The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-02-12
THE INDIAN BILL PASSES.
CARRIES PROVISION OPENING
LANDS To HOMESTEAD ENTRY.
The Amendment Was Debated nj
some Length. bat Finally Passed
VARIOUS other Bills Pass she Sen

WASHINGTON, Feb Reconsideration
OF the Indian appropriation BIZ was re
stunned by the senate today. and after be-
Ing amended 10 some extent the measure
was passed. The mos; important amend
rsent 70 the bill was thai offered by Petit
grew VI South Dakota. which, II finally
enacted. VIII restore the free homestead
Law 50 far as Il relates TO Indian lands con-
cested 10 the United States. fer w:aich lands
the settlers have been obliged TO pay the
purchase price paid to the Indians. The
bill carries appropriations ssgregatlng
nearly $500 GO.
Tue bill providing for an American regis
ter for the steamer Leelenzw. OF San Fran
cisco, Tas passed.
A resolution by Allen. directing the COM
mittee on foreign relations 10 inquire
whether the yacht Buecaneer owned by
William D. Hearst, had been seized and
was being held by the Spanish government.
was agreed TO.
The Indian appropriation bill was the1.
taken up.
Allen withdrew his appeal from the deci-
sion OF the vice president, which was pend
ins when the senate adjourned las. svea-
ing.
FettlSrew offered an amendment provid-
ing for the restoration OF inc free home
stead. He explained that she amend
meni. II adopted, would allow settlers 10
secure title 20 their lands after period Of
tive years by payment Of the land office
fees 1t restored the homestead law OF
u.s..
Garter OF Montana supported the amend
men;. He maintained that under the free
homestead law settlers had become pros
porous. Under ii the grea. state OF H.
aols had been redeemed. ana made one Of
the most fertile ~ad prosperous places on
the face of the earth. As soon as the
government auetioneer was excluded from
the land Ii bloomed as the rose and set
tiers attained prosperity. As 1t was in
Illinois, so also had il been in Indiana,
Minnesota and other great states
Allison said he would have TO make q
point OF order against the amendment
Peitigrew then Withdrew the amend
ment and offered another eliminating the
military reservations which have been
opened To settlement.
The amendment as amended Allison
said. removed his point OF order He
thought. however. that the amendment
would do injustice 70 the peoplc because
the lands that have been opened TO settle
Inent have cost the government large
sum Of money. Some Of the land was
worth $40 an acre, and Yet Allison held that
tse Proposed amendment made no distiae
ton between the more valuable and the
less valuable.
Pasce held taat In the !nterss: % Risti>e
the elimination Of the military reservation
ought &C. 70 be permitted
Kyle urged the adoption OF tie amend
ment because II was now evident thar In
10 other way could the free homestead
law be- restored
Pasco gave notice that he would here
after. IN the event OF the enactment If
the amendment press the claims OF the
settlers on abandoned military reserva-
tons. Tie amendment was then adopted
without division. Il is as follows:
Ihat al settlers under the homestead
laws OF the United States upon the public
anus aequired prior TO the passage Of this
act by treaty or agreement from the va
riouS indian triSes VINO have and who
shall hereafter reside upon the tract en-
Tered In good faith for the period required
oy the existing laws. shall be entitled to
q patent for rhe lands so entered upon the
payment TO the local land officers Of the
usual and customary fees. and no other or
further charge of any kind whatsoever
snail be required from such settler to on
title him TO a patent for the land covered
py ms entry; provided that the right 20
commute any such entry and nav for said
lands in the option of any such settler and
In the time aud az the prices now fixed by
existing laws, shall remain In full force
ara effect; provided, however. that all
sums OF money SO released which il not
released. would belong to any Indian tribe
shait he paid to such Indian tribe by the
tH&ktu states.
Allen of Nebraska introduced his amend
fneut. providing for a restoration of annu-
tiles OF the Santes Indians and discussed
It in exfenso. He was followed by Petit
grew In support of the amendment
Allison made point OF order against the
report. saying Ii was new legislation and
the point was sustained The amendments
20 The bill were agreed to- and as amend
ed. the bin was passed
Allison moved that when the senate adj
Journed today. IL be until Monday next
and the motion was agreed 10
Bills Tor the establishment control OBJ
Grafton and maintenance Of the Northern
branch OF the national home for disabled
volunteer soldiers AZ Hot Springs s d
Tor the relief OF the sufferers by the wreck
oE the United States revenue cutter Gal
latin OF the coast Of Massachusetts u m 1892
granting TO the STATE Of Kansas TIA. sban-
donsd Hayes military reservation for the
purpose Of establishing Western branches
Of the kansas agricultIfal college and az
the Kansas state normal school thereon
and for q public park. and 10 provide for
the revision and adjustment of the sales
& the otoe and Missouri reservation lands
in Kansas and Nebraska and confsrm the
ueles under the sales. were passed
On motion OF C0ckrell OF Missouri tha
senate then, al so p. m. went INTO ex-
ecutivc session. and al p. nj. adjourned
until Monday.
Card Reception ut the white House