The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1900-05-13

assumed to pay for them, and II Is con-
tract on their part?
Mr. Maddox-Those that went there and
settled.
Mr.. Burke of South Dakota-Ls it not
true that large portion -
Mr.. Maddox-It is not assumed. but an
absolute fact.
Mr.. Burke of South Dakota-Is 1t not
true that on a large number Of these
reservations that have been opened for
ten years in some instances less than
per cent of the land has been taken up
and is not taken today?
Mad Maddox-Weil. 1 can not tell about
that
Mr.. Burke of South Dakota-That is
true Of the Great Sioux reservation in my
state.
Mr.. Maddox-Now, my friend, want TO
say this to those who have gone there
and have complied with their contracts:
Is there a man who votes for this bill In
this house today who would stand up
here and refuse TO refund the money that
those men have paid? Now. 1 ask you
that; how in equity or how in justice
could you refuse them?
NIT me to interrupt him. upon the same
argument, when the original homestead
law was passed every man who had
heretofore bought and paid for public
land for his homestead would have had
the same right to have paid back TO him
81 rs per acre of such homestead up TO $50
acres
Mr. Maddox-Yes.
Mr. Morris-Why notf
Mr.. Maddox say so too.
Mr. Morris-It never was done, and no
body ever contended that it should be
done. 1 ask the gentleman, was that
taken as any reason why the homestead
law should not be passed. that those who
had Heretofore made their homes on the
public lands had had to pay for them,
and their money was not 70 be returned?
Mr.. Maddox-It was not; but if this bill
passes. the money ought to be refunded
to the men who paid 1t. That is exactly
what I contend for.
Mr.. Eddy-Will the gentleman allow sie
to ask him one question?
Mr.. Maddox-No. Mr.. Chairman, ] de-
cline to yield any further; but I will yield
to the gentleman from Minnesota (Mr.
Eddy)
Mr.. Eddy-I would like to ask the gent
leman from Georgia how much has been
paid by these settlers, and under what
and If he does not know
that those who have paid this money
have as a general rule paid under the
act. and have not fulfilled
the conditions OF settlement yet?
Mr.. Maddox-Well, 1 have on positive
as to that. You made re-
port on that question.
Mr.. Eddy-About 5000, 900. Now, very
large proportion of this -
Mr.. Maddox-A0out 1923, 900 900 due
Mr.. Eddy-About 100000 has been paid
by settlers. 1 would inform the gentle
man from Georgia that these men who
have been paid have been paid under
law. People have paid it
without additional qualification or resi-
dence settlement and consequently they
have no equitable claim against the gov
Mr.. Maddox-You take it for granted
that nobody paid anything at all for these
lands.
Mr.. Eddy-Not at all. stated there had
been paid about $500 900, and it has been
paid under the Communication law. In other
words they had settled eighteen months
and paid for it without paying for it by
residence settlement.
Mr.. Maddox-Well, Mr., Chairman, [
want to empha size my objection to this
sort of legislation of coming in here and
the opening of these reserVa-
tons by pledges that the government Is
to lose thereby, and then coming in at the
following congress and repeating the
whole business and turning those lands
over to a few individuals II gentlemen
want to do this, why did not they say so
in the original bill? What is the use or
ieceiving congress by making these prom
ses when you never intend to carry out
the contract. Gentlemen rise UP here and
say what this state has been doing and
what that state has been doing. l am
talking about what has been done in this
house in regard to these identical reser-
They have stood here and
pledged themselves to do certain things
Mr.. Maddox-Mr Chairman, l want to
,all the attention Of the house TO the fact
hat this bill was brought before this
BODY at the last session Of congress In the
same way and in the same manner as 1t
5 now.
Mr.. Flynn-Will you allow me to inter
-upt you just moment?
Mr.. Maddox Continuing. And on that
occasion the distinguished leader on that
side of the house had some remarks to
make on this subject. Mr.. Dingley OPP
posed this bill. and he did It upon pre-
,isely the same grounds as rest my op- |
position today.
Mr. Wilson OF Idaho-what has the |
Gentleman to say about the Democratic |
,latfsm on this question?
Mr.. Maddox-The Democratic platform |
loes not admit the construction you put /
lpon it.
Mr.. Wilson Of Idaho-Then you can not /
cad the English language.
Mr.. Maddox-Yes; I can read the Eng
ish language ss well as you can. under
tand what that means. The Democratic i
latform means the public lands shall not
70 given away 10 private corporations
hey never intended that this should ap-
tv n these contracts made between con-
ress and these people which Mr.. Dingiey
peaks Of and which I speak Of
Mr. F7ynn-will the gentleman permit
ne a moment?
Mr.. Maddox-It says public lands, and
ot private lands.
Mr.. Flynn want 10 remind the gent
sman that the leader Of the minority.
II. Bailey e Texas, Nh Bland, Mr..
lark Of Missouri. and Ny. McRas al ad-
ocated the passage Of this bill. and they
re tor II now
Mr. Mad1ox-Yes; and l reply that Mr..
49, II pa,-ne NJ Cannon- NJ