The Topeka state journal., 1911-08-12

Washington Correspondent Re-
views Record of Kansan.
Has Taken Prominent Part in
Important Legislation.
CIT THE BAD CLAIMS
Saved the Government Millions
of Dollars Thereby.
Has Been a Firm Friend of Old
Soldier From First.
CIT THE BAD CLAIMS

Washington, Aug. 12.-Recently a
Kansas newspaper published an article
asking the question, What has Sen
ator curtis done since he has been in
congress %
such questions are easily asked and
sometimes difficult to answer, but in
this case the Congressional Record
bears testimony which shows that Sen
ator curtis has been doing things"
for the people of Kansas ard the ma
tfon as well. from the day he first en-
tered the house of representatives
What Senator Curtis has done for
Kansas warrants the most careful con-
sideration of every man, woman and
child within her borders. Following
IS a partial record of his career in
congress:
Mr.. Curtis entered the Fifty-third
congress as a new representative, yet
early in that congress demonstrated
beyond question his ability as a work
er He made sixteen reports in that
congress and served on one conference
committee He earnestly opposed
bill calculated to permit pooling by
railroads.
Mr.. Curtis took an interest from the
start in the veterans Of the Union
army, and has since been their consist
ent. hard working friend and advo-
cate
In the Fifty-fourth congress he
made five reports, and was appointed
on nine conference committees. He
started the movement for the consoli-
dation of customs collection districts
(H. r. 3205); he introduced a bill to
further restrict immigration. contend
ing that contract labor, paupers, crini-
nal and other undesirable classes
should be excluded from the country
Oh. r. 3354). He was one of the first
20 sound the warning on the subject of
rebates, excessive freight rates and un-
Just discrimination by railroads, and
introduced a bill to prevent the same
(H. r. 6SS1).
He opposed the Union Pacific fund
ing bill Oh. r. $3.50 ana was one of
the most active opponents of this
measure. It's defeat resulted in pay
ment to the government by the Pacific
railroads to March 1, 1910, of S127,-
252,469.37
In this same congress. the Missouri,
Kansas & Texas railroad presented a
claim for certain land grants, which
was opposed by Mr.. Curtis and he
succeeded in defeating it on the ground
that the lands belonged to thu Indians
and no grant had attached. The claim
was for three million acres and the
company contends that the land is
worth sixty million dollars
It was through his efforts that the
committee on public lands of the house
reported in favor of giving the Fort
Hays military reservation to the state
of Kansas for the purpose of estab-
fishing a western branch Of the Kansas
Agricultural college, the Kansas State
Normal and public park. Mr. Cur
tbs made the report (ses house report
q, Fifty-fourth congress) and by this
action $500 acres of IarG and about
forty buildings were given to the state
and are now being used for the pur-
poses fer which it was donated
His report in the Indian bond con-
troversy with certain southern states
resulted in a compromise by which a
vexed and disagreeabla question was
States treasury (see Congressional
Record, June Is. 1894, pages 636S, |
637D-
He defeated the Sioux Indian pony
steal and saved the government about
hfty thousand dollars (see Congress
sional Record, January q, 1895. page
1240).
He defeated the bill. unanimously
reported from the committee on iu-
dietary, continuing the jurisdiction of
the United States courts a Paris and
Fort Worth. Tex. over crimes com
mitted in the Indian territory. The
defeat of this measure gave the juris-
diction to the local United States !
courts in the Indian territory and
saved the government 100000 per
year during the period th5t section re-
mained territory. and until Okla
homa became a state in 1906 (see
Congressional Record, 54th congress, |
first session. pages 1865. 1860.
He drafted the two amendments to /
the house free home bill. which caused |
the opponents of that measure to |
withdraw their opposition and gave to |
the settlers of Oklahoma and other
states millions of acres Of lands (see |
'GBngressional Record. pages 2709, |
410).
I'm the Fifty-fifth congress he was
appointed on eight conference commit |
tees, made twenty reports o., bills, Sc
cured the passage of the Curtis act, |
Tor the protection of the people of the |
lndlan territory, an enactment which /
has been pronounced the most impor- /
tant TO the Indians and the govern ]