The San Francisco call., 1898-02-12
WILL RESTORE HOMESTEAD LAW Important Amendment to an Appropriation
 Measure, Senators Would Protect the Settlers on the Public
 Domain. Passage of the Indian Appropriation Bill Which Carries Eight
 Million Dollars.
Special Dispatch to The Cali.
Call Office, Riggs House.

Call Office, Riggs House,
 Washington, Feb. Il.
 Consideration of the Indian appro- priation bill was resumed by the Sen ate to-day, and after being amended to some extent the measure was passed. The most important amend ment to the bill was that offered by Pettigrew of South Dakota, which, if finally enacted, will restore thS free homestead law so 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 the Indians. The bill car ries appropriations aggregating nearly $S,000, 900. The Senate decided to ad- journ till Monday.
 A L-.i providing for American register of the steamer LeelanaW or san fran- cisco was passed.
 Allen of Nebraska introduced resolu- tion directing the Committee on Foreign Relations to inquire whether the yacht Buccaneer, owned by William R. Hearst had been seized and was held by the Spanish Government. It was agreed to-
 The Indian appropriation Dill was then taken up. Allen withdrew his appeal from the decision of the Vice-Presldent which was penQing when the Senate a0- tourned last evening.
 
 amendment to the Indian appropriatlon bill providing for the restoration of free homestead laws. He explained that the amendment, if adopted, would allow set a period of five years by the payment of the land office fees. It restored the homestead law of 1862. Gradually, he said, laws have been enacted repeating no land left suitable for settlement un- der that law. Pettigrew did not desire to discuss the amendment at length, but as 1t had been passed by the senate ana indorsed by every political party, it ought now, he said. be favorably considered by the Senate.
 Carter of Montana supported the
 Allison said he would have to make the point of order against the amendment.
 Pettigrew then withdrew the amend ment and offered another, eliminating the military reservations which have been opened to settlement
 Pascoe held that in the interest of jus tice the elimination of the military res ervations ought not to be permitted. He explained that if the amendment was adopted the settlers on the abandoned military reservations would lose the inf1u- ence of their present allies, the settlers on the Indian reservation lands.
 Pascoe gave notice that he would here after, in the event of the enactment of the amendment, press the claims of the settlers on abandoned military reserva- tions. The amendment was then adopted without division. It is as follows:
 That all settlers under the homestead laws of the United States upon the public 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 period re- quired by existing law shall be entitled to patent for the lands so entered upon by 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 entry; provided, that the right to commute any such entry and pay for said lands in the option of any such settler 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 re- leased which, If not released, would be- long to any Indian tribe, shall be paid to such Indian tribe by the United States"
 Allen of Nebraska introduced his amendment providing for a restoration of annuities of the Santee Indians and dis cussed 1t i'll extent He was followed by Pettigrew in support of the amendment. 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 to-day it be until Monday next, and the motion was agreed to.