The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1898-03-10
Senate Amendments to II Not ConcuTred
The Senate Free Homestead Clause
Will be Debated, as Congress-
man Sherman Says It VIII Cost
the Government $50, GOO, GOO
The Secretary OF the Interior
Supports Him in His CoAten-
ton.

WASHINGTON, March 8. The
House devoted itself to routine bust
ness to-day. The executive, legislative
and judicial appropriation bill went
through its last stages in the adoption
of the final conference report, and the
remainder Of the day was consumed in
the consideration of the Senate
amendments To the Indian appropria-
ton bill. The substitute for the Senate
provision regarding the opening of the
Uncompahgre reservation was knocked
out on d point of order, and the amend
ment goes back to conference The de-
sire of the conferrees to non-concur in
the Senate free-homestead clause en-
countered bitter opposition, and an ar
rangement was made whereby four
hours are to be devoted to debate on
the proposition to concur submitted by
Eddy of Minnesota Sherman Chair
man of the Indian Committee declared
that the free-homestead provision
would cost the Government 500 G00,O0O.
He desired to eliminate it from the bill,
and has the support of the Secretary of
the Interior
Shermans request was agreed to- ex-
cepting that part relating to the COM
pensation for the commission engaged
in the sale of the Puyallup Indian res
ervation, to which Lewis Cd of Wash
ington offered an amendment to repeal
the law prohibiting the alienation of
these Indian lands within a period of
ten years He subsequently withdrew
it, finding that it was subject to point
of order, and the original amendment,
with the others, was non-eoncurred in.
/ When the amendment relating to the
! opening of the Uncompahgre reserva-
ton was received with the amendment
agreed upon by the conference to per-
NIT the leasing of the mineral lands,
King CD of Utah made point of or
| der against the amendment offered by
the conferrees to the Senate amend
ment
After a long debate Hepburn (R) of
Iowa, who was in the chair, sustained
Kings point of order to the conferrees
substitute for the amendment
Shafroth of Colorado therefore
moved to concur in the Senate amend
ment. The motion was contended by
Lacey (R) of Ohio, who thought the
conferrees should be allowed to fix up
provision which would permit the gill
sonite lands on the reservation to be
opened to lease. These valuable de-
posits should not be allowed to fall
into the hands of spectators. The
House has overwhelmingly indorsed
this position at the extra session. 1t
was finally defeated by "a to 70 The
vote was equivalent to non-concur-
renee
When the free-homestead amend
ma ~
sofa moved concurrence
Sherman, who led the opposition to
the amendment, said it involved direct
~ and indirectly an appropriation
greater than Congress had just made
for the national defense It involved.
he said, direct appropriation of $12,-
100000 and an indirect appropriation
of $50, 100000 and a future expenditure
of probably S20,000,O00 The lands
which this amendment proposed to
turn over to settlers under the home
stead laws, free of cost, We're of two
classes. First, lands ceded to the Gov
eminent by Indians, to be disposed Of
by the Government There were H.
100000 acres of these lands. upon
which the Government still owed S12.-
$4,000. Second, lands, purchased OF
the Indians We're to be reimbursed upon
the sale of the land to the settlers.
These lands aggregated 100000
acres, and cost S25.OOO.OOO. The
amendment would compel the Govern
ment to pay the Indians for land
turned over free of cost to settlers. and
thus commit the Government to a pol
icy which in the future would cost the
Government many millions more.
There were nine other Indian reserva-
tons, with an acreage of 12,199 663.
which might be opened to homesteads
settlement.
Sherman read a letter from the Sec
rotary of the Interior setting forth
these facts. While expressing sympa-
thy with the poor and homeless of the
country, the latter opposed the free
home clause, saying it would in effect
be the taxing OF the entire people for
the benefit of the few
Eddy (Ro of Minnesota, who advo-
Gated the free-home clause. made a
vigorous speech in support of it.
The announcement that the President