The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-01-04


that rhe bill providing for free hoIDssfsads
on former Indian reservations on the cal
endar r. Jn< unfinished business. the
senate mas no programme for this week.
There - able TO pe a sharp clash o. in
Eefests from the effort TO secure consider
aton. and possibility that this cash
may develop an Interesting situation.
The friends of the Pacific funding o.Il
Nr.i make effort TO get that measure up
for consideration until they conclude that
IA dong SO tney may impair It's chances OF
passage.
UnT.l the past day or two IL appeared
certain that the Cuban resoluoons would
be sprung Immediately after the begin
ming Of business on Tuesday. II Is Posst-
be. even probable. that both questions
WI go over. at least for a few days. IL
the movement TO have the committee on
foreign relations again consider the qGes-
ton as 10 when Il shall be taken up pre-
yai.s. the question cannot be raised until
after the committee meeting on Wednes-
day. and the advocates OF delay are be
gom.ng quite sangsins that 4 they succeed
In preventing consideration until Wednes-
day, they 1ia secure stIll further post
ponement.
Senator Gear. chairman OF the Pacific
IA lrosds committee. Is doubtful of the
adv.sab9ity Of pressing for the considera-
ton Of his funding bin until after the ac-
and may wait upon that body. Ii he does
not delay on tbs account. he WI make an
effort 10 get the bil up on Tuesday or i'm
mesiistely after the homestead bill shall
De disposed Of II either the Pacific rail-
road bill or the Cuban resolutions secures
consideration. there VII be a sharp son-
test and much animated debate
The homestead bill will be opposed by
Senator Plat and others, while Senator
Pettigrsw VIII take the lead in its advo-
cacy.
Senator Platt vii on Tuesday present
the minority report Of the senate commit
tee on Indian affairs n opposition 10 the
''free homestead" bill. which heads the sen
ate calendar. The report opposes the bill
on the general grounds OF the vast expense
SIS adoption would entail upon the gov
eminent. Commencing with the year isS9.
he says the government has purchased
a. 2s2. SO acres OF land from the Ind ans.
agreeing 70 pay SIS. .26l as7 for II, besides
So 001.001 set apart as a truss fund for the
benefit OF the InafaBs Of tfe great Sioux
tribe If says the report, "all the land
already opened TO settlement upon Indian
reserva tfons heretofore ceded snail be Ia
ken up. the sum 30 be pad therefor by the
settlers will be ss5, $50 .ooss S. This bin pro-
poses 10 release the settlers from the pay
meut of IN - sum
The report calls attention to the fact
that II was provided in the acts bearing
upon these settlements with the different
tribes Of Indians that settlers should pay
sufficient fer the lands TO reimburse the
government for the money paid the In
disns. Several million acres Of land are
embraced I'm these pending agreements.
The bill as II passed the house. applied
only 20 lands in Oklahoma. but by the
amendments made by the senate commit
tee. the provisions of the bin are extended
20 all ceded Indian lands the amount be
ing more than three times that contem-
plated in the bill as Il passed the house
All the land on the Indian reservations
thus opened for settlement have been paid
for by the government before the opening
Of the same. except in the case OF the Che
rokee outlet. where payment was 10 be
made tn instsllments, and the sum of
81 s0.0oo stlll remains unpaid. and In the
case cf the great Sioux. Chippewa and Col
vile reservations where the indians are
70 be paid as the government shall re-
ceive money from the settlers upon dis
posal Of the lands.
Another amendment proposed 10 the bin
In effect requires that the government shall
upon releasing the settlers from payment
Of their obligations, pay the Indians Tor
these lands the sum per acre which by law
Is 90 be paid by the settlers.
III" says the report. "this amendment
should be adopted and the bill passes. the
government would be called upon 10 pay
In .he future Including the amount now
due on the Cherokee outlet purchase, a
sum approxlmating sl5,ooo 4o."
The report calls attention to the fact
that negotiations are in progress for tbs
acquisition of other Indian lands. which
are being conducted upon the policy that
the government shah he reimbursed for IL
OUTLAWS.
Referring 70 TIE origin OF the bill. Sem
ator Plat says IN his report; The excite
mont which preceded the opening az ths
lands in Oklahoma VIII be stu remember
ed. as VIII the mad rush. scarcely con
troHed ny government authorities 10 So
cure these lards upon the well understood
condition of paN meut for the same in az
ditton 20 compliance with the provision or
homestead laws In every appeal made Z,
congress fer the opening OF the lands OF
the reservations the argument that the
government ought not % be pat to the
large expenditures required ia the pay
uent OF tire Indians FOR the REIMBURSEMENT
OF their t!tle. was answered ny those who
we're advocating and insisting upon the
passage of the bills for that purnosA by
SAYING that % was understood the gov
eminent should be reimbursed by the set
tiers"
Continuing. he argued. "It T. probably
not too much 20 sag that not one ~ the
agreements made wfth the Indians ee4inr
their lands would have been rafisea and
nos an act opening them for settlement
Would have passed It iL had nos been ther-
ouEhly understood and agreed thar the
settlers upon these lands should reimburse
the government for tSe amount expended
hr it 90 obtain them. The oHngat{on of
the settler go pay the government the rrIre
stipulated Is "a setnite Woll understood
end binding as tha obligation of ANY E5e-
eminent debtor Whtle we do nAt cues
t3oa tae policy % car homestead laus. We
ios3ss thAt in relation 20 these lands par
chased and opeued upou the demand af tire
settlers il was risht thar another policy
srau.d be adopted
THE attractive idea - free homes for
the people was aU very wsil while the
coserameot hac lands acquired sor poati-
csl ana territorial reasons which lf r7-lid
donate 90 them The purchase ~ tsa srres
aa1 fte donation OF ths same 10 a rgtsaea
S. en1t-elS another tning and can - tastt-
fe3. iu ire opinion % the undersigned
lpan na ce-stfersgt0n of puolsr pohcy or
govern mental d4rv As weu might rhe
scverr srert e~ called upou % bay lands
from lcaivi2tal owners or sYnStcases ara
35nkta tas71 as free homes 20 settlers as
g. be- raHa3 ura1 to auy .aa&s FROM the
Indians to~ sae2 purposes