New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-01-15
FREE LANDS FOR SETTLERS,
THE OKLAHOMA HOMESTEAD BILL
PASSED BY THE SENATE.

| 1T WAS FIRST AMENDED so AS TO APPLY TO ALL
LANDS ACQUIRED FROM THE INDIANs-MR
| TELI.ER's APPEAL FOR THE MEASURE.
| Washington jan H-In the Senate to-day the
House bill for free homesteads the public lands
| In Oklahoma Territory. which has been the untin-
shcd business since the first week OF the present
| session. came to vote after three hours debate
and was passed-yeas. 49, nays. II. 1t was first
amended in an important particular by striking out
| the words "in the Territory OF Oklahoma" thus
making 1t apply to all public lands acquired from
the various Indian tribes 1t provides that all set
tiers those lands shall be entitled to patents on
payment Of the usual and customary fees and that
| no further charge OF any kind shall be required
| 1t also provides by another Senate amendment
that all sums Of money released which, II not re-
leased would belong to any Indian tribe. shall be
paid TO such tribe by the United States. The bill
now goes back to the House for action on the Sen
ate amendments.
A resolution was offered by Mr.. Chandler Repr
n. HI. and agreed to- nstructing the Commit
tee Interstate Commerce TO inquire into the
agreement recently made by the managers OF the
lines of steamers on the Great Lakes to maintain
the rates established by the Joint Traffic Associa-
ton.
Mr.. Allison Hep., Iowa.. taking part for the first
time this session in the proceedings OF the Senate.
inquired Of Mr.. Pettigrew ISL S. d. whether the
Homestead bill applied to all Indian reservations.
Mr.. Pettigrew replied that the bill! did not apply
to Indian reservations yet acquired by the Gov
eminent. and that as to such reservations, CON-
gress would be left to provide as II chose
Mr.. Teller made impassoned appeal for tho
passage OF the bill The policy Of the Republican
party. he said. in its earlier days. when 1t was
party of the people had been for free homes ana
free SOIL and both parties had declared in the last
election in both their great Conventions for the
Identical bill before the Senate. And now" he
~
Plato says that he is not obliged and that no Sen
ator is obliged support the platform OF his
party. He speaks of s5co.oO being involved in
this measure. Thrty-fve millions Is a bagatele
You than that every year on your
Army. You waste than that on your war
ships that in your harbors. You do that in
order to protect the great Eastern seacoast You
do 1t at the demand Of the great corporations who
want 10 make ship armor and to build ships. And
now you ask us 10 turn out of their lands those
settlers VINO cannot pay the Government price for
them. to put them ahoat and to make tramps of
them. So far | am concerned. will give every
acre OF unoccupied land to the men who will occupy
it: and shall be doing my duty to my country
when do it. The great danger to the Republic IS
not that you have too many farmers. but that you
have too many men in factories. mines and mills.
The fathers OF the Republic saw the danger. They
said: We do not want to become a great manu-
featuring people. because the people who work in
and law. They not the men who will be pa
triotic in every hour OF the country's distress.
Every time that called upon the American peo-
pie we found the great agricultural body respond
ing; and there is where our hope lies.
Mr.. Plat called attention to the fact that there
had been petitions from any, of the settlers on
Indian reservations for the passage of the bill.
Mr.. Pettigrcw corrected that statement. and
said that there petitions for il. with 10000
signatures. on the files Of the House He also said
that HVc,yO voters at the last election had voted
in favor of the Homestead bill. 49,.
Yes" Mr.. Plat said. iisdanfuy. and 100000
voted thar there should be Delegate IN Congress
from Alaska The Delegate from Oklahoma was
earnest and active in securing the passage OF TINS
bill by the House He became candidate for re-
election making this bill an issue before the people
of oklahoma. and the people voted MIN down SO
for it, nor have the people Of Oklahoma seconded
the demand for it."
land to the settlers when the Government had the
land TO give away but he was not in favor OF buy
He did not know why the Government prices should
be given PACK to settlers r who i9qd se ae lana
Mr. Allison thought the bill TOO general In its
As i ad the b blouse m apP Sc as Sn
make it apply 10 all lands acquired from Indians.
5 S@ to be S so as h
oklahoma. attempted to make homes and We're uri.
able 10 pay for them. But he would not nave II
apply TO those VINO mad speculated in those lands
within mile or two OF prosperous towns , ana
acre The bin was TOO sweeping in its character.
and he would like to have it amended so as 10 re-
strict il at lands already acquired from the
Indians. -, -
Mr. Cockre Dem, Mo- opposed the bill argl-
ing th9t IL was a perverson OF the principle or the
n omestead law. and that II in the interest OF
a comparatively few against vast NUMBER OF
people who unable TO get homesteads .
Mr. Stewart pop, New argued in favor OF the
bill - -. 49, lin
by MIR Carter Qsep, Mont) and Mr. Pettigrew. the
Senate al / began to vote Oh the Dill Inc amend-
menfs reported by the committee were agreed TO-
also an amendment Offered to-day by Mr.. Allison
70 insert the words prior TO the passage OF this
act'' after the words public lands acquired The
hill was passed-yeas. 81; nays. 1l-as follows;
Yeas-Messrs. Allen. Allison Bacon BAKER Biach-
burn Brown, Call. Cannon Carter: Clark Cuiohl'
Davis Frye Gear, Gordon. Mcbride, Mcmillan.
Mantle. Morgan. Murphy. Nelson. PETER. Perkins
PetfipreW Pugh, Quay. Sherman. Shoup' Sih'ii,
stewart Teller, Thurston. Wetmore, Nhite ana
Navs-Messrs Bate. Berry Brice. Cockrell. fauik-
nor GRAY Hill Tlatt Vest Villas and Waihall--ll.
AZ soon as the Homestead bill was out OF the way
Mr. Morgan dem. All) moved 10 proceed TO tne
con side ration of the Senate bill TO amend the ACT
n incorporatc the Maritime canal Company, OF
Eicaracra The was. Yeas. 81. nays o-ho
nnornm The negative votes were cast by MesSrs;
Hnrrv Blackburn. Chiffon, oCkreiI cray ana
Teller. Ill -, ,ha con,,o hut Mr.
11;Il UIen y " remarked that 1t was too late 10
d,,a,nnt 70 get a quorum and he moved an ad-
tnurnment The motion was agreed TO- ana inc
Senst" AZ 40 p m adjourned until Monday
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