The Saint Paul globe., 1896-12-11
ALIEN LAND ACT.
Its Discussion the Only Feature of
the House Day.

the House Day.
WASHINGTON, Dec. depending
the preparation Of the next appropria-
tion bill, the house again today devoted
its time to the consideration of bills
on the calendar. but only two We're
passed during the four hour session.
One OF them was a bill which the
prominent playrights and theatrical
managers OF the country have been
faborfng for some years to induce con-
gresS to pass. The purpose of the
measure is two fold: First-to secure
to musical compositions the same
measure of protection under the copy
right law as is afforded productions OF
strictly dramatic character, and.
second, to add by proper court injunc-
ton processes, this protection to the
authors of dramatic and operatic
works. The bill imposes fine of s100
for the first and $50 for each subse-
quent unauthorized production
"A bill to prohibit the sale Of liquor In
the capitol building was also passed.
A bill advocated by the delegates from
the territories to modify the the law
forbidding the alien ownership Of lands
IN the territories so as to give them
the right to acquire under mortgage
and to hold for ten years real property
was defeated An important bill TO
transfer the rights of the Atlantic &
Pacific railroad. under it's charter. to
the mortgages when they re-organize
the road, was postponed until Tuesday
next.
Mr.. Scranton (Rep Pa.), from the
committee on territories, then called
UP the bill to amend the act foTbidding
alien ownership Of lands in the terri
tories. Mr.. Hepburn (Rep. Io.) caused
something Of a, furry by undertaking
to arraign the supporters Of the bill
on the ground that they were propos-
ing to go back on the platform plank
against alien ownership. His remarks
were particularly directed against the
Populfsts. who, he said, after declaim-
ing against alien ownership, were now
IN favor of allowing aliens to acquire
all they had heretofore declared should
belong only to American citizens
Mr.. Flynn (Okla-) said that although
the bill would not affect the territory
of Oklahoma, he submitted that there
was no reason why the same laws as
to ownership of land should not be
given both territories and states. The
delegate drifted into rather amusing
discussion Of Populism. Mr.. Flynn
characterized the Populist as an Ish-
maelite, a man who could not thrive
save on failure and despair.
Mr., Stone (Rep., Pa-) asked if Popu-
lism did not mean a different thing in
every state and congressional district.
He had watched the controversy be-
tween two leading Populists, Watson
and Butler, he said, but had not been
able to secure any light on the exact
definition of a genuine Populist.
Mr.. Flynn replied that in his country
Populism meant anything to win He
then sent to the clerks desk and had
read circular purporting to be the
notice of a Populist rally at Baxter
Springs. Kan, at which Thomas E.
Watson was billed to arrive on a
Pullman palace car, with a glee club
and band"
There was a good deal of laughter
over the reading, when Mr. Bell pop,
Cel.1 asked if those circulars had not
been published under the direction of
Paul Vandervoort, who was in the en-
ploy of the Republican party Mr.
Flynn replied that they were not Af-
ter some further good-natured banter
ing. the bill was defeated, so to 73
From the committee on patents, Mr.
DraperRep.. .Mass.) called up the senate
bill to prevent the pirating of copyright
dramas or musical compositions. Mr..
Lacey (Rep., N. Y.) thought the bill
extreme in many particulars He be-
Heved that If a copyrighted play or
musical production were printed and
sold. that ought to carry with it the
right to produce it, and he offered an
amendment to meet his objection. Mr..
Lacey's amendment was defeated Is
to 56, and the bill was passed At 4:O5
the house adjourned