Kansas City daily journal., 1897-01-15

long TO any 1Indian tribe, shall be paid to
| such Indian tribe by the United States" .
The number of acres involved, according
to an estimate made by the commissioner
of the general land office, is 80 252, ,541 which
would have yielded the government. at the
prices heretofore established. So, ,S4S, ,O0G.
Senator Jones, of Arkansas, began the
debate on the free homes bill to-day. argu-
ing in its support 1t was refreshing. he
said, to find measure not supported by a
lobby, representing some private interest.
Mr.. Teller, Republican, of Colorado, said
the bill would help build up the West while
the defeat of the measure would result In
the humiliating spectacle of the United
States turning these settlers from their
lands.
Mr.. Allison, Republican, of Iowa. speak
ing for the first time this session. made in
quiries as to the extent of lands covered
by that state.
Mr.. Pettigrew. of North Dakota, ex-
planned that 1t did not cover Indian lands
But another, bill win come in." inter-
posed Mr.. Cockrell. of Missouri, giving
away the rest of the land
Il have no DOUBT of it," conceded Mr.
Pettigrew.
The latter explained that the measure
was restricted to agricultural lands. and
nesota and other states.
Mr.. Teller, resuming his remarks, spoke
in impassioned tones on the tendency to
grant millions to a favored interest and
withhold this small pittance from the set
tiers. Congress wasted more than the sum
and harbors. and on naval expenditures.
which brought vast profits to the makers
of armor. And yet. this bill. in effect. Civ
ing n settler $i00. was resisted, and the set
tier was to be turned out as a tramp. The
great danger to the republic, declared Mr..
Teller. was In its not encouraging the great
farming community. There were too many
men in the mills and the factories. The
idea of our forefathers that the people Of
the nation should not be crowded into
shops was being forgotten.
Mr.. Teller then referred to the free home
stead planks in the various NATIONAL plat
in opposing this principle of platforms
which they professed to accept.
Mr. Platt, Republican, of Connecticut,
said the logical result OF this bill was that
the United States should embark on the
policy of donating lands to the landless and
the beneficent terms of the homestead
laws, but by buying lands and then giving
them away. Mr.. Platt declared that the
question of the East against the West was
Mr.. Allison said the bill appeared TO be
too sweeping and too general. 1t had come
from the house relating TO lands in Okla
homa and was now brcadened to cover all
lands thus far acquired from the Indians.
He did not believe in going into this whole
sale manner of dealing with these lands.
some of them near towns and worth up to
vote for the bill. but 1t should be limited to
these agricultural lands actually held by
settlers. and not those valuable lands near
towns held by spectators
Mr.. Cockrell declared that this bill was
n perversion of the homestead laws. 1t
was in tho interest of a comparatively few,
as against n vast number Of people who
We're unable to get homeSteads The SEN
ator related the circumstances of the
scramble for homesteads in Oklahoma.
showing that u small proportion of those
who sought homes got them.
Mr. Allison moved an amendment limiting
the operation of the bill to lands acquired
from Indians prior to the passage of this
act.
After further debate. Messrs. Stewart, of
Nevada Allen of Nebraska; Carter. of
Montana, and Pettigrew. of South Dakota.
speaking for the bill. final vote was taken.
bill to all lands acquired from Indians and
also obligating the United States to pay
the Indians the sums of money released by
the change from existing law Were agreed
to. The amendment of Mr.. Allison, limit
ing the bill to lands acquired prior to the
passage of this act was agreed to.
The act. amended, was then passed
yeas 35; nays, IL. Those voting against the
bill were Democrats-Bate Berry, Brice
Cockrell. Faulkner, Gray, Hill, Vest Villas
Walthall-10; Republicans-Platt-l; total,
II.
In favor of the bill: Republicans-Aln-
son. Baker. Brown, Carter. Clark Cullom,
Davis. Frye, Gear. Mcbride, McMillin Nelson,
Perkins Quay, Sherman. Shoup. ThurstOn, |
Wetmore and Wilson-19: Democrats-Ba- !
con. Blackburn. Call, Gordon, Morgan |
Murphy, Pugh. Smith, Whites; Populists !
Allen, PETER, Stewart-3: independents |
Cannon, Pettigrew, Mantle, Teller to- |
tai. 35.
Mr.. Morgan. Democrat. of Alabama. at