The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1900-05-08
HOSTETTER'S
STOMACH
BITTERS.
Beware Of limitations.

this bill cast heretofore was controlled
by the fact that the chancellor and pro-
fessors of the State university, who are
the heads of our agricultural college, be-
lieved that the bill did not sufficiently
protect the interests Of the agricultural
colleges.
I want the gentleman to understand
that I accept the statement he has made
of the purpose he has in view in moving
the amendment, and I am not disposed to
oppose the bill. The theory of the Demo-
cratic party, Of all the great parties of
this country. seems to be to favor this
legislation. I am not interested in this
matter except to protect the government,
and also to protect the rights and inter-
ests to which my constituents are en-
titled under the legislation of, the gov
eminent, which has heretofore given US
certain vested rights.
Mr.. Eddy-I do not ask the gentleman
to accept my statements.
Mr.. Batlett-But do so.
Mr. Eddy-I have read the statement Of
the chairman of the executive committee
Of the agricultural colleges of the United
States, whose special business has been
Che having been designated by congress
for that purpose) to inquire as to legisla
ton of this sort. I have read his state
ment in which he says distinctly that this
bill will place the colleges of agricultural
and mechanic arts upon a secure founda-
ton.
Mr.. Batlett-I do not doubt the gentle
mans statement; on the contrary, I
IN,
statement he might make, though 1t
might not be supported by the statement
of anybody else.
Mr.. Eddy-I yield now six minutes to
the gentleman from Pennsylvania CMr.
Crow
(Hr. Grow took the floor amidst pro-
longed applause)
Mr.. Flynn hope we will have order,
Mr.. Chairman, so as to hear the dis
tinguished gentleman from Pennsylvania.
Mr.. Grow-Mr. Chairman, this discus
sion in reference to free homesteads
'awakens the echoes that start, when
memory plays an old tune on the heart"
Florty-eight years ago. in the old hall of
the house of representatives, my maiden
speech as a member of congress was
made on MANS right to the soil" Gap
plause) For ten years thereafter the
policy of disposing of the public lands in
free homes to actual settlers was kept,
in season and out of season, constantly
before the house until 1862, when a bill
that had passed the house four times be-
came a law, TO take effect on the 1st day
of January, 1863.
Mr. Chairman
is the first legislative body of any nation
in the worlds history, so far as know.
to set apart its unoccupied public lands
in homes for its landless people without
money and without price bidding the sons
of toll everywhere to come sit under
their own vine and fig tree" secure
against homeless poverty and want Gap
plause) That policy continued unbroken
on the part of the government until 1890
approved by all political parties, begin
ming with the Republican party and APP
proved everywhere by the American peo-
ple-until in 1880 the new policy was in
augurated under the leadership of Mr..
Holman Of Indiana, then the chairman of
the committee on Indian affairs, of I'm
posing upon the settlers on the lands ac-
quired OF Indian tribes that the amount
the government agreed to pay the re-
spective tribes should be paid by the set
tiers on such acquisition at a fixed price
per acre. This price in some instances
is s.. 70 per acre.
All that is proposed by the pending bill
is 10 place the lands acquired by treaty
with the Indian tribes since 1880 under
the same provisions exactly OF the free
homestead law as existed previous TO that
time on all lands subject 10 private entry,
no matter how or when acquired, whether
from the Indian tribes by treaty. or by
purchase or otherwise from other ma
lions.
IF the free homestead princpiel was
right before 1899, as applied to the pub
lie lands, it is certainly night today The
principle has Mt changed. II makes no
difference about what the government
loses or gains in its transactions. I: IS
not a question OF making money for the
government. 1t is a question OF right and
justice to the pioneer settler. (ApplauSe.)
1t was a great national policy established
TO settle up the wilderness; 10 convert
the lair Of the wild beast into a home for
civilized man. IF that was sod policy be-
fore 1899. it IS good policy today. Cap
plause)
The pioneer settler. since he first over
leaped the AIeghenies. has gone forth
TO eXpel the savage and the wild beast.
raring everywhere along his pathway
temples OF science and civilization on the
ruins OF savage life. (Applause) That
policy has been indorsed and approved BY
the people OF the United States and prac-
ticed By the government from 1873 TO $50
(Applause.)
But as I have said. under the lead OF
the lead Of the gentleman from Indiana,
Mr.. Holman, IN his attempt 10 make
reputation for saving every dollar in gov
eminent expenditures no matter in what
way or how wise might have been his
economy, congress passed law imposing
upon the pioneers greater BURDENS than
were ever imposed upon him under the
old land system, when the pubic lands
were sold al a dollar and twenty-five
cents an acre.
The government has taken the place OF
the old land Spectator and fixes the price
per acre equal TO u greater than was
fixed BY the Spectator. Tbs S2eculat0-
had 20 deal with the settler IN fixing the
prices. Now congress comes IN and az
soIutely fixes TIE price the settler must
pay. FAR in excess % any price thai ex-
listed previous 70 1870 Way should con
gress impose on the settler who goes