The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-03-10
A DEPRESSION TO COTTON.

| sion.
A DEPRESSION TO COTTON.
| At this point Mr.. Wilson Dem, Miss
got the floor, and under the latitude al
! lowed for debate in committee answered
a speech made some time ago by Mr.
| Dingley, contrasting the condition of the
| cotton industry in the north and south
| On that occasion Mr.. Dingley he said
/ had spoken of the possible necessity of a
| constitutional amendment to regulate the
hours Of labor so as to remove the disad-
vantage under which northern operatives
with their shorter hours of labor suf-
fered. The talk of such an amendment
Mr.. Williams said, was absurd, and he
was forced to the conclusion that the pur-
| pose of Mr.. Dingley's speech was either
to arouse the southern operatives to
strikes as a compensation to the northern
manufactures or to create hatred in the
north against the cotton operatives of the
south.
Mr.. Williams read letters from many
southern cotton mills explaining the adj
vantages they possessed over their north
ern rivals.
Mr.. Moody (Rep., Mass) replied to Mr..
Williams recounting the condition of the
New England mill operatives and the code
of laws enacted for their protection. He
did not believe New England cotton fac
tories would go down before their south
ern competitors, but if they did the peo-
pie of New England, taking Inspiration
from their granite rocks, and the cold cru
city of their east winds, would find a
I,ofy- -o1r q
commended the labor laws of Massachu-
sets to the people of the southern states.
The debate then drifted back to the
motion of Mr. Shafroth to concur in the
senate amendment. 1t was finally de-
feated, 34-72.
The vote was equivalent to non-concur-
renee.
FREE HOMES AMENDMENT.
When the free homestead amendment
was reached. Mr.. Eddy CRep., Mimi
moved concurrence. AS many members
desired to debate this proposition an
agreement was made by which four hours
were to be given for debate.
Mr.. Sherman, who led the opposition to
the amendment, said that 1t involved di-
rectly and indirectly an appropriation
greater than congress had just made for
the national defense. It involved. he said,
a direct appropriation of S12, 600 600; an in
direct appropriation of $4,000 900. and a
future expenditure of probably 500, goo, 600
The lands which this amendment propos-
ed TO turn over to settlers under the home
stead laws free of cost were of two
classes:
First, lands coded to the government by
Indians to be disposed of by the govern
ment. There were 100000 acres of these
lands. upon which the government still
owed So. 259 900.
Second, lands purchased of the Indians
were to be reimbursed upon the sale of
the land to the settlers. These lands ag-
gregated 1900 600 acres and cost $4,000. 900.
The amendment would compel the govern
ment to pay the Indians for lands turn
ed over free of cost to settlers and thus
commit the government TO policy which
in future would cost the government
many millions more. There were nine
other Indian reservations with an acreage
Of I219966S. which might b opened to
homestead settlement.
Mr.. Sherman read letter from Secre-
tary of the Interior Bliss setting forth
these facts. While expressing sympathy
with the poor and homeless of the coun-
try. the letter opposed the free home
clause. saying in effect that it would be
the taxing of the entire people for the
benefit OF the few
MR.. EDDY DEFENDS FLYNN.
Mr.. Eddy CRep., MIMI who advocated
the free home clause, made a vigorous
speech in support OF it He referred TO the
benefiicent results OF the general home
stead act Of 1858. under which million
happy homes had been built Up in this
country When the Indian reservations
were coded 10 the government they be-
came part of the public domain. but when
thrown open 10 settlement the settler was
required 70 pay SIS per acre. This bur
den imposed upon the settler. time had
shown. was more than he was able 70
bear, and year after year congress had
extended the time Of payment. as il was
proposed 20 do In the house provision for
which II was proposed TO substitute this
free home provision. He then referred tn
the oklahoma free home bill, passed large
" through the agency OF Delegate Flynn.
Mr. Steele tRep., Ind.) asked him II Mr.
Flynn had rot been beaten after securing
this great boon 10 the Oklahoma settlers
He was" answered Mr. Eddy. but he
ran one thousand ahead of his ticket. and
If you do not adopt this amendment and
redeem the pledge made In the Republican
party platform, many Of you viii be LEI,
al home at the next election"
Mr.. Eddy said that much opposition had
been fomented against this proposition BY