Evening journal., 1897-01-15
Homestead Bin Passes senate.

WASHINGTON, Jan. 15.-Thc senate has
passed the measure known as the free
homestead bill. which has been under dis
cussion since the holiday recess.
1t is a measure Of farrcaching impor-
tance, particularly 10 the west, and the in
tercst i'm il was shown by the fact that a
plank concerning it was a 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 pay
ment those who have heretofore settled on
these lands. The number of acres involved,
according to an estimate made by the COM
missioner of the general land office, is
33, 252, 81, which would have yielded the
government, at the prices heretofore estab-
lished S35, 3f3 0O6.
To offset this statement it was brought
out during the debate that the lands were
mainly arid and that those who had set
tied upon them were unable TO make pay
ment by reason of the scanty products of
the soil.
The western senator's in the main favor
ed the bill as an extension Of the general
homestead policy Of the government 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 acquired from In
dians in Oklahoma, but as passed by the
senate the bill includes all Indian lands.
The final vote showed a decisive majority
In favor of the measure The vote stood 35
TO IL.
Following the disposition of this bill
which had held the advantageous position
.n. a.. Il. 81
Mr. Morgan sought to have the Nicam-
guam canal bill made the unfinished husi-
ness This procipitatcd q vote, which to
some extent was a test Of strength of the
bill itself On Mr.. Morgans motion 20
take the bill up the vote was 33 to g. or
less than q quorum so the matter did not
prevail, although it disclosed the strength
of the measure.
During the session Mr.. Morgan secured
the adoption of a resolution for an inquiry
by the iudic'1ry committee as TO whether
the properties of the Union and Central
Pacific railroad companies now belonged
TO the United States by reason of alleged
defaults in the payment of bonds.
Other resolutions adopted were by Mr..
| Chandler, instructing the interstate COM
mercc commission to inquire into the re-
ported combination of lake vessels 20 main
tain rates, and by Mr.. Cullom calling on
the civil service commission TO explain de-
lay i'm making annual reports. The senate
adjourned over to Monday.
The Grout Bill In the House.
The house spent almost the entire ses-
sion debating the Grout bill, the purpose
of which is 20 subject oleomargarine and
other imitation dairy products to the laws
of the states into which they are transport
cd. The advocates Of the measure took The
view that the states should be allowed tC
regulate the sale Of a product sailing un
der false coloES and the opponents the view
that the bill would establish a dangerou,
precedent and invade the power of congres.
to regulate interstate commerce.
Those who supported the measure wcr'
Messrs Northway (Rep.) Of Ohio Mors'
(Rop.) of Massachusetts,, Lacey (Rep.) o
Iowa, Hainer (Rcp.) of Nebraska, Willie
(Rep.) of Delaware, GrOsvcnOr (Rep) %
Ohio and Henderson (Rep) of Iowa
Those who opposed it were Mossrs. Coop
er (Dem.) OF Florida, Tucker (Dem.) o
Virginia, Cannon (Rep.) of Illinois, Boat
ner (Dem.) Of Louisiana, Clardy (Rep) O
Kentucky and Williams (Dem.) of Missis
sippi The bill was finally passed bya vot
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