The herald., 1896-12-11
IN THE HOUSE
Business Done Under Committee Call
Bills Disposed of


WASHINGTON, Dec. 1O.-The house
today resumed the consideration of bills
under the call of committees.
Boatner ia, Dem.) from the Fifth
Louisiana district, whose seat was de-
clared vacant at the last session and
who was reelected at special election,
was sworn in Immediately after the
reading of the journal.
Mr.. Scranton pa, Rep) from the
committee on territories, then called up
the bill to amend the act forbidding alien
ownership of land in the territories
The bill sought to enable aliens to ac
quire title to real property under mort
gage foreclosure; by the terms of the
bill they must dispose of such title with
in ten years.
Hepburn of Iowa caused something Of
a furry by undertaking to arraign the
supporters of the bill, on the ground that
they proposed to go back on the plank
of the platform on alien ownership. His
remarks were particularly directed
against the Populists, who he said, after
declaiming against alien ownership, were
now in favor of allowing aliens to ac-
quire all thel had heretofore declared
should belong only to American citizens.
Catron On. NJ. Rep.) sponsor for the
bill. declared that the bill did not permit
alien ownership. 1t only permitted al
lens in certain contingencies to control
real property for ten years. Its pur-
pose, he said, was to enable the people
of the territories to get some of the bene-
fits of foreign capital Capital was
needed to develop the resources of the
territory, and under the present law no
alien could own dollars worth of real
property and no capital could be in
vested. He admitted that combina
ton of Popuists and Democrats had car
ried New Mexico at the late election.
Mr.. Hepburn declared that If that were
the case they (the people of New Mex
ico) should have an object lesson. They
should be taught to understand that
their territory cannot grow under Pop
ulistic doctrines.
Mr. Bell Col, Pop) made a defense of
Populism ard declared that unless by
the terms of the bill it was restricted I ,
the protection of foreign investments in
mining Gains. which could not be devel-
oped by private capital, he would op-
pose it
Mr.. Murphy, DELEGATE from Arizona,
said that no great national question was
involved in the bill. Alters could not
acquire permanent ownership under it.
| 1t was simply a uestion of whether the
territories should be enabled to invite
foreign capital TO develop their re-
sources. 1t would be but simple justice
to give the people of the territories this
u
| Mr.. Flynn. delegate from Oklahoma.
! said that although the bill would not
affect the territory of Okla homa. he ~.'b-
| mitted 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 Popuiist
| as an Ishmaelite, man who could not
thrive save on failure and despair
Mr.. Stone, Republican, of Pennsyi-
vaDia asked il Populism did not mean a
different thing in every state and con-
gressional district. He had watched the
controversy between two leading Popu-
lists, he said, but had not been able to Sc
cure any light on the actual definition
| OF genuine Populist.
Mr.. Flynn replied that in his country
! Populism meant anything to win. Ht
then sent to the clerks desk and had rea6
a CIRCULAR purporting to be the notice OF
Popuilst rally at Baxter Springs, Kan.
at which Thomas Il. Watson was billie,
TO arrive On pullman palace car witt
glee club band
ii4eie was Il good Geal Of l.aushter nv.,
the saGincs. " han Mr.. l,ell asked If thos,
circulars had not been pliblis he'd u.de
the direction of Paul Wander Dor. Nj +,
was in the employ of the I;epublicar
party.
Mr. Flynn replied that they were not
l. After some further good natured ban
tering the bill was defeated-6O to "a.