The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-03-10
FREE HOMES Fight
House Enters Upon a Four
Hours Tug-of-War.
Mr.. EDDY OF MINNESOTA
Champions the Measure
Against Chairman Sherman


voted itself to routine business today. The
legislative, executive and judicial appro-
priation bill went through its last stages
in the adoption Of the finance committee
report, and the remainder of the day was
consumed in the consideration of the
senate amendments to the Indian appro-
priation bill. The substitute for the sem
ate provision regarding the opening of the
Uncompahgre reservation was knocked
out on point or order, and the amend
ment goes back to conference. The de-
sire Of the conferees to non-concur in the
senate free homestead clause encountered
bitter opposition, and an arrangement was
made whereby four hours were TO be de-
voted to debate a proposition to concur
submitted by Mr.. Eddy of Minnesota. Mr..
Sherman, chairman Of the Indian COM
mittee, declared that the free homestead
provision would cost the government $751;
100000. He desired 10 eliminate it from
the bill, and has the support of the sec
rotary Of the interior
THE HOUSE IN DETAIL.
In the house today a bill was pessed
extending the time within which the Chi
cago, Rock Island and Pacific railroad
may construct a branch through the In
dian Territory.
Mr.. Lacey Rep., Iowa. asked unani-
nous consent that the house disagree to
the senate amendment to the bill granting
general right of way through Alaska to
railroads and tramways. Some debate
followed.
Mr.. Moody Rep., Mass) insisted that
the house should have an opportunity to
vote on the fisheries amendment and Mr.
Loud CRep., CALI wanted similar assur-
ances regarding the homestead provision
in the bill.
The amendments were finally non-con-
Cured in and conference agreed to.
When the clerk of the s%Ia1e announces
that the senate had passed without
amendment the national defense bill a
wave of applause swept over the floor and
DE galleries.
The conference report Of the'1egislative,
executive and judicial bill was agree to
without division. This report was a COM
plete agreement between the two houses
and the bill goes to the president.
INDIAN BILL AMENDMENTS.
Upon motion of Mr.. Sherman (Rep.. N.
", chairman Of the committee on Indian
affairs, the house went into committee Of
the whole to consider the senate amend
ments 20 the Indian appropriation bill.
Mr.. Sherman asked upon behalf of his
committee that all amendments save three
be non-concurred in. The other three
amendments related to the opening of the
Uncompahgre reservation. the amend
ment for the ratification of the Kiowa,
Comanche and Apache treaties and the
free homestead amendment.
With regard to the first of these he said
the conference desired to propose as a |
substitute for the senate amendment the |
provision in the last Indian bill (Which |
was Vetoed), permitting the leasing of the |
mineral lands in the Uncompahgre reser-
walton. It was desired to concur in the |
senate amendment ratifying the treaties |
and TO non-concur in the free homestead |
amendment.
Mr.. Sherman's request was agreed to. |
excepting that relating to the compensa- |
ton for the commission engaged in the |
sale of the Puyallup Indian reservation, |
" " hlGil MI 1tNlS NDGLn.Y WASN'T OF |
fered an amendment to repeal the lay |
prohibiting the alienation of these Indian |
lands within a period Of ten years. He |
subsequently withdrew it, finding that it |
was subject TO a point of order, and the |
original amendment, with the others, was |
non-concurred in
When the amendment relating to the |
opening Of the Uncompahgre reservation |
was reached, with the amendment agreed /
upon by the conference to permit the leas- !
ing of the mineral lands, Mr.. King Dem, |
Utah made point of order against the /
amendment offered by the conferees to |
the senate amendment.
After long debate, Mr.. Hepburn Rep., |
Iowa. who was in the chair, sustained Mr.. |
Kings point Of order to the conferees |
substitute for the senate amendment
e Mr.. Shafroth pop, COLI thereupon |
moved TO concur in the senate amend !