Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1898-03-17
DEFENSE.
me- Senate Promptly Passes the
BIN Appropriating S5O,OOO,OOO.
lUT THROUGH IN TWELVE MINUTES.
Dnouluti0n for Investigating the Maine DlA-
eeter-T The House Agrees to Conferences
on the Legislative Rill-A Free
Homes Debate.

10th branches OF the American con.
kress With enthusiasm, fervor and
promptness almost unparalleled in the
senate, in time Of peace, that body
yesterday passed the emergency ap.
preparation bill, carrying SlS3,0OO OF
Deficiencies and placing at the disposal
of the president $50, 900, 900 for national
defense. The vote by which the meas
ure was passed was unanimous. Sew
enty-six short, sharp and emphatic
speeches were delivered in favor OF the
bill, each one being simply ringing
aye during the roll call upon the
psssage OF the measure. Not only did
svsry senator present register his vote
n favor Of the bill, but for every abb
sont member the authoritative an
nouncement was made that II he were
present he would vote aye.
II was Just 1918 when Mr.. Hale re-
ported the bill to the senate and asked
that it be placed on Its passage. The
members OF the committee on appro-
prlations had previously effected an
arrangement whereby there would be
no debate on the bill, and after 1t was
read Vice President Hobart placed 1t
immediately on its passage. Twelve
minutes after the hill was reported to
The senate the vice president an
nounced It's unanimous passage.
Mr.. Chandler, Of New Hampshire,
presented the following resolution,
which indicates that the disaster to
the battleship Maine is to have thor
ough investigation by the senate;
That, In conducting the inquiry into the
cause OF the destruction Of the battleship
Maine In the Havana harbor on February II,
iope, under resolution OF the senate Of February
81, the committee on naval affairs Is hereby au-
thorized to send for persons and papers, to en-
pioy q stenographer and to make the investiga-
tiou by the full committee or by sub-c0mmit-
teen thereof the expenses OF said investiga-
ton TO DO paid from the contingent fund OF the
senate
The resolution was referred to the
committee on contingent expenses
At 1870 p. M, on motion OF Mr..
Davis, OF Minnesota, chairman OF the
committee on foreign relations, the
senate went into executive session, the
Hawaiian treaty being taken up.
THE HOUSE.
WASHINGTON, March lO.-The house
devoted itself to routine business yes
terday. The Legislative, executive and
judicial appropriation bill went
through Its last stages in the adoption
Of the financial conference report and
the remainder OF the day was con-
sumed In the consideration of the SEN
ate amendments TO the Indian appro.
priaton bill. The substitute for the
senate provision regarding the open
ing OF the Uncompahgre reservation
was knocked out on point Of order
and the amendment goes back to con-
ference The desire of the conferees
10 n0n.concur in the senate free home-
stead clause encountered bitter oppo-
sition and an arrangement was made
whereby four hours are to be devoted
10 debate a proposition to concur, sub
mitted by Mr.. Eddy, of Minnesota.
Mr. Sherman, chairman of the Indian
committee, declared that the free
homestead provision would cost the
government $50, 900, 900. He desires to
eliminate it from the bill and has the
support of the secretary of the inte-
rior.
Mr.. Sherman, who led the opposition
to the amendment, said it involved d.
rectly and indirectly an appropriation
greater than congress had just made
for the national defense. 1t involved,
he said, direct appropriation of $19,-
100000, an indirect appropriation Of
42b, 100000, and future expenditure
Of probably sso,OOO,OOO The amend.
ment would compel the government to
pay the Indians for lands turned over
free Of cost to settlers and thus COM
init the government to policy which,
In the near future, would cost the gov
eminent many millions more. There
were nine other Indian reservations,
with an acreage of II, 00,663, which
+ might be opened to homestead settle
ment.
Mr.. Sherman read letter from Sec
Rotary Of the Interior Bliss setting
forth these facts. While EXPRESSING
sympathy with the poor and homeless
Of the country, the letter opposed the
free home clause, saying it would, in
effect be the taxing Of the entire PEG.
pie for the benefit Of the few
Mr. Eddy, republican, of Minnesota,
who advocated the free home clause,
made vigorous speech In support of
1t He referred to the benefcent re-
suits OF the general homestead act Of
1883, under which q million happy
homes had been built up in this coun-
try. When the Indian reservation
was ceded to the government 1t be.
came part Of the public domain, but
when thrown open to settlement the
settler was required to pay Sl.25 per
acre. This burden imposed upon
the settler, time had shown, more
than he was able to bear, and year
after year congress had extended the
time Of payment as 1t was proposed to
do In the house provision for which 1t
was proposed to substitute this free
home provision.
At the conclusion Of Mr. Eddy's re-
marks, the committee rose. The house