior.
Representative Volstead in speaking OF
his bill so far as the house is concerned.
said tonight:
This bill IL presented as basis Cor dis
cussion. The presidents reeommendatio
In this connection has already been actad
upon, in a measure. by the house COM
mite on public lands"
Postal Matters.
Iowa postmasters appointed: Badger.
Webster county. Charles c. Knudsen vice