New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-01-13
BUSINESS IN THE SENATE.
THE OKLAHOMA FREE HOMESTEAD BILL
DISCUSSED
MEssRs. ALLEN AND Villas ~ A POLITICAL Dis
PUTE-A POSTAL BILL INTRODUCED
BY MR.. HILL

MESsRS. ALLEN AND Villas N PoiLli'Ab D'S
purE-A POSTAL BILL INTRODUCED
BY MR. HILL.
Washington. Jan En- the Senate today bin
WAS introduced by Mr. Hill Dem, y. ~ and re-
ferred 10 the Postofice Committee proposing to NIX
the term of fourtn-class pos,masters at four years.
except in the Of appointments 10 III Vacancies
when they are t. be for unexp.red portion Of the
term. He explained and advocated the measure As
one which would start political bookkeeping on corr
rect principles and which would oe FAR 20 an parties
Mr. Hill alluded in passing to the wholesale renova
OF fourth-class postmasters under Mr.. Stevenson
NOW Vlce-PresldenO and Nr. Wanamaker when
they were respectively Assistant Postmasier-''en-
eral and Postmaster-Genera and to the rarity OF
such removals under the present Administrations
whether 10 the Generalization OF the Presidents
party or not he would rot stop 70 discuss. lie
argued that the passage Of the bill would De pro-
ductlve Of much good. would place those offices.
now the football Of politics. fixed and dennits
basis.
The resolution offered by Mr.. Allen Pop, Neo)
Yesterday in regard TO the violation OF the eight
hour law in Rrookyn by contractors with the Navy
Department taken up and agreed TO- Mr Chano-
Ter (Rep. y. H admitting that he had been mis-
taken IN asserting that the ei8ht-hour ID" u'u "os
apply 10 contractors.
The House bill for free homesteads on public lanes
acquired from Indian tribes was taken UP as the
unfinished business Il advocated by Mr. Allen.
who declared that the existing reign OF bankruptcy
and suicide was the logical consequence Of the
financial policy adopted by the Government II
was opposed by Mr.. Villas (Den. WIS., because Il
would surrender 900 in money, part Of which
was due under contracts between the Government
and settlers those puO.c lands, and because II
would give rise claims for the retundirg OF AL
the money heretofore received by the Government
from settlers Indian lands. In the course OF the
discussion there was an amusing interchange OF
thrusts and parties between Senators Villas and
Allen in relation which the real Democratic
platform. that adopted at Chicago or that adopted
at indianapolis, Mr. Was asserting that the former
was against the best interests o. the United States
and that the latter founded throughout on De-
mocracy.
In commenting on the declaration made by Mr.
Plat REP, Comm when the bill was las, under
discussion tina. he would not be bound by the free
homestead plank in the Republican platform. Mr.
Allen spoke in a bitter tone Of good men meeting
in convention and putting forward principles for the
ton OF being bound by their declarations.
Mr. Holr rep. Mass challenged the use OF tho
phrase good men applied - sucn people. .
Perhaps" said Mr.. Alien. Il shouo have quail
fed my statement by saying good men IN other
And scoundrels in that respect Mr.. Hoar sus-
Not necessarily So Mr.. Allen replied: ''pOiiu-
Possibly the senator would" said Mr.. Alien.
He is palmer IN his LANGUAGE than am ,h.
adoption Of policy that would be FAR ana just 10
Mr. Villas said that. although the pending bill did
not attract much attention it Was a bill when
Of the Interior. to surrender s55.coocco IN money
which was in part. a. Least. due on contracts al
On tae PUBIC All i,rs v.rvim in. rom slso 70
$50. an aggregate very large 10 amount. II would
therefore seem to- require strong reasons granting
proceeded to rehearse in detail the history OF the
Homestead law. and 10 state reasons why the
Mr. Allen interrupted Dir. Villas with question
10 the homestead plank IN the Chicago Demo-
III thai rlaiform." Mr. Villas replied, is the
that understand IL 20 be. Will say that there Is
simost nothing IN II thai Is not nirnical TO the in
terests u the United States
broke in 1T is the Republican platform which is
meant for that is the one the senator from Wis
by no means" said Mr.. Villas 81 supported
the platform adopted at Indianapolis. and II there
IS one sentence. line or word IN that platform not
founded en- Democracy. would like TO have It
Mr.. Allen was about 20 read from the Chicago
platform. when NJ Villas interrupted him ard said
that the Democratic platform was the one adopted
Il am reading said Mr.. Allen. from the Demo-
and not from thai Indianapolis rumD affair" He
added: rs the Senator pleased with the course OF
Wisconsin in going Republican last fall
II most cordially approve Mr. Villas replied
ticn OF the people Of Wisconsin. by which major
ity u 10000 in voting POPULATION OF little over
Interests Of The United states"
Then the Senator" Mr. Allen insisted. approves
OF the election Of Mckinley and OF the success Of
~f an not Interested in political quips and quib-
the political course OF last year that brings
THAT Is the plea that Wat Tyler made"
The action OF certain other persons" Mr. Villas
retorted, "msht have warranted that name. per-
formed my political duties as saw them. and
platform was founded throughout on Democracy"
Mr. Villas sh n 2roeeeaea with h bis arsunent
would lay the foundation FOR demand for the re-