The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-06-11


reservation which was located in his
state. He discussed the matter very
fully on page, 5125 of the Record and
among other things, said:
want to call the attention of the
mousse first OF all to the fact that al
opened. the members of the senate
and house from the state Of Utah
have been devoting more or less time
TO this very question. 1t has been con-
sldered by the senate committee
which has held session after session
mittee has had before it every one
OF these letters which the gentleman
mas read and many others which he
has not read. They have made an
exhaustive investigation of this SUBJ
5ect- Senator Rawlins, Democrat,
agreed to this conference report and
TO TINS amendment. The other sena-
Tor from my state, a Republican, also
agreed to 1t and I have agreed to it
myself. Every representative from
tnat state in congress has agreed to
as nelng the very best thing to
do under the circumstances. I have
agreed to 1t with the full knowledge
OF all the facts and circumstances
surrounding these leases, and IL we
are to be conceded honesty of pur-
pose. 1t seems to me that our judg-
ment ought to be quite as good as to
what is best to be done in that state
with this reservation, as the Judgment
OF the gentleman from Arkansas or
the gentlemen from any other state"
speaking of the Raven Mining COM
panys lease, on page 5125 Of the Rec
ord. Mr.. Sutherland said:
Will give the house some figures
iater on as to what this company has
done. In round figures it has spent
nearly $250000 in the way of improve
ments upon the grounds; in the way of
work upon the various mines; in the
way OF salaries to officials and so on.
1t has spent this enormous sum Of
money In attempting to develop this
mining industry under it's lease. it
mas received in return, as shown by
Its books, less than 100000 so there has
been an enormous expenditure of mon
ey and comparatively small return.
NOW this company took these lands N
absolute good faith, so far as I am
informed. I know nothing that could
IN any manner challenge the good
faith of the Raven Mining company.
1t procured its lease in the or
binary way; first, it had a permit from
the secretary of the interior to go upon
the reservation to negotiate with the
Indians and to procure their consent
TO the lease. Later the company pro-
cured the signature of the secretary
OF the interior to a lease of all the
elaterite- lands on the reservation. I'm
der that lease the company went into
possession. Now what can be said by
way of criticism on this policy of leas-
ing the Indian lands. Whatever may
be said in reference to it's legality
and I have a pretty positive opinion
upon that subject which have hither-
to expressed upon this floor-whatever
may be said with reference to those
matters, the Raven Mining company
has proceeded under the law as it has
IneQ TT i
by the courts and is equitably entitlel
to protection. 1t is not to be held re-
sponsible because the government has
adopted policy which my friend from
Arkansas believes and I believe to bt
a bad and vicious policy"
The question before the house wa.
the adoption of the conference repor
as a whole. There was no possibilit.
of voting against the conference repor
on this amendment number IS and vot
ing for the conference report on thu
other 1873 amendments. The conference
yeas to 81 nays; I voting to adopt tn,
report, and in doing so agreed will
Mr.. Sherman Of New York, Mr.. Curtis
of Kansas. Senators Platt, Stewart an,
Rawlins, all Of whom had fully investi
gated the whole subject. My vote wa.
also in agreement with the position
taken by the representatives and sena
! tors from the state of Utah, in which
the reservation was situated. If
voted for Wall street when I support
ed this conference report. then Presi
| dent Roosevelt also favored Wall stree
when he approved the bill with thi
provision in it.
The El1ins Law.
On this subject the article contains
| this charge:
When it came to the repeal of tn,
| clause providing for the Imprisonment
| rahQfarG 90
of the Record, volume SO, part 2, votes
| to save the hide of Wall street."
This vote was on the Elkins law. Il
| is evident that Mr.. White wrote the
article solely from the document. The
vote on page 2159 of the Record tt
which he refers shows that the bill
passed by a vote of $50 yeas to {
nays; I was among the $50. The {
negative votes were cast by Demo
| Gratis.
On page 2151. in discussing the
adoption of the resolution making this
bill a special order, Mr.. Richardson
| the Democratic leader, said:
| II take it for granted that we shall
all vote for this bill. For myself a.
| any rate, I am prepared to say thai
1 shall vote for 1t. But while this 1!
true, 1 do not think there ought tt
amendments in order to make the bill
more effective for the suppression o.
a great evil in this country that WI
are all crying out against"
There was a roll call on the motion
to adopt this resolution (page 2154
and I voted with my party to adop
the resolution, which was carried by ;
vote of 140 to 10. am not criticized
on this vote, but White and Bristov
contend that I ought to be turned GU
of the senate now because I did no
Join with the 6 Democrats in voting
| , j~,e ho re Anal
This bill was recommended by tn
president and the interstate commerce
commission; there had been difficult
in enforcing the law providing for
penitentiary sentence for violation o
THE interstate commerce act. 1t wa
the opinion of all those interested Il
the subject then that the prison sen
. 4of,oo shouId he renealed and that