Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1897-01-07
FREE HOMES.
Senator Platt Will Pres emit Re-
port Against the Measure.
STATEMENT OF THE PUBLIC DEBT.


WASHINGTON, Jan. 4.-Many meas.
ures Of public Importance will come be-
fore congress when IL reconvenes to-
morrow from the holiday recess. A
sharp contest and much spirited debate
Is certain in each chamber In the sem
ate the Cameron resolution and the
free homestead bill are both sure OF an
animated reception. In the house the
Pacific funding bill and the Loud mail
bill will occupy the time. Senator
Plat will present the minority report
OF tho senate COMMITTEES on Indian
affairs in opposition to the free home
stead bill, which heads the senate cal
endar. The report opposes the bill on
the general grounds OF the vast expense
its adoption would entail upon the
government The measure Is on
the senate calendar IS uniin-
ished business, but there is no
doubt II will have TO wait determine.
ton Of the fate Of the Cameron
resolution. Those who are opposed to
the bill will Ask that no action Ue
taken for time, and as they are pre-
pared to successfully oppose any effort
to force its passage at this time. the
outlook is not especially promising.
Until the past day or two it appeared
certain that the Cuban resolution
would be sprung Immediately after
thu senate resumes business on Tues
day. II is now possible, even probable.
that it will go over, ut least for II few
days. If the movement to have the
committee on foreign relations again
CONSIDER the question US 10 when 1t
shall be taken up prevails the
question cannot be raised un.
til after the committee meet
ing on Wednesday, and the
advocates OF the bill are becoming
quite sanpuine that il they succeed In
preventing consideration until Wednes.
day they will secure still further
postponement. Senator Gear, chair
man of the Pacific railroads commit
tee, is doubtful of the advisability of
pressing for the consideration of his
funding bill until after the action OF
the house on the same measure, and
may wait upon that body. II he does
not delay on this account he will make
an effort to get the bill upon Tuesday,
or Immediately after the homestead
bill shall be disposed of.
STATEMENT OF THE PUBLIC DEBT.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 4, The monthly
treasury statement Of the public debt
issued shows the debt on December 81,
less cash in the treasury, to have been
$092, 0?0, 5s9, decrease for the month
OF 81, s39,577 The decrease Is account
ed for by an increase OF S2,063,2Sl In
the amount OF cash in the treasury
The increase In the cash was the result
of the recent sale of first mortgage Pa
ciAc railroad bonds belonging to the
Central Pacific sinking fund. The
debt Is recapitulated as follows. In.
terest- bearing debt, Ss47, 304 600; debt
on which interest has ceased since ma
turity, 81, 1888, 070; debt bearing no in
terest, s37s 5O9 sOl. Total, sl,22l,2i0,
COL, This amount, however, does not
include $3.50, 500, 5T3 in certificates and
treasury notes outstanding, Offset by
Nh equal amount OF cash in the treasury.
OPENING WICHITA LANDS.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 4. - Secretary
Francis Saturday said about the pro-
posed opening Of the Wichita reserva.
ton; II am trying to get around to 1t
but cannot say when will take II up"
An erroneous impression prevails in
the territory that the secretary also
contempates opening the kiowa and
Comanche lands In addition to the
Wichita reservation. Secretary Francis
will do nothing more than assign allot-
ting agents for the Wichita reservation
AZ TINS time. 1t is expected that by
the time this work is concluded the de-
partment of justice will have finished
the adjustment of the legal questions.
FRANCIS REvERsEs HoKE SMITH
ST.. LOUIS Jan. A special from
Perry, Ok, says: News received here
from Washington is that Secretary
Francis has reversed ex-Secretary
Smiths decision relative to claim-hold-
ers who made runs for the Indian res
ervaton in the Cherokee strip In Sen.
.cinucr, 1898. Inc report has caused
considerable excitement, and hundreds
OF contests before the land Office will
result Several thousand persons are
affected. Smith held that persons who
obtained claims by running from
Creek, Otoe, Usage and Ponca Indian
country were disqualified, and Secre-
tary Francis decides that they are
qualified.
HAWAIIAN ANNEXATION.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 4-The wires are
already laid to annex Hawaii during
the Mckinley administration. The
New England senators are alert and
the Hawaiian oligarchy is active, The
annexation element In Hawaii looked
upon the republican victory in Novem-
Der as opening the doors for admission
to the union. They are not asking to
come in as state, but will be satisfied
with territorial form Of government
TO start with
THE DECEMBER COINAGE
WASHINGTON. Jan. 4-The monthly
coinage statement shows the total
coinage at the minis Of the United
States during December, 1896, to have
been s7,Ol7,4l9, of which 81, 1863, 1853 was
gold s2,551,9 6s silver, and Sl02,2s6
minor coins OF the silver coined ST..
zoo, 900 was in standard dollars.