The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-01-15
VIRTUAL GIFT OF $35,343,OO6
ALL TERRITORY ACQUIRED FROM
INDIANS INCLUDED IN THE BILL.
Policy of Donating Glands to the
less" Opposed by Mr.. PIatt.

q
measure of far-reaching Importance, par
ticularly to the West, and the interest in il
was shown by the fact that a plank con-
cerning it feature of the several ma
tional platforms. The effect of the bill
is to open to settlement all public lands
acquired from Indians free of any payment
to the government beyond the minor Office
fees and TO release from payment those
who have heretofore settled on these lands.
| The number of acres involved, according TO
| an estimate made by the commissioner of
| the general land Office, is 80 252. 54l, which
would have yielded the government, at the
| prices heretofore established $50, ,343, 0J6. To
| offset this statement, it was brought out
| during the debate that the lands were
| mainly arid and that those who had set
| tied on them were unable to make pay
| ment by reason of the scanty products of
| the SOIL The Western senator's, in the
main, favored the bill, extension of
| the general homestead policy of the gov
| eminent. The opposition was directed
| mainly by Mr.. Platt, of Connecticut, and
| Mr.. Villas. of Wisconsin. AS the bill passed
| in the House it covered only the lands ac-
| quired from the Indians in oklahoma. but
| as passed to-day the bill includes all Indian
| lands. The final vote, taken by agreement
| at p. m, showed decisive majority in
| favor of the measure. The BILL as passed.
| follows:
THAT all settlers under the homestead
| laws of the United States on the public
| lands acquired prior to the passage of this
act by treaty or agreement from the vari-
Gus Indian tribes, who have or who shall
| hereafter reside upon the tract entered in
/ good faith for the period required by ex-
| listing law, shall be entitled to q paten- for
| the land so entered on the payment to the
/ nd Of nf fha saad
| tomary fees, and no other or further
| charge of any kind whatsoever shall be
required from such settler to ent;tle him
| TO a patent for the land covered by his en-
| try; provided, that the right TO commute
| any such entry and pay for said lands in
| the option of any such settler and in the
| time and at the prices now fixed bv exist
| ing laws, shall remain in full force and
| effect Provided. however, that all sums
| of money so released, which. If not re-
| leased, would belong TO any Indian tribe,
| shall be paid to such Indian tribe by the
| United States"
THE NICARAGUA CANAL BILL.
Following the disposition of this bill,
which had held the advantageous position
of the unfinished business of the Senate,
| Mr.. Morgan sought to have the Nicaragua
| canal bill made the unfinished business
This precipitated vote, which to some ex-
tent was test of strength of the bill it
SELF On Mr.. Morgan's motion to take the
d
quorum SO the motion did not prevail,
| although it disclosed the strength of the
| measure.
During the day Mr.. Morgan secured the
adoption of resolution for an inquiry by
the judiciary committee as to whether the
properties of the Union and Central Pacific
| Railroad Companies now belonged TO the
| United States by reason of alleged de-
| faults in the payment of bonds
| Other resolutions adopted were by Mr..
| Chandler, instructing the Interstate-com-
merce Commission TO inquire into the re-
| ported combination of lake vessel interests
TO maintain rates; and by Mr.. CullOm. cali
ing on the Civil-service Commission to ex
| plain delay in making annual reports. The
| Senate adjourned over to Monday.
During the debate on the homestead bill
Mr.. Jones. of Arkansas. in support of the the
body of the people, whereas most OF the
| legislation of Congress was for favored in
terests. 1t was refreshing, he said, to find
| a measure not supported by lobby repre-
| senting some private interests.
Mr.. Teller said the bill would help build
| up the West, while the defeat of the meas
ure would result in the humliating spec
| tacle of the United States evicting these
| settlers from their lands.
Mr.. Allison. speaking for the first time
| this session, made inquiries to the eX-
| tent of the lands covered by the bill.
Mr.. Pettigrew, of North Dakota, ex-
| planned that 1T did not cover Indian lands
but another bill will come in'' inter-
posed Mr.. Cockerell giving away the rest
Il have no doubt of it," conceded Mr.. Pet
tigrew. The latter explained that the
measure was restricted to agricultural
lands. and did not cover the timber sections
| of Minnesota and other States.
Mr.. Teller. resumng his remarks. spoke
| I'm impaSsoned tones on the tendency 10
grant millions TO favored interests and
withholding small pittances from the set
tiers Congress wasted more than the sum
| involved annually on the army. on rivers
| harbOrS.
which brought vast profits TO the makers
of armor. And yet this bill, in effect, Civ
ing a settler $400, resisted and the set
tier was TO be turned out as "A tramp. The
great danger to the Republic. declared Mr..
| Teller, was in its not encouraging the great
| farming community. There were too many
men in the mills and factories. Ihe ldea
| of our forefathers that the people of the
Nation should not be crowded, INTO SHOPS
to the free homested planks In the various
| national platforms, and criticised the
course of senators in opposing this principle
of platforms which they professed to ac-
CRITICISED BY Mr.. PLATT.
Mr.. Platt said the logical result of this
bill was that the United States should en-
bark on the policy of donating lands TO
the Iandless and homes TO the homeless,
not only through the benificent terms OF
the homestead laws. but by buying lands
and then giving them away. Mr.. Platt de-
l
East against the West was involved.
Mr. Allison said the bill appeared to be
too sweeping and too general. 1t had come
from the House relating to lands in Okla
homa and was now broadened 10 cover all
lands thus far acquired from the Indians.
He did not believe in going into this whole
sale manner of dealing with these lands,
some of them near towns and worth up TO
| $50 and possibly $500 acre. He might
| vote for the bill. but ii should be limited
TO those agricultural lands actually held by
| settlers and not those valuable lands near
| towns held by spectators.
| Mr. Cockrell declared that this bill was
| a perversion of the homestead laws. 1t was
| i'm the interest OF comparatively few as
against vast number OF people who Were
unab TO get hOmesteads. The Senator re-
| lated the circumstances of the scramble for
homesteads I'm Oklahoma, showing that a
small proportion of those who sought
| homes got them
| Mr. Allison moved amendment limit
ing the operation of the bill 10 lands ac-
| auired from Indians prior TO the passa &c
| of this act.
After further debate, Messrs. Stewart
| Allen. Carter and Pettigrew speaking for
J the bill. u final vote was taken. The COM