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

friends of the bill were willing7to give to
one class of citizens privileges they were
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 a. letter from
Secretary Bliss, dated March 5. 1885, in
which he said that if the free home scheme
became a law, the total loss 10 the Gov
eminent would be approximately $780,
sos. 964 rlFsi
Mr. Shafroth asked If the Government
had not paid many millions of dollars to ex-
tinguish Indian titles in number OF othe:
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
IN 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 vet that ought TO be done IN
equity and justice.
Mr.. Bartlett also spoke in opposition
to the bill.
MIR. Grow AppIaudcd.
At this point Mr. Eddy yielded ten min
utes to Mr.. Grow of Pennsylvania. VINO is
known as the father of the homestead
law. having been the author of the orig
inal Homestead bill. He was greeled
with applause as he arose TO address
the committee. He made staiwart
defence OF the bill. 1t was 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. l. 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-
| ton 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 il.
Mr. Wilson-Then you cannot read the
English language.
Mr. Maddox can read the Engilst
language as well as you can.
Mr.. Flynn interrupted Mr.. Maddox tt
saw that when the American home was
under consideration there should be NJ
politics. {-f,
The next speaker was Mr.. Miers, whit
favored the passage of the bill. He pait
a tribute to the pioneer and the home
steader. The Government could not los'
when it did what it could to provld
homes for American settlers.
Mr.. Lacey gained the floor and reviewed
the history of public land legislation. HI
said there should be no politics in thi
subject.
J The Discussion Continues.
The bill was further advocated by Nj
Underwood. He said that unless surplu
| labor was diverted into the right channe
the present condition of things would b
followed by strikes. soup houses, and inter
nal commotion. And the true channel INT
, which surplus labor should be diverte
! was to the farms and to agricultural pur
. suits. 60 ~ u. -.
/ Others who spoke in advocacy of the bi
we're Messrs Bell of Colorado. Burke an
: Gamble of South Dakota. Ridgely OF Kan
4 sas, and Jones OF Washington.
, A number of unimportant amendment
i we're made, and Mr.. Sherman moved
9 strike out the provision giving agricultur;
t colleges and experimental stations IN
j amount due to them under the law of Al
gust 80, 1890, from the public Treasury. Fl
I said it was intended when that bill va
f passed to pay the amounts due from II
= sales of public land. This bill, ne sat
= would make them charge upon the Treas
e ury direct-giving from the money of II
= people for the benefit OF the few. Wit
e the change proposed by him, said Mr.. Shel
q man. the bill would be bad enough.
was none too good il any form.
Mr.. Shaforth said that the acreage
fected by the bill was but 2s,0oo,OGc acre
as against 960,OC0000 acres of public lar
: open to settlement. The sums paid Il
. the maintenance of colleges and station
y he said, ought TO be a charge upon Il
4 Treasury.
4 The amendment was Overwhelmingly d'
: feated. and the bill wac then reported
g the House and passed