Waterbury evening Democrat., 1889-01-31
PROVIDING FOR THE VET.
His Rights f1 Oklahoma Being
 Cared For.
THE NEW MECCA OF THE WEST.

The Oklahoma Bill Patched Up with Land to be Saved from tho Grasp of Railroad Monopolies.
 WASHINGTON, Jan. 31.-The house con sidered tue Oklahoma bill, which was called up by Mir. Springer Qlls.l. The pending amendment was one offered by Mir. Payson Clls.l expressly providing that the rights of honorably discharged Union soldiers and sailors of the late civil war to make homes on the public lands under the existing homestead law shall not, ill any degree, be impaired by the passage of this bill, but that such rights shall extend to any and all lands which shall be open to any settlement under the provis- ions of this bill
 MT. Symes (Colo.) said that as u member of the G. A. R., he rose to oppose the amend ment. The government could not make an exception i'll favor of the G. A. R., because the government did not acquire the title to the land, and did not become the owner of the proceeds on the sale of it. The money passed from the settler to the Indian, in pursuance of negotiations in which the United States simply acted as trustee. He would not presume to speak for the q. A. R., but ho had the right to speak one of its members. He had the l.ght to say that the members of the G. A. R. were not beggars They ,ii. not come before the house asking that 3In or .;0O uf them, who might be able to ga with the boomers into Oklahoma, should have present of S200 to S50O each, while thousands who were unable to go there and who were in want would re ceive nothing at all
 MT. GroSvenor (O) said that iie did not ad- dress the committee as representing the G. A. k. He denied that any man had the right to come hero and attempt to represent that organization favoring or opposing any amendment of this character, lie was here as repreS, ntative trying to do what was right to the country. For the first time an opportunity was presented to the rcprcsenta- tives of tho people to make good some of their profuse and oft repeated pledges to the sol diers of the country.
 Mir. Perkins (kan Are you in favor of the bils
 Mir. Grosvenor-With this provision will vote for it. Without it will stand where 1 have ever stood-opposed to the transfer of any part of the public domain, now held or hereafter acquired, ill any other way than through the homestead law of the country. (Applause)
 MT. Peters (Kan.) characterized the amend hieHl atS ingenious, puU Us auSOuteIy lacklns, in ngenuousneSS It proposed to take from the treasury about S20,000, ,OoO apparently il, the interest of ex-sodiers of the country The record will disclose that the men who opposed the Oklahoma bill and prevented legislation are the very men who are ardcntly support ing the amendment In view of veto mes sages, every man knew that with the amend mont on the bill the measure would not stand the shadow of a chance of becoming a law.
 After some further debate the amendnen, was agreed to pro forma and it was agreed that vote should be taken in the house
 Further amendments were agreed to as fol lows: Preserving the Indian title to lands il the Indian Territory against infringement, by railroad companies; forfeiting all land. and rights granted to the Atlantic and Pacific railroad for branch from the Canadian river Co Van Buren, Ark. that no entry ol honiestead shall be allowed except to actua settlers.
 The consideration of the diplomatic ant consular appropriation bill was resumed il the senate, the discussion of the Samoan question being the principal feature major part of the afternoon was devoted t, the consideration in secret session of tn, British extradition treaty