The Portland daily press., 1898-03-10

PoAu IrOIn bno ConUlnSeu1 luiiu VI oiis
Senate.''
| The resolution was referred to the com
mittee on contingent expenses.
/ At IL. 45 .. m. on motion OF Mr.. Davis
| chairman of the committee on foreign
relations, the Senate went into executive
session and at 1.35 p. m. adjourned.
ROUTINE WORK IN HOUSE.
Legislative, Executive and Judiciary Ap-
| preparation Bill Goes Through Last
| Stages.
| Washington, March S.-The Bouse de-
voted itself to routine business today.
The legislative, executive and Judiciary
appropriation bill went through its last
stages in the adoption of the final con-
ference report and the remainder Of the
day was consumed in the consideration OF
the Senate amendment to the Indian ap-
propriation bill. The substitute for the
Senate provision regarding the opening Of
the Uncompahgree reservation was
knocked out on point of order and the
| amendment goes back to conference. The
desire of the conferees to non-concur in
| the Senate free homestead clause en-
countered by bitter opposition and an ar
| rangeuent was made whereby four hours
| ara to be devoted to debate proposition
to concur, submitted by Mr.. Eddy of
Minnesota.
Mr.. Sherman, chairman of the Indian
committee, declared that the free home
stead provision would cost the govern
ment $55, 900, 600. He desired to eliminate
| 1t from the bill and has the support of the
secretary of the in nterior.
Washington, March 9.-In the House
today bill was passed extending the
time within which the Chicago, Rock
Island and Pacific railway may construct
branch through the Indian Territory.
Mr. Lacey, Republican of Iowa, asked
unanimous consent that the House dis
agree to the Senate amendments to the
bill granting general right of way
through Alaska to railroads and tram
ways. Some debate followed.
Mr.. Moody, Republican of Massachu-
setts. insisted that the House should have
an opportunity to vote upon the fisheries
amendment and Mr.. Loud, Republican
of California, wanted similar assurance
regarding the homestead provision in the
bill.
The amendments were finally non-oon-
Cured in and conference agreed to.
When the clerk of the Senate announced
that the Senate had passed without dis
cussion the national defense bill, wave
of applause swept over the floor and the
| galleries. @e
The conference report on tho executive
and Legislative and judicial appropriation
bill was agreed to without division. This
report was complete agreement between
the two houses and the bill now goes to
| the President.
| Upon motion of Mr.. Sherman, Repub-
lican of New York, chairman of the COM
mittee on Indian affairs, the House went
into committee of the whole to consider
| the Senate amendments to the Indian ap.
pYopriation bill.
Mr.. Sherman asked upon behalf of his
committee that all amendments save
three be non-conourred in. The other
three amendments related to the opening
| of the Uncom pahgree reservation, the
amendment for the ratification OF the
Kiowa, Comanche and Apache treaties,
and the free homestead amendment.
| With regard to the first of those he said
the conferees desired to propose as sub
stitute for the same amendment the pro-
|
vetoed, permitting the leasing of the
mineral lands In the Uncompahgree reser-
vation. 1t was desired to concur in the
amendment ratifyin the treaties and to
concur in the free homestead amendment
| Mr.. Sherman's S request was agreed to ex-
cepting that relating to the compensation
| for the commission engaged in the sale OF
| the Indian reservation to which Mr.
| Lewis, Democrat of Washington, offered
an amendment to repeal the law prohibit.
| ing the alienation Of the Indian land
within a period of ten years. lie suhse-
quently Withdrew it, finding 1t was subject
| to point of order and the original amend
ment with the others was non-concurred
| in.
When the amendment relating to the
opening of the Uncompahgree reservation
| was reached r't.h the amendment agreed
upon by the cu.. .ereeS to permit the leas-
| ing of the mineral lands.
| Mr.. King, Democrat of Utah, made q
point of order against the amendment
offered by the conferees to the senate
amendment After long debate MIR.
Hepburn, Republican of Iowa, who was
in the chair, sustained by MIR. King S
point of order.
Mr.. Shafroth thereupon moved to con-
| our in the Senate amendment. The
| motion was contested by Mr.. Lacy, he
publican of Iowa. who thought the con-
ferees should be allowed to fix up q pro
| vision which would permit the gilsonite
lands on the reservation to be opened to
| leases. These valuable deposits, he said,
| should not be allowed to fall into the
hands OF the speculators.
AT this point Mr.. Williams Democrat
of Mississippi go5 the floor and under the
! latitude allowed for debate in committee
answered a speech made some time ago
by Mr.. Dingiey contrasting the condition