The age-herald., 1898-02-12
APPROPRIATION
 BILL PASSED Indian Measure the Subject Of Discussion
 in the Senate. IMPORTANT AMENDMENTS In Favor of HI Settlers WhO Arc Under
 Homestead Laws. WILL BE ENTITLED TO \ PATENT To Land Entered According to All Require nents- Point of Order Against Pet Hews Amendment and It
 Was Withdrawn.
WILL BE ENTITLED TO A PATENT

Washington, Feb. u.-In the senate today a joint resolution providing for a survey and to determine the practicability of open | ing navigable channel through the south west pass of the Mississippi river was passed.
 MT. Allen introduced resolution direct ing the committee on foreign relations to inquire whether or not the yacht Buccan- eer, owned by William R. Hearst, has been seized and is being held by the Spanish government. The resolution was agreed to. The Indian appropriation bill was then taken up.
 decision of the vice-president which was pending when the senate adjourned last evening.
 MT. Pettigrew offered as an amendment a provision for the restoration of the free homestead laws.
 He explained that the amendment, If adopted, would allow settlers to secure titles to their lands after 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 that law until now there Is practically no land left suitable for set clement under that law.
 Raised Point of Order.
 MT. Allison said that he would have to make a point of order against the amend7 ment.
 Mr. Pettigrew then withdrew the amend ment and offered another, eliminating the military reservation, which have been opened to settlement. The amendment as amended, MT. Allison said, removed his point of order. He thought, however, that the amendment would do injustice to the people because the lands that have been opened to settlement had cost the govern ment large sum of money.
 He held that the proposed amendment made no distinction between the more val uable and less valuable land. Should the amendment be enacted into law, in few instances men who have taken up valu- able lands would not have to pay for them
 Mr. Pasco he'd that in the interests of justice the elimination of the military res ervation land from the provisions Of the amendment ought not to be permitted. He explained that if the amendment was adopted the settlers on the abandoned mill itary reservations would lose the influence Of their present allies, the settlers on the Indian reservation lands. He gave notice that he would hereafter, in the event of the enactment of the amendment, press the claims of the settlers on abandoned military reservations.
 Entitled to Patent.
 The amendment was then adopted with out discussion. It Is as follows:
 s'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 vari- ous Indian tribes, who have or who shall hereafter reside upon the tract entered in good faith for the period required by ex- isting law, shall be entitled to a patent for the land so entered upon the payment to the local land officers of the usual and cus- tomary fees and on other or further charge of any kind whatsoever shall be re- ouired from such settler to entitle him to a patent for the land covered by his entry, provided. that the right to commute 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; pro- vided however, that all sums Of money so released, which. if not released, would belong to any Indian tribe. shall be paid to such Indian tribe by the United States. :"
 The amendments to the bill were agreed to and as amended the bill was passed.
 The senate then adjourned until Mon- day. t,e ~F