The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-05-04
FBEE Home BILL PASSED
A Long Discussion in the House
Over The Eddy Measure.
Principal Opposition Made ON the
Ground That II Was Unfair 10
settlers Previously Located on
the Lands Affected - Remarks by
MIR. Grow Warmly AppIauded.

J EIee home Dill, by practically uHdHl~
nous vote. The principal opposition was
made by Mr. Maddox on the ground that
the bill was unfair to settlers who had
previously located on the lands affected.
/ The bill permits homestead entries upon
Indian reservations opened to settlement.
! When the House convened at noon
= Messrs. Moody of Massachusetts, Shat
! roth Of Colorado, and Shackleford Of Mis-
/ souri, arose to correct the Record" in the
matter Of their votes on the Nicaragua
! Canal bill. passed on Wednesday. Mr..
Moody said he was reported as voting for
the bill on its final passage. He voted
against the Hepburn bill. Mr.. Shafroth
said he was recorded as having voted
against the bill on its first passage
whereas he had voted for it. Mr.. Shack
leford explained that he was recorded as
not voting, whereas he had voted against
the bill.
The corrections were noted.
The Speaker then announced that the
regular order was on House bill 1896. pro
viding for free homes on the public lands
for actual and bona-fde settlers and re-
serving the public lands for that purpose
it up and the usual skirmishing for the
allotment and distribution of time ensued.
Mr.. Cannon suggested that he was anx-
ious TO proceed to the consideration Of
the Sundry Civil bill, which he said was the
most difficult of the appropriation bills.
He thought that the immediate considera-
ton Of that bill would enable Congress to
adjourn one week earlier than otherwise.
After considerable discussion between
ll.y-4
lett, Richardson, and Maddox. it was
agreed that the bill should be cOnsid
cred in Committee OF the Whole and that
debate should be closed at . o'clock. The
House then went into Committee OF the
Whole with Mr.. Tawney Of Minnesota in
the chair Mr.. Eddy addressed the com
mittee in advocacy Of the bill.
Provisions of the Bill.
The bill as reported provides that all
settlers under the homestead laws OF the
United States upon the public lands, ac-
quired prior to the passage of this act by
treaty or agreement from the various In
dian tribes, who have or shall hereafter
reside upon the tract entered in good faith
for the period required by existing law,
shall be entitled to patent for the land
so entered upon the payment to the To-
cal land officers of the usual and Gus
tomary fees, and no other or further
charge OF any kind whatsoever shall be
required from such settler to entitle him
to a patent for the land covered by his
entry; provided. that the right to com
mute any such entry and pay for said
lands in the option OF any such settler and
in the time and at the prices now fixed
by existing laws shall remain in full force
and effect provided, however, that all
sums Of money so released which If not
released would belong to any Indian tribe
shall be paid to such Indian tribe by the
United States; and that in the event that
the proceeds Of the annual sales OF the
public lands shall not be sufficient TO meet
the payments heretofore provided for agri-
cultural colleges and experimental stations
such deficiency shall be paid by the United
States; and provided further, that no
lands shall be herein included on which
the United States Government had made
valuable Improvements, or lands that
have been sold at public auction by said
Government"
Mr. Eddy was followed by Mr.. Flynn Of
Oklahoma, who spoke vigorously in behalf
of the bill. He said that the political par 4
ties had in their platforms, pledged them /
selves to promote the passage OF free .
homestead law. He said that no legisla-
tive enactment ever placed on the statute
book Of the nation has been more lauded .
than the free homestead law Of the United .
States.
He said that under its benefcent pro-
visions the sons OF New England the .
thrifty young men Of the Middle and West (
ern States, and the sturdy immigrants .
from the Old World poured into the ferti c .
unoccupied regions Of the West and by
the labor Of their hands they transformed .
the forests into fruitful farms and changed .
the almost limitless plains Of prairie grass
into billowy fields Of waving grain. cities
and towns sprang up in this territory as
if by magic. churches and schOolhOuses are
found at every crossroads, and no more
valuable and loyal citizens can be found
IN all the Commonwealth than the original
homesteaders' and their descendants II
was a poor mans law; POOR men walled
themselves Of its advantages; but the fab
ulous wealth they have created for them
selves and the nation is beyond computa-
ton, and its repeal or modification was a
thing undreamed Of by the American peo-
pie. Speedily all the most desirable va
cant lands were taken up and occupied
except those set apart for Indian reser-
yatious, and il soon became manifest that
those were many times larger than the
Indians or their descendants could ever
utilize, and as the wild game had been
killed or departed. the Indians were anX-
Gus to dispose Of their lands to the United
States-as they had previously disposed Of
The lands settled and occupied by tie
whites. Negotiations were entered into
by the Government and reservations were
,eded by the Indians to the Government.
Mr.. Flynn also said that for the cess.on
IF these reservations the Government paid,
or agreed TO pay, stipulated sums. They
we're thrown open to settlement under
he homestead law only; but contrary TO
Ill previous practice OF the Government
n addition TO the wise conditions Of set
lement, occupancy. and cultivation the
Government imposed upon these settlers.
4 addition to the regular land-office fees.
mounting to about 81 per entry the price
he Government had paid the Indians for
he lands. ranging from 81 % per acre
or the Sac and Fox Reservation in Okla
iona, to 1915 per acre for the Yankton
reservation In South Dakota, regardless
4 the fact whether the lands were good, |
lad, or Indifferent.
Mr.. Flynn said the people had the idea
hat something was 10 be had for nothing
y the operation Of the bill. This was not I
he case he said. II was intended 10
lace the settlers in those States and Ter
itories in which Indian reservations open
@ settlement were located upon the same
evel with homestead settlers in other
states. In his own Territory, the Indians
Who took allotments Of land became ciu-
ems and could vote. He showed a Dot
I one county in the Territory In which the
indians holding allotments, free from taxa
ion for twenty-five years could control |
he affairs Of the county There was not
foot Of land now owned by the Govern {
nent fit for cultivation except by irriga-
ion at cost Of S25 per acre.
Opposed by Mr.. Maddox,
Mr. Maddox onnnsed he hin ho cnia L. ]