Evening star., 1897-01-14
SENATE AND HOUSE
Further Debate on the Free Home
i fssssd Bill
Mr.. Tl1ER'S STRONG ADVOCACY
The Old Fagate Constitution to Be
7Preseved.
MANY ROUTINE MATTERS

MANY q ROUTINE MATTERS
The Senate today ordered the printing of
$500 extra copies of the Anglo-American
arbitration treaty just concluded. and also
1000 extra copies Of the memorandum re-
Gently presented by Mr.. Hale (Me.) as to
the right of recognizing foreign govern
ments.
The army appropriation bill was reported
back from the committee on appropria-
tions by Mr.. Quay Pa.) and placed on the
calendar.
Mr.. Cullom Ull.) secured the adoption of
resolution calling on the civil service
commission for Information as to whether
1t mad submitted an annual report for 1895
and for 1895. in accordance with law, and,
II not, to give the reasons for such failure
and neglect.
IL was agreed, on motion of Mr.. Hale,
that when the Senate adjourned today it
be until Monday next
senate bill was passed for an examina-
ton OF the improvements at the Pass of
AranSaS, Texas.
Mr.. Chandler IN. HI secured the adop-
ton of resolution directing the commit
Tee on interstate commerce to extend its
inquiries as to alleged combinations. here
tofore ordered, to an inquiry as to the re-
ported recent agreement of the managers
OF vessels on the great lakes to maintain
ISOLATION.
Senate bill FOR bridge across the Co.
lrmb1a river in Washington state was
passed on the request Of Mr.. Wilson of
Washington.
Pacific Railroad Resolution.
Mr.. Morgan (Ala.) introduced the follow
Ing resolution: Whereas. it is alleged that
certain bonds issued by the United States
In aid of the Central Pacific railroad and
also the Union Pacific railroad, have fallen
due and remain unpaid, and that by reason
OF the default the property held and owned
by each OF said companies at that time be-
came the property Of the United States,
and that said property of every description
so held and owned by said companies at
the time of such default now rightfully be-
longs to the United States,
Resolved, That the committee on the
Judiciary is directed to examine into and
report whether such allegation Is true in
fact and in law and that they report the
nature and character of the right and title
OF the United States in and to said prop
erty and the descriptions of or classes of
property that have so Injured to the United
States under the law and whether either
of said railroad companies has any lawful
right or equity of redemption of said prop
erty.'' fr-
The resolution was ordered to lie on the
desired to address the Senate upon it.
Free Homestead Bill.
The bill for free homesteads on public
lands acquired from the Indians was taken
up with view to taking the final vote at
o'clock.
Mr.. Jones CArk) supported the bill. say
ing 1t was for the benefit of the body of
the people. whereas most of the legislation
of Congress was for favored interests.
1t was refreshing. he said. to find
measure not supported by lobby repre-
Senting some private interests.
Mr.. Teller {Col.) 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 evicting
these settlers from their lands.
Extent of the Lands Covered.
Mr.. Allison aowa), speaking for the first
time this session. made inquiries as to the
extent Of the lands covered by the bill.
Mr.. Pettigrew CNorth Dakota explained
that it did not cover Indian lands not yet
acquired
But another bill will come in." inter-
posed Mr.. Cockrell (MissourD. "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
did not cover the timber sections of Minne-
sofa and other states.
Mr.. Teller, resuming his remarks, spoke
in impassioned tones on the tendency to
grant millions to favored interests and
withhold this small pittance from the set
tiers. Congress wasted more than the sum
involved annually on the army, on rivers
and harbors and on naval expenditure,
which brought vast profits TO the makers
of armor. And yet this bill, in effect. CIV
ing a settler 800, was resisted, and the
settler was to be turned out a tramp.
Danger to the Republic.
The great danger to the republic, de-
clared Mr.. Teller, was in Its not encouras-
ing the great farming community. There
were too many nen 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 referred to the free homestead
planks in the various national platforms,
and criticised the course of senators In op-
posing this principle of platforms which
they professed to accept.
Mr.. Platt Comm said the logical result
of this bill was that the United States
should embark on the policy of donating
lands to the landless and homes to the
homeless" not only through the benefcient
terms of the homestead laws, but by buy
ing lands and then giving them away. MIR.
Platt declared that no sectional question of
the east against the west was involved.
Bill Too Sweeping.
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 broadened 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
$500 and possibly 500 per acre. He might
vote for the bill. but it should be limited to
those agricultural lands actually held by
settlers, and not those valuable lands near
towns held by spectators.
THE HOUSE.
Some routire sbusiness of minor i'm
portance was transacted by the House to-
day at the opening of the session.