Mr. HIGBY. Mr. Speaker, I find that any bill asking for the settlement of questions pertaining to the great West, of the country beyond the Rocky mountains, has to be fought here through a terrible struggle before we can get a vote on it. Other questions of vast importance are settled here in a very few minutes if they only relate to matters near at hand. But when a bill comes up, for instance, to quiet land titles in the State of California, embodying the simplest proposition that could be presented to this be y for its action and he who would take the bill and read it would see how full of justice it was it was subjected to a contest of several days. And the chairman of the ComPubLands, [Mr. JULIAN] who was instructed by his committee to report the bill favorably, occupied some 2 hours and a half of that time in an effort to defeat the bill. And now when we come before this body with a bill that has met with the sanction of the Treasury Dept, and of the Interior Dept, and of every man who represents any portion of the mineral regions of our country, the minds of all coinciding in reference to the terms it contains, we fin the very same man with his concentrated hostility trying to get this House if be possibly can to defeat the bill. He speaks of the bill as a swindle, and calls us pickpockets. Sir, that is undignitied language to be used upon the floor of a body like this. A few words, now, as to the merits of this bill. Let me 1st show the manner in which it came here, and the means and manner by which it went to the ComPubLands. It was sent to the ComMining of the Senate, that being the legit imate committee to consider it. The Senate gave that committee the care and custody of that bill because it properly belonged to that committee, it being a standing committee of that body. The bill passed the Senate and came here and we supposed it was proper that it should go to the ComMining of this body. I moved its reference to the committee on Mines and Minin; but the member from Indiana, [Mr. JULIAN, as an amendment, moved its reference to the ComPubLands, to which committee it was sent. That committee may have many respectable members upon it; one of them ismy colleague [ML MCRL‘ER] ButI do not know whether he has ever been much in the mineral regions or not. But I presume from the character of the business he has pursued, he is at least conversant with the great question pertaining to the mineral lands. But, sir, the ComPubLands are by no means well fitted, in comparison with the ComMining, to take charge of this qudstion; for we have upon the latter committee 3 members from the mineral belt, as well as members from other mining regions of the country. That was the proper committee. But by the malice and petty spleen in which the member from Indiana seems to have been indulging on this occasion and one other we are justified in believing him hostile to every interest of the Pacilic coast. It has been stated here by a member of the ComPubLands that a majority of that committee are ready to report a bill precisely similar to the bill now before us. he ComTerritor have had the same subject before them; and I understand that the members present when the question was under consideration agreed unan imously to report a measure of this character. That bill having gone to the ComPubLands, the ComMining felt that they had the right, with the mass of matter which had been referred to them, to report a bill and ask this House to pass it. A bill which'was a precise copy of that which was referred to the ComPubLands and of the bill now under consideration, has been considered and carefully examined by the ComMining, who have unanimously decided to report in favor of the bill. has the bill has the recommendation of 2 committees, as it would have of a 3rd committee, but for the fact that its chairman is determined to stand in the way of the great interests of the mineral belt, and therefore prevents the committee from reporting upon the question. The Representatives from the States interested in this measure are unanimous in favor of its pas e. It. has also the approval of the Treasury dept and the Interior Dept, as wel. as of the Senate ComMining, and the same committee of this body. I trust it will also receive the approbation of a large minority of the members of this House.