Omaha daily bee., 1909-02-05
HEARING ON SIGNAL CORP BILL
(From a staff Correspeadent. J

(F'rom a Staff CorrespeadentD
WASHINGTON, D. c.. Feb. 4.-(Special
Telegram. 1.-The delegation OF the Omaha
tribe Of Indians which arrived yesterday
in charge of Thomas c. Sloan, consisting
of joel Tlndall. @. p. Myers. James Black
bird, Cyrus Phillips, Theodore McCauley
and Arthur Mitchell, began a systematic
round of the departments today to land
things for their tribe. The wards of the
nation began showing this section of the
effete east how things are done west OF
the Missouri and by the time O'Clock
came today they had accomplished much
for the tribe.
After conference between the delegates,
the commissioner OF Indian affairs and the
chief OF the finance division. 1t was de-
cided TO approve the payment of Omaha
trust funds upon the applications filed.
Some Of them were held up pending the
drainage bill for shortening the Logan
river, which bill provides for subjectng
the funds to the drainage charges.
AS a result OF the statements made the
commissioner Of Indian affairs approved
the accounts of the Indians and referred
the same to the auditor for the interior
department, Robert S. Person, who made
an order to take up the application for
payment at once. This order will give SS5S
TO each person. w. f. Andrews, auditor
of the treasury department, knowing the
conditions assisted materially in having
the payment of the trust funds expedited.
NebraAISan's Claim Favored.
The committee on claims today made
favorable report on two bills introduced
by Representative Kinkaid to pay an ag-
gregate sum Of S76S to Willard w. Alt Of
Hyannis Neb.. in full OF his claim against
the government for resurvey work Of pub
lie lands in Nebraska, which he made in
1901 and for which he was not paid.
Land Purchase Not Favored.
In view of the growing deficit in the
treasury the committee on appropriations
is not inclined TO make the appropriation
of $4,000 asked for by the secretary Of
war to purchase a strip of land lying out
side the boundary line OF Fort Robinson.
Yesterday General Bell, chief of staff, and
Quartermastsr~i General Ayleshire and Rep
resentatlve KinRaid appeared before the
COMMITTEES In advocacy OF the purchase.
but as stated the committee is loath to
swell the appropriations at this session
and II may go over till some future time.
Wearing on Signal Corps Bill.
Senator Burkett appeared before the COM
nlittee on military affairs this morning in
advocacy of his bill to increase the eff
cheney OF the signal corps Of the army. In
the course of his address before the COM
mittee he read letter from General Allen,
chief OF the signal corps. strongly favoring
the bill. duplicate OF the Burkett bill
has been introduced in the house by Repre-
sentative Hepburn OF Iowa. The senate
committee concluded not to take action on
the measure at today's meeting, thinking II
advisable to wait a while TO see what would
be done by the house. The Hepburn bill has
been favorably reported and is on the cal
endar.
salt Creek Drainage Discussed.
Charles G. Elliott chief OF the drainage
investigation division of the Agricultural
department. had a conference with Senator
Burkett this morning regarding the pro
posed survey Of Salt creek valley with 6
view Of draining the same. Citizens OF Ian
caster and Saunders counties are great,
interested in this project and are said t'
be willing to contribute their share towarC
carrying out the proposition.
Approval of Land Opening.
The committee on Indian affairs today re
ported favoraby Senator CANDLES bill t
authorize the sale and disposition OF por
tion OF the surplus and unsllotted lands IL
the Pine Ridge Indian reservation. Tn
committee amended the original bill in thes
particulars: The government is TO pay SIS
per acre for school lands instead Of 81
as originally proposed. and S125OoO is to b
, appropriated instead of $4,000 to pay 70
lands granted 20 the state OF South Dakota
Amendments 90 Indian BIZ.
Senator Gamble today submitted tw
amendments 10 the Indian appropriation bi
as follows; To authorize the secretary o
the interior TO pay 10 the F1andreau In
dams in South Dakota the per capita bal
ance remaining I'm the treasury TO thei
credit. approximating $500; providing tina
the following described lands in Borema
county, South Dakota. a strip of land te
chains wide on the west side of lot 3 1
section % OF township % north, range
east iof the Black Hills principal meridian
be reserved for cemetery purposes for tn
perpetual use OF the Indians of Standin
Rock reservation. and be exempt from taA
alton
Minor Matters at Capital.
Major Harry Gilchrist upon arrival frol
cuba will proceed 10 Fort Omaha for dut,
Postmasters appointed: Nebraska-Foi
dyce. Cedar county, George c. Kuehn. vic
c. ]. Beck. resigned; Taylor. Loup count,
Flora l. Moon. vice G. f. Scott. resigne,
Iowa-Malcolm. Poweshiek county, EliE'
beth Winchell. vice A. c. Blizzard, r
signed.
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