SEC. 10. The members of said Board shall be paid six dollars per day for each day that they are actually engaged in the performance of their duties, to be paid out of the treasury of the State, and they shall be allowed their necessary traveling and other expenses, which shall be paid out of the treasury of the State. SEC. II. Whereas an emergency exists therefor this Act shall take effect and be in force from and after its passage. Approved on the 18th day of February, 1899. HOUSE JOINT MEMORIAL NO. 1. BY STAINTON, HANLON, PATTERSON, AND MRS. WRIGHT. JOINT MEMORIAL OF THE IDAHO LEGISLATURE TO CONGRESS FOR THE IMPROVEMENT OF THE COLUMBIA AND SNAKE RIVERS, AND THEIR TRIBUTARIES, FROM THE SAID STATE OF IDAHO TO THE PACIFIC OCEAN. To the Honorable Senators and Representatives, in Congress of the United States: WHEREAS, The Columbia and Snake rivers and their numerous and important tributaries, have within the State of Idaho a drainage basin of nearly 100,000 square miles, being a greater area than is embraced in all the New England States combined; the resources of this magnificent inland empire being greatly diversified, the climate being equable, the soil being prolific, bidding fair to be thickly populated, and the seat of many thriving cities in the near future; and, WHEREAS, The products of this region of the State of Idaho, as well as the adjoining region of the State of Washington are yearly increasing in bulk and value and new markets and cheap rates of transportation are demanded by water; and, WHEREAS, Large sums of money have heretofore been wisely expended by the Federal Government, to remove obstructions to navigation of the Columbia river, so that transportation by means of said river is now complete from the sea to a point near the Dalles, Oregon, affording a healthy competition for all trade entering along said river at these points; and, WHEREAS, There still remains unnavigable a great extent of said Columbia and Snake rivers and their tributaries of the most vital interests to the welfare of the people of Idaho; and, WHEREAS, The practicability of rendering navigable said streams and their tributaries within the State of Idaho having been reported upon favorably by government engineers, and such improvements being necessary to the welfare of the State, be it Resolved, That we respectfully memorialize the Congress of the United States, to make liberal appropriations for the improvements needed to establish complete and safe navigation from and to the State of Idaho and the Pacific Ocean, believing thereby the government would confer a lasting and decided benefit upon the people of the Northwest. Passed the House on the 31st day of January, 1899. HOUSE JOINT MEMORIAL NO. 2. BY JONES. A JOINT MEMORIAL. CONCERNING THE ELECTION OF UNITED STATES SENATORS. To the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States: We, your memorialists, the Legislature of the State of Idaho, respectfully represent that the people of this State are very strongly in favor of the election of United States Senators by a direct vote of the people, and we therefore petition your honorable bodies to submit to the States an amendment to the Constitution of the United States providing for their election in such manner. Passed the House on the 30th day of January, 1899. HOUSE JOINT MEMORIAL NO. 6. BY REYNOLDS. A JOINT MEMORIAL TO CONGRESS IN REGARD TO A NATIONAL SOLDIERS' HOME AT FORT SHERMAN, IDAHO, BY THE SENATE AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF IDAHO. To the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress Assembled: WHEREAS, By act of Congress and the orders of the war department, the troops will at an early date be removed from Fort Sherman to the newly established military post at Spokane, Washington, and, WHEREAS, The present site of Fort Sherman with all of its buildings and improvements will be worthless to the United States and cannot be sold for any great amount of money; and, WHEREAS, It is located at the north end of Coeur d'Alene Lake, a most beautiful body of water upon which are many steamers, with Coeur d'Alene City near by with good railroad facilities, and, WHEREAS, The Idaho State Soldiers' Home is already crowded to its fullest capacity, as is the case with all the various State homes in the northwest; and, WHEREAS, There is not a national soldiers' home in the extreme northwestern States; Therefore, We earnestly ask that you give this matter due consideration and establish a national home upon the site of Fort Sherman, in order that those men who defended the country's flag in time of peril may have a pleasant, healthy place to spend their last remaining days on earth; and that a copy of this memorial be sent to each of our senators and our representatives in congress, and they are urged to give their best influence toward the accomplishment of the matter herein set forth. Passed the House on the 14th day of February, 1899. HOUSE JOINT MEMORIAL NO. 7. BY MCBEE. PRIEST RIVER FOREST RESERVE. MEMORALIZING THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES TO THROW OPEN TO SETTLEMENT A PORTION OF THE PRIEST RIVER FOREST RESERVE IN KOOTENAI COUNTY, IDAHO. To Honorable William McKinley, President of the Uited States of America: WHEREAS under and by virtue of the Act of Congress, approved March 3rd, 1891, entitled "An Act to repeal timber culture laws and for other purposes" the President of the United States did by proclamation, on the 22nd day of February, 1897, set apart and reserve from settlement a tract of land in Kootenai County, Idaho, including the following boundaries: Beginning at the southeast corner of township 57-north-range 4 west B. M. Thence north on the township line between range 3 and 4 to the northeast corner of township 59-range-4-west B. M. Thence west on the north line of said township to the northwest corner thereof, thence south on the west line of said township to the center of the east line of township 59-range 5-west B. M. Thence on the center line of said township to the State line between the States of Idaho and Washington, thence south on the said State line to a point where the north line of township 56-6-west, B. M. intersects said State line, thence east on said north line of townships 56-6-56-5-and 56-4, to the place of beginning. Comprising five full townships, one-half township, and three small fractional townships, on the west line thereof making a total of about one hundred and twenty thousand acres of land. AND WHEREAS the land within this vast reservation is well adapted for successful cultivation, being well watered and drained by large streams, the soil being fertile and easily reduced to a tillable condition, and containing great areas of rich meadow lands, and the conditions generally being attractive to the husbandman, AND WHEREAS about 8000 acres were located and entered in good faith under the homestead laws of the United States prior to the aforesaid proclamation, AND WHEREAS if the boundaries of the said reservation remain unmodified and the lands are withheld from public settlement, it will result in great injury to the said settlers, and great and irreparable loss to the State of Idaho, and the County of Kootenai. WHEREFORE your memorialists, the Legislature of the State of Idaho, respectfully request that that part of said Forest Reserve in the County of Kootenai, State of Idaho, embraced in the above mentioned description be taken from said Forest Reserve and thrown open to settlement under the homestead laws. Passed the House on the 6th day of February, 1899. HOUSE JOINT MEMORIAL NO. 8. BY ELLSWORTH AND AVERITT. A MEMORIAL PETITIONING CONGRESS TO AMEND LAND LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES. To the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America: We, your memorialists the Senate and House of Representatives of Idaho in regular session assembled and convened do most respectfully memorialize the Congress of the United States, and to your honorable bodies represent: That inasmuch as recent investigation and actual experience upon extensive scale have demonstrated that large tracts of land upon which no water can be had on account of its elevation can be utilized for successful farming and that what is commonly known as "dry farming" has proven a great success in many of the arid districts of the west, and inasmuch as the extent of such lands is unlimited, and inasmuch as same are so great in elevation that water can not be run upon same, and, hence, proof under the desert laws cannot be made thereof; and inasmuch as the said lands are so great in altitude that water for domestic purposes can not be had making it impossible to live upon same, and hence impossible to comply with the homestead laws of the United States; that it is therefore of the greatest interest and importance to the government and the people that there be some change or revision in the law that will enable your citizens to locate and make proof on said lands either under the desert or homestead laws of the United States, we your memorialists, therefore pray you that some suitable change in the law be at once made, and your memorialists will ever pray. Passed the House on the 20th day of February, 1899. HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 1. BY A. C. HESS. A RESOLUTION RELATING TO PRINTING AND DISTRIBUTION OF THE GOVERNOR'S MESSAGE. Be it Resolved by the House of Representatives of the State of Idaho, the Senate Concurring Therein: That there be printed by order of such authority as may have charge of the public printing of the State of Idaho, two thousand (2000) copies of the Governor's message for general distribution, and that each member of the House and Senate be furnished with ten (10) copies of the same. Passed the House on the 6th day of January, 1899. HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 7. BY ERICSON. BINGHAM COUNTY-SETTLEMENT WITH, AUTHORIZING SPECIAL COMMITTEE TO SETTLE CLAIM DUE THE STATE OF IDAHO. WHEREAS, There is now due the State of Idaho from Bingham County the sum of $16,642.72, WHEREAS, Action will be taken against said county for the collection of same, and WHEREAS, The tax-payers of Bingham County have paid this amount into the county treasury, and the same is detained through the failure of C. Bunting & Co., bankers, and, WHEREAS, Said county has lost nearly its entire revenue for the year 1897 through said failure, now therefore Be it Resolved by the House of Representatives of the State of Idaho, the Senate Concurring: That a special committee of three, consisting of the Governor, the Attorney General, and the State Auditor of this State, be and the same are hereby appointed to make and effect a settlement with the said Bingham County, on such basis as will best conserve, in the judgment of said committee, the interests of the State of Idaho and justice to Bingham County. Provided, That if no such settlement is effected, nothing herein shall be construed, so as to release said Bingham County from its obligation in the premises. Passed the House on the 3rd day of March, 1899. HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 1. BY CHAS. S. KINGSLEY. A JOINT RESOLUTION RELATING TO THE TRANSMISSION OF RESOLUTIONS AND MEMORIALS. Be it resolved by the Legislature of the State of Idaho: I. That it shall be the duty of the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House to see to the transmission of all memorials and resolutions passed by the fifth session of the Legislature, and copies of which should be sent to the President of the United States, to Congress, or to our Representatives in Washington. 2. It shall be the duty of the Secretary of State to prepare and transmit all necessary copies of such memorials or resolutions, under official seal, upon request of the presiding officer of the house in which such memorial or resolution originated. Passed the House on the 30th day of January, 1899. Passed the Senate on the 8th day of February, 1899. HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 3. BY MCBEE, HANLON, WRIGHT AND JOHNESSE. A JOINT RESOLUTION IN FAVOR OF THE PASSAGE OF THE "FREE HOMESTEAD ACT." WHEREAS, Legislation is now, and for some years has been, pending before Congress providing for what is commonly known as free homesteads to settlers on the public domain; AND WHEREAS, It has been the policy of the national government ever since the passage of the original free homestead bill in 1862 to provide for the disposition of our public domain to homestead settlers without charge other than the entry and land office fees; AND WHEREAS, The failure of Congress to speedily pass such legislation will result in the loss of homes to a great number of struggling and worthy settlers on the ceded portions of the Nez Perce and Coeur d'Alene Indian reservations in the State of Idaho, who have in good faith established homes thereon, by reason of their inability to make the required payments; and will cause them to lose, in addition to their labor and means expended, their future right of homestead; AND WHEREAS, Our government has heretofore provided, through the beneficent land laws of the United States, free homes to its citizens, and no sufficient reason appears for a departure from its time honored custom herein, in the case of the settlers of Idaho, upon said Indian reservations; therefore, Be it resolved by the House of Representatives of the State of Idaho, the Senate concurring therein: Ist. That our Senators and Representatives in Congress be and they are hereby requested to vote for the passage of free homestead legislation, when the opportunity shall offer, and also to use every effort to secure the earliest possible consideration and passage of such legislation in the Congress of the United States. 2nd. The Secretary of State is hereby directed to forward copies of this resolution to each of our Representatives in Congress. Passed the House on the 24th day of January, 1899. HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 9. BY MOODY. A JOINT RESOLUTION FAVORING THE IMMEDIATE CONSTRUCTION OF THE NICARAGUA CANAL. Be it resolved by the Legislature of the State of Idaho: WHEREAS, the construction of the Nicaragua Canal would be of iminense value to the people of the United States, as it would afford greater protection to both the Atlantic and Pacific coasts in time of war, open new lines of trade and commerce in time of peace, tend to cheapen transportation to foreign and Atlantic seaboard markets, build up new enterprises, and largely tend to maintain old ones, greatly increase our population, and thus enhance our wealth and multiply our re |