Mr. HARRIS. Mr. President, since this bill was before the Senate the other day‘ have taken occasion to consult with the SecyInterior in relation to it. The bill origi nated with that officer, and not in the Land Office, as has been stated by the Senfrom California. The Secretary informed me that there are in various places on the public lands salt springs. He pointed out on the map to me some very rich and valuable springs in Nebraska, others in the southwestpart of Kansas. He informed me that he had repeated applications for the leasing of those salt springs. They are reserved from sale and are situated on the ibliclands. Theyare now unproductive, lying idle. Individualsarewilling totake those springs upon leases, to improve, to erect the necessary structures for manufacturing salt, to construct the roads necessary to bring out the salt, and thus create a manufacture which will be valu able to the inhabitants of that section of the country. He further stated what would not be erti nent to this bill, for the comPubLands, out of regard to the Senators from. the Pacific coast who are exceedingly sensitive whenever the hand of the Government is laid. upon them out of regard to their sensitiveness rather than from any conviction of their judgment, the committee have not made this bill operative upon the Pacific coast; and yet the Secretary informed me thatthere was an island in the bay of SanFrancisco for which he had been repeated] offered a rent of $2,000, an island reserve', which carine t be sold; and lying a little outside there is another cluster of islands for which he has been offered a rent of $3,002 items which would pretty nearly pay for the valuable services of the Senfrom California, if we were allowed to let them'. Under these circumstances, I cannot seewhy the Government should not do as we as individuals would do, try to get a little revenue from this idle property. It seems to me we ought to do it; and I cannot see any possible objection to it. Why should we not allowthese springs to be let to individuals who will go on and improve them, and thus perhaps derive many 1,000 dollars of revenue? We need it all. Why not allow it to be done? I can hardly account for the sensitiveness of the Sea ators from the Pacific coast on this subject.“