The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-01-15
all Lands Acquired From In
dians Open &c Settlement.
FREE Or ANY PAYMENT
To the Government Beyond
Minor Office Charges.
PASSED BY SENATE YESTERDAY
The House Spent the Entire Day If
Debating the Grout Bill Which
Was Passed by Vote
of I26 to 90.

OF tIo 10 80.
Washington. Jan. 1.-THE Senate to-
.lay passed the measure known as the
Free Homestead bill. which has been
under discussion since the holiday recess
Ii is a measure of far-reaching import-
ance particularly to the West and the
interest in it was shown by the fact
that a plank concerning it was a fea-
ture Of the several National platforms
The effect of the bin is to open to set
tlement all public lands acquired from
Indians. free of any payment to the gov
crnment beyond the minor Office charges,
and 10 release from payment those who
have heretofore settled on these lands
The number of acres involved, according
10 an estimate made by the Commission
or of the General Land Office is 33, 2o2.-
.41. which would have yielded the gov
ernment at the prices heretofore estab-
Esbed. $50. .343. .006 To offset this state
ment. it was brought out during the de-
bate that the lands were mainly arid,
and that these who settled upon them
were unable TO make payments by reason
OF the scanty products of the soil. lLe
Western Senators in the main fayorea
the bill. as an extension of the general
homestead policy of the government.
The opposition was directed mainly by
Mr.. Platt, of Connecticut, and Mr.. Villas,
Of Wisconsin. AS the bill passed IN the
House il covered only the lands acquired
from Indians in Oklahoma, but as passed
to-day the bill includes all Indian lands.
The final vote. taken by agreement NJ
4 D. ~. showed a decisive majority III
favor of the measure.
Following the disposition Of this bill,
which had held the advantageous posi-
ton Of the unfinished business OF the
Senate. Mr. Morgan sought 70 have the
Nicaragua Canal bill maae the uniinish-
ed business. This precipitated vote.
which. - some extent, was test VI
strength Of the bill itself. On Mr.. Nor
can's motion to take the bib up, the vote
was 80 to 6. or less than quorum, so the
motion did not prevail, although It dis
closed the strength Of the measure.
During the day Mr.. Morgan secured tile
adoption Of resolution for an inquiry
bv the Judiciary committee as to whether
the properties Of the Union Pacific and
Central Pacific Railroad companies now
belonged 10 the United States by reason
OF alleged defaults in the payment Of
bends.
Other resolutions adopted were by Mr..
Chandler. instructing the Interstate
Commerce Commission to inquire into
The reported combination of lake vessel
interests 10 maintain rates, and by Mr..
.Culloni calling on the Civil Service Com
mission to explain delays IN making an
nual reports.
The Senate adjourned over 10 Monday
HOUSE PROCEEDINGS
Washington, Jan. 1.-THE House
spent almost the entire day debating the
Grout BILL, which vas under considera-
lion for a time yesterday to subject oleo-
margarine and other imitation diary pro-
ducts to the laws OF the States into which
they are transported. The advocates OF
the measure took the view that the States
should be allowed 10 regulate the sale
Of product sailing under false colors,
and the opponents the view that the bill
would establish a dangerous precedent
aud invade the power OF Congress to reg
ulate interstate commerce. The bill
was passed by a vote of 126 to o6.
The full text of the bill is as follows:
THAT all articles known as oleomar-
tation cheese, or any substance in the
seinblanee Of butter or cheese, not the us
aal product OF the dairy and not made
exclusively OF pure and unadulterated
milk or cream, transported into any State
or territory, or remaining therein for
use, consumption. sale or storage therein,
shall upon arrival in such State or ter
Yitory be subject to the operation and
effect Of the laws of such State or terri
tory enacted in the exercise OF lis ponce
powers to the same extent and IN tne
same manner rs though such articles or.
substance had been produced IN such
State or Territory, and shall not be ex-
empt therefrom hy reason OF being an
trodueed therein in original packages or
otherwise. provided that nothing in this
act skalI be construed to permit any
State to forbid the sale of oleomargarine
except in such a manner as will advise
the customer of its real character"
Some routine business Of minor impor-
tanee was transacted at the opening Of
the session.
The Speaker recognized number Of
members 10 move the passage Of private
pension and relief bills.
A resolution was adopted on motion OF
Mr. Fitzgerald, DEMOCRAT, Mass.), call
ing Oh the Secretary ofthe Navy for an
estimate Of the amount of money which
would be required to place the frigate
Constitution, now lying at the Ports
mouth Navy yard in such seaworthy
condition. as would enable her to make
the trip from Portsmouth to Washing
ton. The object Of bringing her to Wash
ington, he said, was to preserve and use
her as a naval museum.