The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-01-08
FREE HOMESTEAD MEASURE
INDORSED AT ST. LOUIS OPPOsE0
BY THE GENTLEMAN FROM NEW
ENGLAND.
NEW PHASE OF CUBAN QUESTION
Presented Through Resolution
Recognizing the Republic offered
by Mr.. Mills, of Texas.

passing number of bills on the CAL
endar, including several amendments 10
the law Of navigation, and also the bill
authorizing the president to reappoint
to the navy Commander Quacken-
bush, whose case has occasioned much
controversy. Progress was made on
the bill for free homesteads on Indian
lands, but a final vote was not reached.
Mr.. Plat opposed the bill in a lengthy
speech, pointing out that it would cost
the government loss of many millions.
1t was disclosed during the day that
Representative-ele Edward E. Rob
bins was the author of the letters
from Havana, read in the senate yes
terday. The other Cuban development
of the day was a joint resolution Of
fered by Mr. Mills Dem, Tex, de-
claring that the power Of recognizing
a new republic resides in congress; rec
ognizing the independence Of Cuba. and
appropriating $4,000 for a United States
minister to the republic of Cuba Mr.
Mills will speak on the resolution next
Monday
Mr.. Mills Oem., Texas, member Of
the committee on foreign relations,
brought forward a new phase Of the
Cuban question, by offering the follow
ing joint resolution:
Resolved, by the senate and house of rep
resentatives that the expediencv Of rec0g-
nizing the independence Of foreign govern
ment belongs to congress, and when congress
shall so determine the executive shall act in
harmony with the legislative department OF
the government.
Second that the independence Of the re-
public of Cuba ought to be, and hereby is,
recognized and the sum of 900 is hereby
dDDrODTiated for salary and p
minister to that government, such minister
to be appointed by the president
The resolution went over, Mr.. Mills
giving notice OF his intention to dis
cuss it later.
Mr.. Sherman (Rep., o. sought to Sc
cure the passage of a bill directing the
secretary Of agriculture to establish a
uniform standard of grain and all
classes of cereals, to be known as the
United States standard, but there was
sharp opposition. Mr.. Hale (Rep., Me.)
thought 1T conferred sweeping powers
on the secretary of agriculture. Mr..
Allen Pop, Neb) said the bill was
opposed to the grain producers, taking
out of their hands the right to classify
their own grain. Mr.. Gear (Rep., Io.)
said commercial bodies and producers
were in favor of it. Mr.. Sherman eX-
planned that he presented the measure
at the request of organizations in his
uniform standard, but could not inter
fere with any private contract as to a
standard. Mr.. Sherman added that
the measure was in the interest Of
farmers, and was designed to have the
same grade in Chicago New York and
elsewhere. On objection by Mr.. Bate
Oem., TENN the bill went over.
Bills were passed as follows: Senate
bill to provide district attorney and
marshal for the Western district OF
South Carolina; house bill for the en-
try of lands in Greer county, OklahO-
ma. Also senate bill granting Samuel
G.. Reed Jr. an uneXpended balance,
$4,000, of an appropriation Of $4,000
made in 1882 to the crew of the pri-
vateer Gen. Armstrong, sunk at FayaI
by a British force in 1914 Also the
senate bill authorizing the president
to restore John n. Qutckenbush to the
United States navy and place him on
the retired list; also senate bill grant
ing to Washington state certain lands
for a fish hatchery.
The routine of business was suspend
ed for the adoption of a resolution by
Mr. Hale that when the senate adjourn
it be until next Monday. TheTeupOn
Mr.. Mills gave notice that his Cuban
speech would be made on Monday in
stead of tomorrow as at first an
nounced.
Mr.. Perkins (Rep.. Cal) moved to
make the bill for the appointment of
a commission to consider the problem
presented by labor, agriculture and
capital, a special order for p. m, next
Wednesday. When Mr.. Call suggested
that Cuba might be before the senate
at that time, Mr.. Perkins answered:
1T is about time, / think. that we
gave some consideration to our own
citizens as well as to those of Cuba
and Armenia" A lively argument
ensued, Mr.. Aldrich (Rep.. r. ID con-
tinuing it until Mr.. Perkins effort for
q special order was cut off by the eX-
piration Of the morning hour, at 2
o'clock.
The senate then took up the bill for
free homesteads on public lands ac-
quired from the Indians Mr.. Platt
(Rep., Comm led the opposition to the
bill, pointing out that it would result
in a loss to the government of many
million dollars. There was a brisk ex-
change between Mr.. Plat and Mr..
Allen (Neb) when the latter read the
free homestead plank of the last Re-
publican national platform.
WAS that plank made to deceive
voters?" asked Mr.. Allen.
I'VE all understand how things creep
into national platforms" responded Mr..
Plat, land l venture to say that not
fifty delegates in the st. Louis con-
vention knew anything about this reso-
luton"
Are they not bound by it?" persisted
Mr.. Allen.
Il am not" said Mr. Platt Before
this congress adjourns, / may call at
tention to some planks in the Populist
platform made since the senator (Al-
LEM broke into national politics which
he does not live UP to-"
Returning TO the bill, Mr.. Plat said
that it meant the government should
buy lands and donate them to indiVid-
ualS. Mr.. Stewart pop, New spoke
in favor of generous treatment for the
Western settlers. The bill was then
laid aside.
Mr.. Call Dem, Fla) submitted an
other letter relating to the case OF
Julio Sanguilly, which disclosed that
the author Of this and the other letters
from Havana, read in the senate yes
terday, was Representatiye-elect Ed
ward E. Robbins.
Mr.. Morgan Dem, Ala) secured the
adoption Of a resolution for an investi-
cation of the disappearance of certain
papers relating to the Pacific railroads
from the files of the treasury depart
ment as recently reported by Assistant
Secretary Curtis.
On motion of Mr. Frye (Rep., Maine)
the senate took up a number of bills
relating to commerce and navigation,
The house bill to amend the navigation
laws was passed with senate amend
ments. 1t deals with the rules which
govern vessels at sea and on the lakes
and rivers. The bill as passed Is q
substitute for the house BILL but Is
substantially the same measure. The
bill amending the laws relating to
a Y1Nn ~