The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-02-19
COIN FOR AGRICULTURE.
An Increase of Several Items
on the Big Bill ~of
Appropriations.
TO CANCEL THE LAND PATENTS.
Amendments to the Bill Extending
the Time in Which Suits
Can Be Brought.

WASHINGTON, D. c.. Feb. 1S - The
House to-day, after three days considera-
ton OF the agricultural appropriation bill,
finally disposed of it. The feature of the
debate to-day was the attack by Cousins
(R.) of Iowa upon the methods of the Sec
rotary OF Agriculture in connection with
his refusal to carry out the law for the pur-
chase and distribution OF seeds, as provided
for IN the appropriation acts of 1894 and
1895. He said the corrupted and subordi-
mated commission appointed by the Sec
rotary had, long in advance of the time
fixed for them to examine and report upon
the bids for supplying seeds to the depart
ment, informed inquirers that there would
be no distribution of seed. showing pre-
determination on his part to nullify the
law. The Government, Cousins said, was
no longer Government for the people and
by the people, but Government by J.
Pierpont Morgan and ]. Sterling Morton.
Amendments Incorporated in the bill
make 1t mandatory upon the Secretary to
purchase and distribute seed as had been
the custom prior to the suspension of the
practice last year, without reference to the
requirements of the statute that they
shall be rare and uncommon" as that
phrase was construed by Secretary Nor
ton; the appropriation for seed was in
creased from $4,000 TO $4,000, and the
seed division abolished by Secretary Nor.
ton last year was rehabilitated with a full
quota of clerks to enable the Secretary to
execute the law.
Among the miscellaneous business
transacted the House passed resolution
introduced by Newlands tSiiver) of Ne
vada directing the Committee on Ways
and Means TO inquire into the effect upon
American industries of the difference of
exchange between countries having the
gold and silver standards of value and to
report by bill or otherwise.
The House entered upon the considera-
ton of the bill to extend the time within
which the Government may bring suit to
recover title to lands illegally or erron-
eously patented. but adjourned without
coming to vote.
Several propositions were made to amend
the agricultural appropriation bill SO as to
secure the desired distribution of seeds
and after some discussion a combination
amendment was agreed upon. 1t directs
and requires the Secretary of Agriculture
to purchase and distribute $780, worth
of seeds, the best that he can procure,
without reference to the requirement of
the law, which says shall be rare and IN
common" 1t was because he could find
no rare and uncommon" seeds that Sec
rotary Morton decided not to distribute
any last summer and abolished the seed
distribution.
A motion by Picker (R.) of South Da-
kota increasing the appropriation for the
purchase of seeds from $4,000 to $150,0OO
was agreed to-75 to Ii.
Cousins (R.) OF Iowa offered an amend
ment making the appropriation for seed
unavailable until the Secretary of Agricul-
ture had expended the appropriation
made for seeds for the current year, and
making the appropriation for the salary OF
the Secretary, except $75, unavailable
until he complied with this law. The
amendment was rejected on point of
order as being new legislation.
On motion of Baker (R.) 0. New Hamp-
shire, the seed division of the Agricultural
Department was rehabilitated at a yearly
expense of s13,370, in order, as he ex-
planned, that the Secretary might not be
enabled to to say that be could not carry
out the distribution of seeds for the reason
that he had not the force to do it. This
disposed OF the seed matter.
The committee rose and the amend
ments made TO the bill having bee agreed
to, 1t was passed.
On motion by Doolittle (R.) Washing
ton the printing of the report of the board
of engineers upon the Nicaragua canal,
sent to the House by the President few
DAYS ago, was ordered.
Lacey (R.) of Iowa called up the bill in
tended to carry out the suggestion of Presi-
dent Cleveland in his message to Congress
that the time be extended in which to in
stitute suits to cancel land patents illegally
or enormously issued.
Hepburn (R.) of Iowa offered an amend
ment providing that all lands patented or
certified TO any State, corporation or indi-
vidual, under rulings or construction of
law of the Commissioner of the General
Land Office or the Secretary OF the Interior,
and when no fraud has been committed
by the patentees, shall be excepted from
the operation of the act, and also another
providing for the adjustment of railroad
land grants and for the forfeiture of I'M
earned land grants.
Without disposing of the matter the
House, at o'clock, on motion by Terry,
adjourned until tomorrow.
#
FOR a JOINT COMMISSION.