Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1910-03-03
He Attempts to Lobby Bill Through
Congress to Cellar it Up.
TALKS TO HOUSE COMMITTEE
His Fee Uregd as Reason for Passage
of Proposed Law.
WANTS TO Correct RECORI
He Denies Making the Statement,
But Members Contradict Him ana
vote Against EKpurg-
ing II.

WASHINGTON March 2.-Seuator jeff
Davis of Arkansas failed today In an ef-
fort to have stricken from the records OF
the house committee on public lands
statement. which he made before the COM
mittee several days ago when he appeared
there in advocacy Of bill introduced by
Representative Odfield Of Arkansas. quiet
ing title Of about 100000 acres of swamp
lands in the eastern part of Arkansas,
known as Sunk Lands"
Senator Davis statement was to the ef-
feet that he was to receive a fee for his
services as attorney for the st. Francis
Levee board In connection with the lands
The lands in dispute are claimed by the
United States, the st. Francis Levee board
and private individuals.
It had been admitted by Senator Davis
that he was the attorney for the St Fran
els Levee board Of the state Of Arkansas
which claimed title to the lands under a
state grant and for which board he brought
suit against a number OF persons who had
cut timber on the lands. The land was
sold in many cases. 1t is stated for slbO
an acre, but the timber was reported to be
worth from SO to $25 per acre.
In his first appearance before the COM
mittee the records showed that Senator
Davis made the following statement:
1--WE could not prove our title. con-
fess that there is just that much selfish
ness in it to me, because there Is good
fee II can recover the price of that tim
ber do not care to whom it goes to-
whether 1t goes to the state of Arkansas
or the St Francis levee board. but would
rather it should go to the st. Francis levee
board. because that Is st and right
In correcting his test nrcny Senator Davis
struck out the words because there is a
/ good fee II can recover the price of that
timber" and substituting for them, be
cause I am the attorney for the st. Fran
els lee wee board for the recovery of this
timber"
Senator Davis asserted before the com
mittee he had not used the words attrlb-
uted to him, but several Of the members
Of the committee disagreed with him and
declared that he lid make the statement.
Following the senator's appearance be-
fore the committee today the committee
held an extended executive session and
finally voted, practically unanimously, not
to allow Senator Davis to make the change
desired 1t was held that no one had a
right to change the records Of the commit
tee further than to make necessary changes
In verbiage.
Clarke COntradicts Davis.
Senator Clarke or Arkansas also appeared
before the committee today and declared
Senator Davis had misrepresented him be-
fore the committee at the previous hearing,
when he stated that he (Clarke) was in
favor of the bill. Senator Clarke declared
he was opposed to the bill.
Representative Odfield said regarding
| ba {pfr tba In
at the request of United States Senator
Davis and had no interest whatever in the
matter. 1 have not at any time stood
| sponsor for the measure"
Senator Davis declined to make any pub
lie statement concerning the incident or
his service in connection with the court
proceedings or the land title bill.
During Senator Davis appearance before
the committee today Representative Rob
inson of Arkansas, a member of the com
mittee, inquired: rs there a contingent
fee?"
II have an absolute as we'll as con-
tingent fee," replied the senator.
Representative Pickett: Does the contin-
gent fee involve favorable consideration by
congress?"
Senator Davis; Il can't say. If the title
is conferred nthe state of Arkansas it
gives the levee board a much better stand
| ing"
1t is said the St. Francis levee board is
a state board appointed by the governor of
Arkansas.
The board bases its claim to the land on
grant from the state, which received its
title from the federal government under
the swamp act of 1880
The Interior deDartn,auf In TAoo.-zL--
ISOo' made ruling that the original sur
Veys OF this land were incorrect and that
the title to the land reverted to the federal
government by compromise act between
the United States and the safe of Arkansas
IN 1898 Following this decision large
number OF settlers moved upon the land.