The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-01-15
OPEN TO ACTUAL SETTLERS.
THIRTY MILLION ACRES INVOLVED
BY THE BILL AS 1T WAS
ADOPTED.
NICARAGUA CANAL ACT CALLED Up.
Strength of the Measure shown on
Motion to Give 1t the Right OF
Way.

ate today passed the measure known
as the free homestead bill, which has
been under discussion since the holt
day recess. 1t is a measure of far
reaching importance, particularly to
the West, and the interest in it was
shown by the fact that q plank con-
corning 1t was feature of the several
national 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 hereto
fore settled on these lands The num-
Der of acres involved according to an
estimate made by the commissioner of
the general land office, is 1882, 541,
which would have yielded the govern
ment, at the prices heretofore estab-
lished, $35, 343, 006. To offset this state,
nlent, it was brought out during the
debate that the lands were mainly arid.
and that those who had settled upon
them were unable to make payment on
account of the scanty products of the
soil
The Western senators, in the main.
favored the bill, as an extension or
the general homestead policy of the
government The opposition was direct
ed mainly by Mr.. Plat, of Connect
cut, and Mr.. Villas, of Wisconsin, AS
the bill passed in the house, it covered
only the lands acquired from Indians
in Oklahoma, but as passed today the
bill includes all Indian lands The
final vote, taken by agreement at p
M showed a decisive majority in IA
vor Of the measure.
Following the disposition of this bill,
which had held the advantageous posi-
ton Of the unfinished business of the
senate, Mr.. Morgan sought to have the
Nicaragua canal bill made the unf1n-
ished business. This precipitated a
vote, which, to some extent, was a
test of the strength of the bill itself.
On Mr.. Morgan's motion to take the
bill up, the vote was SO to 6, or less
than quorum, so the motion did not
prevail, although it disclosed the
strength of the measure.
During the day Mr.. Morgan secured
the adoption of a resolution for an in
quiry by the judiciary committee as to
whether the properties of the Union
and Central Pacific companies now be-
longed to the United States by reason
of alleged defaults in the payment of
bonds. Other resolutions adopted were
by Mr.. Chandler, instructing the inter
state commerce commission to inquire
into the reported combination of lake
vessel interests to maintain rates; and
by Mr.. ,Cullom calling on the civil sery-
ice commission to explain delay in
making annual reports.
When the homestead bill was taken
Up, Mr.. Allison, speaking for the first
time this season, made inquiries as to
the extent of the lands covered by the
bill.
Mr. Pettigrew, of South Dakota, ex-
planned that it did not cover Indian
lands not yet acquired.
But another bill will come in, in
terposed Mr.. Cockrell Dem, Mo- Civ
ing away the rest of the land"
Il have no doubt Of it, conceded
Mr.. PettigreW.
Mr. Plat rep, Comm said the logi-
cal result of this bill was that the Unit
ed States should embark on the policy
Of donating land to the landless and
homes to the homeless not only
through the beneficient terms Of the
homestead laws, but by buying lands
and giving them away. Mr.. Plat de-
clared that the question of the East
against the West was involved
Mr.. Allison said the bill appeared 10
be too sweeping, and too general 1t
had come to the house relating to lands
in Oklahoma, and was now broadened
to cover all lands thus far acquired
from the Indians. He did not believe
in going into this wholesale manner of
dealing with these lands, some of them
near towns and worth up to $40 and
possibly $500 per acre. He might vote
for the bill, but it should be limited to
by settlers and not those valuable
lands near towns held by specula tors.
Mr.. Allison moved an amendment, linn
iting the operation of the bill to lands
acquired from Indians prior to the pas
sage of this act.
After some further debate, Messrs.
Stewart New, Allen (Neb). Garter
kota, speaking for the bill, the final
vote was taken. The committee
amendment, extending the bill TO all
lands acquired from Indians and also
obligating the United States 10 pay
the Indians all sums of money released
by the change from existing law, were
agreed to. The amendment Of NJ.
Allison, limiting the bill to lands ac-
qulred prior to the passage of this act.
was agreed to. The bill, as amended,
was then passed, yeas, IS; nays, IL.
The vote was as follows:
Nays: Democrats-Bate Berry, Brice. Cock
rell, Faulkner Gray, Hill, Vest, Villas Walt
hall-lO. Republicans-Platt-1: total IL.
Yeas: Republicans-Allison. Baker, Brown
Carter, Clark Cullom, Davis, Frye Gear
Mcbride Mcmillan. Nelson, Perkins Quay
Sherman, Shoup, Thurman, Wetmore Wilson
10. Democrats-Baeon Blackburn. Call
Gordon, Morgan, Murphy. Pugh, Smith, White
3. Populists-Allen, PETER, Stewart-3 In
observation-disclosures, Pettigrew, Mantle, Tel
ler-4.
Mr.. Morgan Dem, Ala) at once
moved to take up the Nicaragua canal
bill, the purpose being to get this
measure in the favorable parliamentary
status of unfinished business Mr.
Morgan's motion, which was indirectly
test on the canal bill, was, yeas, 33:
nays, 6, less than a quorum. Mr..
Morgan was about to ask for call Of
the senate, but yielded to Mr.. IIilP:s
motion to adjourn. Those voting
against taking up the bill were: Dem
ocrats-Berry, Blackburn, Chiffon.
Cockrell, Gray, 5; Independent-Telle
1; total, s.
Mr.. Cullom (Rep., Ill) secured the
adoption of resolution calling ON the
civil service commission for Informal
ton as to whether it had submitted an
annual report for 1895 and for 1896. in
accordance with law, and if not to
give the reasons for such failure and