The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-01-15
Opened to Settlers by Free
Homestead Bill.
Measure Passed by Senate
After Weeks Of Debate.
House Devoted Nearly Whole Day to
Oleomargarine Debate.

Washington, Jan. 15.-The senate yes
terday passed the measure known as the
free homestead BILL which has been un-
der discussion since the holiday recess.
1t is a measure of FAR reaching i'm
portance, particularly TO the west, ana
the interest in il was shown by the fact
that plank concerning ii 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 re-
lease from payment those who have
heretofore settled on these lands. The
number of acres involved, according to
an estimate made by the commissioners
of the general land Office. is S3,250,541,
which would have yielded the govern
ment at the prices heretofore estap-
lished s35, 5,343. .006. To offset this state
ment it was brought out during the de-
bate that the lands were mainly arid,
and that those who had settled upon
them were unable to make payment by
reason of the scanty products of the soil.
Il
ored the bill as an extension of the gen.
eral homestead policy OF the govern
ment. The opposition was directed
mainly by Mr.. Platt (Conn.) and Mr..
Villas (wis.) AS the bill passed in the
house IT covered only the lands acquired
from Indians in Oklohama. but as passed
yesterday the bill includes all Indian
lands. The final vote. taken by agree
.l.~ pfcixy mn =
tority in favor of the measure.
The house spent almost the entire day
debating the Grout bill. TO subject oleo-
margarine and other imitation dairy
products to the laws of'the states into
which they are transported. The ad'
| yocates of the measure took the view
| that the states should be allowed &c
| regulate the sale OF a product sailing
under false colors. and the opponents
the view that the bill would establish {
dangerous precedent and invade the
power OF congress to regulate interstate
| commerce. Those who supported th'
measure were Messrs. Northway (Rep.
| o.. Morse Rep.. Mass.), Lacey Rep.
Ia, Hainer (Rep., Neb.), Willis (Rep.
DeL), Grosvenor CRep., o., and Hender
son (Rep.. Ia. Those who opposed 1
were NcSSIS. 1OOlJtt iDtlf' itt.i
Tucker Dem., Va.). Cannon (Rep., Ills.)
Boatner CDem., La.), Clardy (Rep.. ky.)
and Williams Dem., MISSY. The bil
was finally passed. l26 to 80. The full
text of the bill is as follows:
THAT all articles known as oleomar
garine, butterine, imitation butter. o
ilnitation cheese, or any substance in tn
semblance of butter or cheese not tn
usual product of the dairy, and not mad
exclusively of pure and unadulterate
milk or cream, transported into an
state or territory or remaining therei
for use. consumption. sale, or storag
therein, shall, upon arrival in such stat
or territory, be subject to the operatio
and effect of the laws Of such state q
territory enacted i'm the exercise of II
police powers TO the same extent an
in the same manner as though such art
cles or substances had been produce
i'm such state or territory. and shall M
be exempt therefrom by reason of bein
introduced therein i'm original package
, or otherwise; provided, that nothing
this act shall be construed to permit an
state TO forbid the sale OF oleomargarir
except I'm such a manner as will advi.
the customer of it's real character"