New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-03-11
FREE HOME PLAN DEFEATED
LIVELY FIGHT IN THE HOUSE ON THE
INDIAN BILL.
ALI. THE SENATE AMENDMENTS REJECTED AND
THE BILL SENT TO CONFERENCE
JOHNSON. OF NORTH DAKOTA.
CALLS SECRETARY BLISS A

CALLS SECRETARY BLISS
PLAGIARIsT
Washington March lO-Afier debate In the
House which lasted more than five hours the SEN
ate amendment to the Indian Appropriation BILL
providing for the free entry OF coded Indian lands
was non-concurred In by a vote OF 81 10 l56 Inc
friends Of tho frec-homes clause made n gallant
struggle but they met the opposition Of some OF the
prominent leaders on tho Republican sido-Messrs
Dingley. Grosvenor, Dazc and Payne-and they
were further weakened by the fact that many OF
the friends Of tho proposition alienated by the
belief that as drawn tho amendment would work
injury TO the agricultural colleges Of tho country
The Senate amendment for tho ratification OF the
Seminole treaty also non-concurred in after
the substitute proposition offered by the conierrees
to ratfy tho Klowa. Comanche and Apache treaty
had fallen under \ poilt Of order The action Of the
House to-day sends the bin back to conference with
mono on currence on all the Senate am ndments
The debate was spirited on both sides. Mr.. John
son G}ep.. y. D. created something OF sensation
by charging that Secretary Bliss. In his opposition
10 the free homes clause. procured not only his
argument but actually his language. from the
Message Of President Buchanan vetoing the home
stead bill before the war. He followed mis- state
with attack the Secretary. asserting
that his interests sympahes and horizon were
bounded by the Allegheny Mountains and that as
a matter Of fact he had never been west OF Bufalo
Mr. Bailey. the Democratic loader. announced
that he would vote for the Senate amendment be
he stood committed to IT by The Chicago plat
form. As original proposition. lie admitted ne
was against giving free homes TO the people lie
rated nothing more important than that the people
should have homes but they should have them by
their Industry and frugality. But every man who
accepted a nomination on platform. ne believed
bound himself redeem all its promises. 'he
smallest as well the greatest, and so he would
vote to-day to redeem pledge In the chicago plat
form.
Mr.. Grosvenor Rep. Ohio) announced his oppo-
sition to the amendment. lie explained at length
the history of this proposed exchange ana OF the
plank in the ST Louis platform 10 show that MIS-
present position was not inconsistent WIN thai
should have strength enough 10 come ITO the
House and stand OF tall alone on Its merits
nSnt iir denieI the r!gnt Of Congress to tax the
farmers OF PENNSYLVANIA to give free lands 10 tne
farmers Of Oklahoma North and South Dakota
Mr Grow dep PENN. whose name is associated
with the original Homestead law. warmly sup
Mr Dingey CRep. Me- closed the debate with
d brief speech in opposition 10 the amendment tic
called attention the fact that all treaties ceding
Indian lands 10y the United states had been rat
fed by Congress with the understanding that the
purchaie money paid by settlers should De used 10
purpose OF donating them as free homes. To his
those who had induced Congress to buy these
Mr. Handy's motion to concur IN an Amendment
changing the law relative to payments TO agricul-
tural colleges for the sale of public lands was
ruled ont on a point Of order.
Mr. Lacey rep. Iowa. then offered his motion
10 concur in amendment excluding trust reser-
vations II was voted down. 70 to l2S Two other
amendments designed 10 protect the payments 10
agricultural colleges were ruled out by Mr. Hep
burn who In the chair on points Of order
The vote was Their taken on the main proposition
and the House non-concurred In the Senate amend
mont. % 70 l36.
Tho conference substitute FOR tho Senate amend
ment 10 ratify the Seminole treaty. when also
ratified the Kiowa. Comanche and Apache treaty
It. a point Of order, and tho Senate
amendment nOn-cOncurred In.
Tho bill was then sent to conference. and at 547
p n. the House adjourned