Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1907-01-17
No HEARING ON NORRIS BILL
One Member Of Subcommittee is III and
Action is Postponed
LACEY PLAN FOR FORT EXTENSION
Iowa Congressman Frames Bill Pro-
vidinE that Lands Required Shall
he Obtained by Exchange for
other Public Lands.
CTrom a stan Correspondent

bers of the Nebraska delegation in the
lower house expected to appear today be-
fore the sub-ccmmittee of the judiciary
committee of the house to speak in favor
of Representative Norris new bill to
create two judicial circuits I'm Nebraska
Senator Burkett was early on the floor of
the house to round up those favorable to
the judiciary division bill, and while the
judiciary committee was in executive ses-
sion the representatives from Nebraska
gathered in an cmbrasure of a window
the upper gallery of the house side and
told stories, as well as exchanged political
experiences. Senator Burkett was ex-
| tremely active in urging his friends to stand
by and help pull his chestnut out of the
FIRE
Owing. however. to the illness of Repre-
sentative Terrell of Massachusetts,, who.
with Representative Alexander of New
York and Smith of Kentucky, constitute
the subcommittee. it was decided to post
pone the hearings on Judge Norris bill
until the recovery of the Massachusetts,
member.
Lacey Proposes Land Trades.
Following close upon the heels of the
notice served by Senator Burkett that he
| intends to press an amendment to the leg
i5lative bill providing for the purchase Of
| $1,000 acres of land adjoining Fort Robin
son to be used as a target range and for
a drill ground for the infantry, cavalry
and artillery, comes bill today framed by
| Congressman Lacey of Iowa, which will
be interesting to property owners holding
lands abutting on Fort Robinson. The
text of the Lacey bill follows:
| That whenever the secretary of war
shall deem an enlargement of any military
reservation necessary and the title OF land
required for such enlargement shall be in
private ownership. the secretary of war
may certify to the secretary of interior
a description of such specific tracts of land
as he may deem necessary for such pur-
poses and the secretary of the interior
may, with the approval of the president,
exchange an equal area of any of the un-
occupied non-mineral, untimbered public
land subject to homestead entry therefor;
the public land so exchanged to be OF sub
stantially equal value to the lands ex-
changed for"
Burkett and Pollard Appear.
Senator Burkett. and Representative Pol
lard today appeared before the sub-com-
mittee of the military affairs committee
of the senate to explain the purpose of
the bill introduced Jointly by them pro-
the officers and enlisted men of the Ne
braska territorial militia. The bill seeks
20 give n military certificate to tae troops
called out In 1854 by Governor Saunders
to defend the borders of Nebraska and
other contiguous states from invasion by
the Indians. Most of the Nebraska COM
panies served three months and even more.
They were officered, so far as command
ing officers were concerned, by regular
United States officers, and were mustered
out at the end OF the campaign without
recognition of their service in any man.
ner. The subcommittee having consider
alton of this bill is composed of Senators
Scott of West Virginia, Warner of Mis-
souri, and Pettus of Alabama. After the
presentation of the Nebraska case and in
view of the manner in which both Senator
Burkett and Mr. Pollard were received
It was their conclusion the bill would not
come out of the committee.
shOshone Hot Springs Reserve.
The secretary OF the interior today sent
communication to congress urging the
| passage of a bill which will permit him
to lease what is known as the Hot
Springs reserve" comprising forty acres
lying about four miles from the agency
! in the Shoshone Indian reservation In
Wyoming This request is made upon re-
quest of Indian Commissioner Leupp and
meets with the hearty approval of Secre-
tary Hitchcock. 1t appears this land
about the springs is unallotted having
been reserved by the allotting agent be-
cause of its medicinal qualities. Commits
sioner Leupp has drawn the following
memorandum bill for consideration of the
committees of congress:
THAT the secretary Of the interior be
authorized. with the consent of the In
dians of the Shoshone reservation, Wyo-
ming to be obtained as he may deem
best. to lease for a term not exceeding
twenty-five years lot l, section 2, town
3 ship l, range /, west of the Wind river
4 meridian. in said reservation. for the erec-
ton of a sanitarium at such rate OF
rental and subject to such rules and regu.
D lations as he may prescribe"
r Coal Land Frauds in wyoming.
An important conference regarding Goa
: land frauds in Wyoming was held at the
7 White House today between the president
Commissioner Garfield of the bureau OF
corporations, who is soon to take up his
! duties as secretary Of the interior; Milton
d. Purdy, assistant 10 the attorney gen.
! eral, ana Assistant Attorney Genera
. Cooley. Senator Warren OF wyoming was
also present. Secretary Hitchcock, who
E brought the revelations regarding the al
legged frauds to the presidents attention
c preceded the others to the White House
: and left just as the others were joining
the president. He was accompanied by
Charles NageI OF st. Louis
The charges of fraud were brought ou
some months ago during a hearing by tn,
Interstate Commerce Commission which
: was conducting an investigation into othei
matters. 1t is alleged the Union Paclh,
Railroad company. which owns the stool
Of the coal company. has obtained It'll,
fraudulently TO large tracts Of land II
: Wyoming. considerable portions OF which
contain coal.
No statement was made as TO the results
= Of the conference.
y Congratulations for smith.
a Congressman Walter l. Smith OF Council
; Bluffs, a member OF the appropriation
4 committee who had charge OF the forti
$ fcations appropriation bill was congratu
lated today by both republicans and demo
Gratis for the mastery manner In which h
handled the measure. Not a single cen
, was added TO or taken from the bill as re
!, ported from the appropriations committee
1