The Portland daily press., 1898-03-10
ITHE PRESIDENT UPHELD.


Continued From First Page.
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 10 remove the dis
| advantage under which northern opera
| tiyes with their shorter hours of labor
suffered. The talk of such an amend
,uent, Mr.. Williams said was absurd and
| he was forced to the conclusion that the
purpose of MIR. Dingley's speech was
either to arouse the southern operatives to
strikes as q compensation to the northern
| manufacturers or create hatred in the
| North against the cotton operatives OF the
South. Mr.. Williams read letters from
southern cotton mills explaining the adj
vantages they possessed over their north
| ern rivals. ss---
| Mr.. Moody, Republican of Massaohu-
setts, replied to Mr.. Williams, reeounting
the condition of the New England mill
operatives and the laws enacted for their
| protection He did not think the New
England cotton factories would go down
before their southern competitors, but
the people of New England taking in
| spiration from their great rocks and the
cold cruelty OF their east winds would
| find way to work out their salvation.
He commended the labor laws of Massa.
| chrsetts to the people of the Southern
| States. The debate then drifted back to
| the motion Of Mr.. Sherman to concur in
| the Senate amendment. 1t was finally
defeated "a to r. The vote was equivalent
| to non-concurrence. When the free home
stead amendment was reached Mr.. Eddy,
| Republican of Minnesota moved con-
| curreuce AS many members desired to
| debate this proposition an arrangement
was made by which four hours wero to be
given for debate. Mr.. Sherman who led
| tie opposition to the amendment, said 1t
| involved direct appropriation of S12,-
0OO, 900 an indirect appropriation of $685.
100000 and q future expenditure OF
probably $40, 600, 600. The lands which
this amendment proposed to turn over to
| the settlers under the homestead laws free
of cost were of two classes:
First-Lands coded to the government
by Indians to be disposed q OF by the gov
eminent There were 14,00o,00 acres OF
these lands upon which the government
still owed $l2, $3.50
| Second-Lands purchased of the Indians
who were to be reimbursed upon the sale
of the land to settlers. These lands aggre-
gated / s, 900, 900 and cost $25, 900, 900. Inc
amendment would compel the govern
4 ment to pay the Indians for lands turned
| over free of cost to settlers aud thus COM
nit the government to policy ID tne
future which would cost the government
many millions more. There were olt.
| Indian reservations with an acreage Oh
| ~, 1893, 1858 which might be opened to nome
/ stead settlement
Mr. Sherman read letter from the
/ Secretary of the Interior, MIR. Bliss,
which while expressing sympathy. with
1.-THE poor and homeless opposed the Tree
| home clause, saying it would be taxing
money from the entire people Tor the
| benefit of the few.
Mr.. Eddy, Republican of Minnesota,
champioued the free home clause lie
| said that when the Indian reservations
were ceded to the government they be-
came part of the public domain, but
when they were open to settlement the
settler was required to pay 81. 25 per acre.
| This burden imposed upon the settler ne
/ had shown he was unable to bear ana
year after year Congress should extend
the time of payment as IT was proposed 70 q
do in the House provision for which 1t
was proposed to substitute this free home
| stead proposition. Mr.. Eddy said that
1 much opposition had been fomented
/ against this proposition by the agricul.
/ triral colleges, which feared their trust
fund would be threatened. He declared
Ethat these fears were groundless. The an
nouncement that the President had
signed the nations defense bill inter-
rupted the debate, and was greeted with
lnnnlause. At the conclusion of MI.
E,ddy's remarks, the committee rose. The
House non concurred in the Senate
amendment to the District of Colum bia
appropriation bill and ct 4.50 p. m. adj
journed.
PRESIDENT SIGNS BILL.
Washington, March 9.-The President
at $40 o'clock signed the measure ap-
nropriating $50 1888, 900 for national de-
| lenses, and it is now law.
TO IMPROVE MILITIA.
Washington, March 9.--The Marsh bill
to promote the efficiency of the national
| militia was reported to the House today
with several minor amendments. The
bill ia the product of a thorough study OF
the National Guard, and it's use In time
of need by either state or federal authori-
ty. 1t repeats all the obsolete provisions
| Of the original enactment of 1872 still in
| force and rids the general military law Of
much yerbiage. Among the other things
the penalty for disobeying the call of the
President is made subject to a court
martial. Old and unserviceable material
used by the militia is all ordered to be re-
turned in by the states and credited at its