Mr. HIGBY. They have had before them the Senate bill, which is precisely similar. Now, Mr. Speaker, having given a history of this bill, let me say a few words as to its merits. Sir, the bill does not contain a single sentence which will compel any miner, if it becomes a law, to purchase one foot of mineral lands. It leaves untouched a large class of mineral lands, to be occupied as they have been for the last 15 or 17 years. I refer to the placer mines, the dee shaft claims, the tunnel claims, and the hydraulic claims, where they have, by hydraulic power, washed down hills 50, 75, and even 100 feet high. All these different classes of mines are left by this bill as they have been for 15 or 17 years, to be occupied by the peeple of the country. such is the 1st section of the bill; and not only does it leave that class of claims, but it leaves the other clbs of claims, in reference to which provision is made in the 2nd section, to precisely the same rules and regulations and the same conditions. All manner of minin is left open precesely as heretofore, and it is eft optional, as you may see by the 2nd section, with those who have quartz claims, by taking a certain course, to finally et a patent from the General Government; they  are not compelled to take this course, but may do so if a patent title is desirable. I will say further, Mr. Speaker, ifa man has a quartz claim, holding it under the rules and regulations and customs of miners, if he does not see fit to take this step to get a patent from the General Government there is no man or company of men who can, under the provisions of this bill, force him or a company to leave the claim and give them an opportunity to receed to obtain a patent for the same. The simplest proposition in the world is contained in this bill. It is but one proposition, and that is to leave the whole mineral district as here tofore, only saying that what the Government has tolerated for 15 or 17 years shall now be legalized by the Government. With millions, tens of millions, ay, many tens of millions of property in these mines, yet there are men entirely ignorant of this matter who seem to be determined to destroy the great interest we have acquired by 15 years of labor. I say to this house that all these men who go upon mineral lands want is that their occupancy shall be their title for the time beingk They do not want anything else. Mr. Speaker, I wish now to say a word to this House why it is we are anxious to have some legislation at this session. It is true that it is late in having a bill prepared in the Senate, but this, like other important matters, takes time for consideration. It has to be amended and reamended and amended again, so as to get it in such shape that it will meet the concurrence of the various executive branches of Government, the Representatives of the mineral belt and of the Senate. Thus it has come here late, thus it passed the senate late, thus it comes to the house late, and at a time when I would have forborne to say anything on the subject, much less to enter into any lengthy debate, if the opposition came from an honest and sincere heart, as it is perfectly evident that it does not. Sir, I will state the reason forth is bill. As was well said by my colleague in the 38th Congress in its last session a bill was introduced by the ComPubLands. It was crudeand deformed. Ithnd not a single feature in it that could be adapted to the mineral lands. If it had been enforced as law in any mineral district in ten years that district would have been a desolation. The chairman of that committee has brought forward another bill this session. It has been reported. I do not know whether a speech has been made upon it at this sessiOn, but there was one at the ast session. It has been printed and sent back to that committee; and a report was made by that committee which came from the chairman. It is but a mere string of glittering generalities. There is not a particle of anything up licable to the question one way or the other. s I have said, these bills have been printed. Boys of 12 years old all along the mineral belt know what the Gentfrom Indiana has been doing. They know that he is at the head of the comPubLands. The people there keep close watch of what is being done here. Sir, capital ready to go there hesitates and will not go. Capital already invested hesitates to add capital to carry on improvements. Why? Because of this very bill which the gentleman has reported at this session. Let it become a law and be enforced, and from 1/2 to 2/3rds of the valuation of property in the mineral districts would be wasted by such a proposition in one year’s time after its enforcement. Mr. Speaker I have said that different Depts of the Government had sanctioned this bill; and I send u to the Clerk to be read, as a part of my remar 's, a few lines written on the back of the bill by the SecyIn terior. When these lines have been read I demand the previous question on the bill and the pending amendment.