The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1910-05-20
T. r.. HAMMER TO THE FRONT
Congressman From the Gem State
Known as the "Great Amen
der" i'm Congress

der" i'm Congress
Washington, May 11-Congress-
man Thomas r. Hamer is becoming
known among his fellow members OF
the house of representatives as the
great amender" the significance of
this title being that he has discover
ed a new route over which to pilot
legislation to it's final passage that
has proven particularly valuable at
least to his constituents. AS is well
known to those familiar with proceed
ure in congress. the great trouble en-
countered is securing desirable legis-
lation is to get it favorably reported
by the committee to which it has been
referred. With 10000 bills pending
in the house, as at the present time,
it is difficult to direct the attention
of committees of those in which there
is not general interest throughout the
country.
Hamer seems to have solved the
problem. His method is to introduce
bills, containing the provisions desir-
ed, which are in due course referred
to proper committees; then, if he is
unable to obtain favorable considera-
ton of them at the hands of the COM
mittees, he awaits propitious oppor-
tunity in the house, when an omnibus
bill, which under the rules is sub
ject to almost any sort of an amend
ment, is before that body, and coolly
tacks on the provisions of his measure
as an amendment.
This occurred in the house today
when H. R. 24992, being bill "to
provide for determining the heirs of
deceased Indians, for the disposition
and sale of allotments of deceased In
dams, for the leasing of allotments,
and for other purposes" was under
consideration in the committee of the
whole house preparatory to passage.
At the psychological moment he sug-
gested to Chairman Burke of the COM
mittee on Indian affairs which had
reported the measure the advisability
of attaching as an amendment GER
tain desirable legislation that had al
ready passed the senate, touching In
dian lands on the Fort Hall reserva-
ton in Idaho. He called the atten-
ton of the chairman to the fact that
this bill had been in his committee
some time without action having been
taken upon it and declared that he
thought it would be a good time to
take up the matter on the floor of the
house. He was informed that the
committee had been too busy to give
his measure proper consideration,
and the congressman replied that it
would not be necessary to further
burden the committee with this legis-
lation, as the house was then in the
committee of the whole house on the
state of the union and would I'M
doubtedly take great pleasure in con-
sidering the provisions of the bill in
the form of an amendment.
In view of the fact that the Omni-
bus bill in question had been badly
disfigured by numerous amendments,
which led the chairman of the Indian
committee to conclude that the house
was in good temper to consider Ham
er's amendment. this having been
practically demonstrated but a few
moments before by the adoption by
an almost unanimous vote of prev
ious amendment offered by the Idaho
member, he readily agreed that 1t
might be we'll to effect a compromise.
This was done and new provision,
known as section 1S, was incorporat-
ed in the proposed enactment, as fol-
lows:
Sec. IS. That so much of the In
dian appropriation Act for the fiscal
year nineteen hundred and ten. ap-
proved March third, nineteen hundred
and nine, as reads as follows. to-wit:
THAT the secretary of the interior be.
and he hereby is authorized under
the direction of tn president to al'ot
any Indian on the public domain who
has not heretofore received an allot-
ment. in such areas as he may deem
proper, not to exceed, however. eighty
acres of agricultural or one hundred
and sixty acres of grazing land to
any one Indian such allotment to be
made and patent therefor issued in
accordance with the provisions of the
Act of February eighth. 1887" be.
and the same is hereby renealed and
sections one and four Of the act of
February % 1891 (Twenty-sixth
Statutes. page 794). be, and the same
are hereby, amended to read as fol-
lows.
Sec. 1. That in all cases where
any tribe or band of Indians has been
or shall hereafter be located upon any
reservation created for their use by
treaty stipulation act of congress. or
executive order, the president shall
be authorized to cause the same or
any part thereof to be surveyed or
resurveyed whenever in his opinion
such reservation or any part thereof
NAV be advantageously utilized for
agricultural or grazing purposes by
such Indians, and to cause allotment
to each Indian located thereon to be
made in such areas as in his opinion
may be for their best interest not to
exceed eighty acres of agricultural
or one hundred and sixty acres of
grazing land to any one Indian. And
whenever it shall appear to the presi-
dent that lands on any Indian reser-
walton subject to allotments by au-
thority of law have been or may be
brought within any irrigation pro-
iect, he may cause allotments of such
irrigable lands to be made to the In
dams entitled thereto in such areas
as may be for their best interest not
70 ovoaod hC~oyor fOrtu acroc RI any