The Butler weekly times. (Butler, Mo.) 1881-1918, 1898-01-20
IMMIGRATION BILL.
The Measure Passed in the Senate
by a Vote of IS to %.
THE ARMY APPROPRIATION BILL.
Eli for the Reorganization of the Indian
Territory-Indian i,ill Amended to
Open Certain Surplus Lands
to White Settlement.

WASHING ron, Jan. 1S.-In the SEN
ate yesterday a speech was delivered
by Senator WolcOtt, of Colorado, chair
man Of the bimetallic commission. upon
the negotiations of the commission
with European countries relative to
international binetallism. When he
had concluded the immigration bill
was taken up and discussed until three
o'clock, the hour at which, by previous
agreement, it had been arranged to
vote finally upon the amendments and
the bill An amendment offered by
Mr.. Spooner, of Wisconsin, providing
that the ability on the part of the i'm
migrant either to read or to write
should be accepted as sufficient test of
his lteracv was adopted by vote of
81 to ~ Another amendment by Mr..
Spooner providing that the members
of the family accompanying an immi-
grant rejected under the conditions of
the bill should be returned to the coun-
try whence they came by the steam
ship companies, was also adopted.
Other efforts were made to amend the
measure, but failed. The bill was
then passed by vote of - to IS.
The bill as passed provides that all
immigrants physically capable and
over Is years of age shall be able to
read or write the English language or
some other language, but a person not
able to read or write who is over so
years of age and is the parent or
grandparent of a qualified immigrant
over - years of age and capable of
supporting such a parent or grand
parent NAV be sent for and come to
join the family of the child or grand
child over n years of age qualified
under the law; and wife or minor
child not able to read or write may ac-
company or be sent for and come to
join the husband or parent who is
qualified.
Senator Pettigrew introduced a bill
amending the act compelling railroads
to equip their cars with automatic
couplers. 1t adds section to the pres
ent law providing that when there are
any collisions and a passenger train or
any part of it accidentally leaves the
rails it shall be the duty of the officers
in charge of the road at the time to
submit full and detailed report under
oath of the accident and its causes to
the interstate commission. Penalties
are provided in the section.
Senator Hanna was sworn in by Vice
President Hobart.
THE HOUSE.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 1S.-IhiS was Dis
trict of Columbia day in the house,
but only three bills of local isnpor-
tance were passed. The remainder of
the session was devoted to further con-
sideration of the army appropriation
bill. The debate was particularly
notable for a vigorous speech by Mr..
Mcclellan, of New York, a son of Gen.
George Il. Mcclellan, attacking the
present army organization as obsolete
and inefficient. He asserted that we
were woefully unprepared for war
should a crisis come, and contended
for modern methods in organization,
equipment and supplies, which would
enable the United States to meet an
emergency.
Mr.. Lewis, of Washington, made a
vigorous speech against any increase
of the army. He charged that the
trusts were in control of the country
and constituted the mailed hand of
power behind the DEGREES of the courts
if the army were increased, the people
| whether it was not to be used to bar
ricade the courts and break down
everything that means the freedom of
| the government.
Mr.. Hull, of Iowa. chairman of the
| committee on military affairs, eX-
pressed concurrence in the views of
| Mr.. Mcclellan to the extent that he
believed that the army should be re-
| organized, as the present organization
was obsolete. Without completing the
| bill, the committee arose.
| The Curtis bill for the reorganization
of the Indian territory with the
| changes made in joint session of the In
| dian committee was introduced by Mr..
| Curtis, of Kansas
| Mr.. Frederick secured an amend
ment to the Indian appropriation bill
which provides for opening to white
settlement of the surplus lands of the
| Pottawatomie Indian reservation in
jackson county, and of the kickapoc
reservation in Brown county. The
two include about Il, 600 acres Of land,
much of it valuable agricultural land.
| The clause put in the bill amends the
| law of three years ago by providing
for allotment to the children of In
dians not included in the previous al
lOtment.
PENSIONERS DEFENDED.