The herald., 1898-02-12
IN THE SENATE
Indian Bill Passed With Free Home
stead Amendment

Indian Bill Passed With Free Home
stead Amendment
WASHINGTON, Feb. H. (By
Associated Press.) Consideration
of the Indian appropriation biol
was resumed by the senate today, and
after being amended to some extent the
measure was passed. The most import
ant amendment to the bill was that Of
fered by Mr.. Pettigrew Of South Da-
kota, which, If finally enacted, will re-
store the free homestead law, 50 far
as 1t relates to Indian lands ceded to
the United States, for which lands the
settlers have been obliged to pay the
purchase price paid to Indians. The bill
carries appropriations aggregating near
ly $8,000.o00.
A bill providing for American register
for the steamer Leelanaw of San Fran
cisco was passed.
Mr.. Allen of Nebraska introduced a
| resolution directing a committee to in
quire whether the yacht owned by Will
| liam r. Hearst had been seized and was
| being held by the Spanish government,
which was agreed to.
| The Indian appropriation bill was then
taken up and Mr.. Allen addressed the
senate on the free homestead" amend
ment. He explained that the amend
ment, If adopted, would allow settlers
to secure title to their lands after Pc
riod Of five years by the payment Of the
land office fees. It restored the home-
stead law of 1862.
Carter of Montana supported the
amendment. He maintained that under
! the free homestead law settlers had
\ become prosperous. Under it the great
state of Illinois had been redeemed and
made one Of the most fertile and pros
porous spots on the face Of the earth;
as soon as the government auctioneer
was excluded from the land it bloomed
as the rose and settlers attained pros
perity. AS it was in Illinois, so 1t also
had been in Indiana, Iowa, Minnesota
and other great states. Mr.. Carter re-
referred to the difficulty settlers in Okla
homa had had in making the payments
demanded by the government.
Mr.. Allison said he would have to
make the point of order against the
| amendment.
| Mr.. Pettigrew withdrew the amend
ment and offered another, eliminating
the military reservations which have
been opened to settlement. The amend
ment as amended, Mr.. Allison said, re-
|
however, that the amendment would do
no injustice to the people. because the
lands that have been opened to settle
ment have cost the government large
sum of money. Some of the land is
worth $40 per acre, and yet Mr. Allison
held the proposed amendment made no
distinction between the more valuable
and less valuable. Should the amend
| "a inf lou IN, Co
stances men who have taken up valu,
able lands would not have to pay for
them.
Mr.. Pascoe gave notice that he would
hereafter, in the event Of the enactment
Of the amendment, press the claims Of
the settlers on abandoned military res
| ervations.
The amendment was adopted without
| division. 1t is as follows:
"That all settlers under the homestead
laws of the United States upon the pub
lie lands acquired prior to the passage OF
this act, by treaty or agreement, from
the various Indian tribes, who have or
who shall hereafter reside upon the
tract entered in good faith for the peri
cd required by existing law, shall be en-
titled to a patent for the lands SO en-
tered, upon the payment to the local
land officers of the usual and customary
fees, and no other or further charge Of
any kind whatsoever shall be required
! from such settler to entitle him to a
patent for the land covered by his en-
try; provided, that the right to COM
mute any such entry and pay for said
lands in the option Of any such letter
and in the time and at the prices now
fixed by existing laws, shall remain In
full force and effect; provided, however,
that all sums of money so released,
which, IL not released would belong to
any Indian tribe, shall be paid to such
Indian tribe by the United States.
Allen of Nebraska introduced his
amendment providing for restoration
of annuities Of the Santee Indians and
discussed 1t in extenso. He was followed
by Pettigrew in support Of the amand-
ment. Allen made the point of order
against the report, saying it was new
Legislation, and the point Of order was
sustained. The amendments to the bill
were agreed to, and as amended the bill
was passed.
Allison moved that when the senate
adjourned today 1t be until Monday
next and the motion was agreed to.
Bills for the establishment. control,
operation and maintenance of the north
ern branch Of the national home for dis
abled volunteers at Hot Springs, South