The Kootenai herald. [volume] (Kootenai, Idaho) 1891-1904, 1898-02-19
PROCEEDINGS OF CONGRESS
DISCUSS THE NATIONS AFFAIRS
Leaders I'm Both Branches of the Nm
tfonaI Legislature Consume Tim.
I'm Talk ms Well as Transact Some
Public Business-What Has Been
Done.

Done.
In the senate Friday Mrs Pettigrew of.
fered an amendment to the Indian APP
preparation bill providing for the restora-
ton of the free homestead law. He ex-
planned that the amendment, if adopted,
would allow settlers to secure title to
their lands after a period of five years by
the payment of the land Office fees. 1t
restored the homestead law of 1862.
Gradually, he said. laws have been en-
acted repeating the law until now there
is practically no land left suitable for set
Element under that law. AS adopted the
amendment in full provides: ''That all
settlers under the homestead laws of the
United States on the public lands ac-
quired prior to the passage of this act by
treaty or agreement from the various In
dian tribes, who shall or hereafter reside
upon the tract entered on in good faith
for the period required by existing law,
shall be entitled to patent for the lands
so entered upon the payment to the local
land officers of the usual customary fees
l
kind whatsoever shall be required from
the settler to ertitle him to patent for
the land covered by his entry; provided,
that the right to commute any such en-
try and pay for said lands in the option
of any such settler in the time and at the
prices now fixed for existing laws, shall
remain in full force and effect; provided,
however, that all sums of money so re-
leased, which, if not released, would be
owing to any Indian tribe, shall be paid
to such Indian tribe by the United
States" The Indian appropriation bill
was passed and the senate adjourned I'M
til Monday
Cuban Bcligerancy.
Senator Harris introduced resolution
in the senate Monday calling for informa-
ton regarding the abandonment of the
governments purpose to bid in the Kan
sas Pacific under a guarantee of the full
amount of the principal of the indebted
ness Senator Morgan reported from the
committee on foreign relations the amend
ment to the diplomatic and consular an.
preparation bill offered by Senator Allen
insurgents. The report, which was quite
long, stated that the senate had already
acted on the matter and was still of tn,
same opinion and would be glad to hav,
the house cooperate in securing recogni
ton of the belligerency. A bill making
deficiency appropriations for the expenses
for United States courts and for othei
purposes was passed. The bill carried
$SOO,0O0. A resolution of Senator Nor
gan was passed, calling for consular re
ports regarding affairs in Cuba, and in
quiring whether this government had rec
ognized the autonomous government o
Cuba and authorized negotiations for
reciprocity treaty. The house debated
the Cuban question.
The house Tuesdaypassed bill com
polling the Pacific coast and Alaska trad
10 be carried on by American vessels. TIL
house also passed bill providing that II,
national bank shall make a loan to tn,
president or any other officer or employ,
of the bank until they have submitted tn,
proposition to the directors and it is ap
proved by a majority, and in no case shall
the loan exceed the amount permitted by
law.
Senator Pettus of Alabama offered anC
secured the passage of resolution in tn,
senate requesting the president, if not in
compatible with public interest. to inform
the senate what action had been takel
with reference to the murder of Segund,
n. Lopez, citizen of the United States
on April IL, 1896, in the district OF Santi
ago de Cuba by armed soldiers of Spain