The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1898-03-11

WAsHNeTos, March 10 The house
reached the free homes clause in the
Indian appropriation bill in the debate
this afternoon. Mr.. Eddy, OF Mime
sotB, spoke for the senate free homes
amendment.
Itis almost certain that the Oklaho
ma Repu bican comline against free
homes Will prevail, and the measure
be defeated
Mr.. Eddy made n vigorous speech.
lie referred TO the benefcent results
OF the general homestead act OF 1868,
under which million happy homes
had been built up In this country,
When the Indian reservations were
ceded 20 the government they became
part OF the public domain, but when
thrown open TO settlement, the settler
was required to pay 81 25 per acre.
This burden imposed upon the settler,
time had shown, was more than he
was able to bear, and year after con-
gress had extended the time of pay
ment, as IL WAS proposed TO do In the
house provision for which IL was pro-
posed TO substitute this free homes
provision. When he referred to the
Oklahoma free homes BILL passed
largely through the agency Of Dale
gate Flynn, who then favored the BILL
Mr.. Steele, (Rep), OF Indiana asked
him II Mr.. Flynn had not been beaten
after securing this great boon to the
Oklahoma settlers.
"He was" answered Mr.. Eddy, "but
he ran /. 600 ahead OF his ticket, and IL
you do not adopt this amendment and
redeem the pledge made in the Repub-
lican platform, m4ly of you will be
left at home at the next election"
Mr.. Eddy said that much opposition
had been fomented az Ainst this propo-
sition by the agricultural colleges OF
the country, who feared their trust
funds would be threatened. He de-
clared that these fears were ground
less. These colleges were not depend
ent on the annual sales Of public
lands. Bland, Of Missouri, made a
vigorous speech, paying tribute to
the free homes policy OF the country
aud urging all parties to support the
amendment.
Callahan made fve minute speech
declaring himself for free homes and
urging the members TO stand by their
party's platform declarations for free
homes
Lacy offered an amendment TO the
free homes bill striking out all trust
lands. In opposing the free trust lands
included in the free homes bill, he de-
clared that Dennis Flynn was respon.
es1le for the insertion OF the
free homes plank in the
Republican platform, and that he
could have secured also nything from
the Republican convention ne desired.
Payne, OF New York, made vigorC us
.. 4
ment. declaring IL is not the policy OF
the Republican party TO give fiee
homes to people who have actually
agreed 10 pay for free homes. lie Rs
serted that the condition OF the treas
ury was such that the government
could not afford to give settlers S35,
000 600, which the bill earii IS Bailey
of Texas, followed with an appeal TO
the Democrats TO stand solidly by their
pArto platform declarations on the free
homes proposition, which had power
full effect, lining almost solid the Dem
ocratic party in favor Of the amend
ment.
Shsfroth, of Colorado, made a vigor-
Gus speech fRvoring the amendment
and declaring that settlers on lands
included Ia the amendment were not
able 10 pay for their lands, aud the
government will lose the majority OF
the money from settlers even il the
lands are not given them. McRae, of
Arkansas, declared that II settlers
were compelled to pay for their lands
they would vacate and go TO other
western states where lands can be OBJ
tAined at less price. lie declared that
II 1t was q question OF taking from the
settlers their homes, repudiAting all
national platforms or Withdrawing
support from agricultural colleges, he
would vote for free homes and close
the doors on the colleges. The com
mittee adjourned until tomorroW