The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-05-04

friends of the bill were willing to give to
one class of citizens privileges they we're
not willing TO grant to others.
Mr. Maddox said the Secretary OF the
Interior had reported against the PROPOSE
ton in the bill and had read letter from
Secretary Bliss. dated March 5. 1898. in
which he said that if the free home scheme
became a law. the total loss TO the Gov
eminent would be approximately $685.,
$50 964
Mr. Shafroth asked If the Government
had not paid many millions Of dollars to ex-
tinguish Indian titles in a number Of other
States upon the idea that the Indians were
the wards of the nation, which they were;
and If it was fair 10 the States asking the
relief set out in the bill to deny them.
Mr. Maddox said that the bill proposed
to violate contracts entered into with
knowledge; the settlers knew exactly what
they had TO pay. Would any gentleman on
the floor he asked, vote to refund to the
settlers who had paid the amounts to their
credit? And yet that ought to be done in
equity and justice.
Mr. Bartlett also spoke in opposition
to the bill.
Mr.. Grow AppIaUded.
At this point Mr. Eddy yielded ten min
utes to Mr. Grow Of Pennsylvania, who is
known as the father of the homestead
law, having been the author of the orig
inal Homestead bill He was greeted
with applause as he arose TO address
the committee. He made stalwart
defence OF the bill. 1t was a great
national policy. 1t made no difference
whether the Government lost or gained.
The homestead law built up the, country
and made the wilderness bloom. II the
old homestead law was good the pending
bill was good.
Mr.. Grows time having expired, Mr.
Flynn of Oklahoma asked unanimous con-
sent that Mr.. Grow be allowed to append
to his remarks in the Record" the speech
which he delivered in Congress on the
Homestead bill in 1852 Loud applause
greeted the suggestion.
Mr. Grow said that when the speech
was delivered he was the youngest mem
Der of the House. He was now in point
of years the Oldest. He showed consid-
cradle emotion. AS he took his seat the
House broke forth in applause.
Mr.. Wilson of Idaho and Mr.. Shafroth
advocated the passage of the bill.
Mr.. Maddox again obtained the floor in
opposition to the bill. He called atten-
tion to the fact that the bill was before
the last Congress and was opposed by
Mr. Cannon Mr.. Payne, Mr.. Sherman, and
other Republicans who are silent on the
subject now.
Mr.. Wilson-What have you to say
about the Democratic platform on this
matter?
Mr.. Maddox-The platform does not
warrant the construction which you put
upon it.
Mr.. Wilson-Then you cannot read the
English language.
Mr.. Maddox can read the English
language as well as you can.
Mr.. Flynn interrupted Mr.. Maddox to
say that when the American home was
under consideration there should be no
politics.
The next speaker was Mr. Miers. who
favored the passage of the bill. He paid
a tribute to the pioneer and the home
steader The Government could not lose
when it did what il could to provide
homes for American settlers.
Mr.. Lacey gained the floor and reviewed
the history of public land legislation. He
said there should be no politics in this
subject.
The Discussion Continues.
The bill was further advocated by Mr.
He said that unless surplus |
labor was diverted into the right channel
the present condition of things would be
by strikes, soup houses. and inter !
lal commotion. And the true channel into |
which surplus labor should be diverted (
was to the farms and to agricultural pur- }
suits
Others who spoke in advocacy of the bill /
we're Messrs. Bell OF Colorado. Burke and /
Gamble Of South Dakota. Ridgely Of Kan !
sas and Jones Of Washington
4 number of unimportant amendments /
we're made. and Mr. Sherman moved TO /
.trike out the provision giving agricultural |
colleges and experimental stations the |
mount due to them under the law of Au- /
gust 80. 1890 from the public Treasury. He
aid it was Intended when. that bill was
passed TO pay the amounts due from the
ales Of public land. This bill he said,
would make them a charge upon the Treas
Try direct-giving from the money OF the
,eople for the benefit Of the few With
he change proposed by him said Mr.. Sher-
nan, the bill would be bad enough Ii
vas none too good In any form.
Mr.. Shaforth said that the acreage af-
ected by the bill was but $4,000, 600 acres.
s against O.0OO goo acres OF public land
pen to settlement. The sums paid for
he maintenance Of colleges and stations,
e said, ought to be a charge upon the
'reasury.
The amendment was overwhelmingly de-
Gated. and the bill was then reported TO
be House and passed.