New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-05-04
LANDS FOR THE LANDLESS.
THE FREE HOMES BILL PASSED BY
THE HOUSE.
my TELEGRAPH TO rHr TRIBUNE

my TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE
Washington. May 3-The House Of Repre-
sentatives to-day passed without a division the
Free Homes" bill. which throws open 70 entry
under the provisions Of the Homestead act some
thirtv-three million of land which have
been added to the public domain In the course Of
the last twelve years These lands have been
acquired from Indian tribes. BY the terms Of
the bill the Government assumes the payment Of
the purchase price to the Indians and existing
law relative agricultural colleges is changed
: 70 insure the payment Of the endowments
which heretofore have come out of the sale Of
public lands in case Of deficiency. These pay
nAuts involve 81 300 600 annually. The action
Of the House to-day denotes the abandonment Of
q policy initiated by Congress at the instance
and mainly through the influence of the late
William Holman when he at the zenith Of
his power in Democratic House OF Representa-
tives. That policy the reversal Of one estab-
Iished in 1862 by the Republican party after
ten years struggle in Congress.
MR. GROWS WORK FOR FREE LANDS.
That was a memorable contest, and one Of the
foremost leaders at that time in favor of free
lands for the IandIess' Galusha A. Grow of
Pennsylvania. then the youngest member Of the
House of Representatives. Among the speakers
In support Of the Homestead bill which ap-
proved and thus made law by Abraham Lincoln
on May p. 1862, none was enthusiastic
and eloquent than GaIusha A Grow who left
the Speakers chair and came down TO the floor
to advocate the original Homestead BILL of which
he the author Two years before that Mr..
Lovetoy had reported the Grow Homestead bill
favorably in the House and that body had
passed it by vote OF 115 to 65 The Senate
adopted a substitute which required settlers to
pay for their homestead entries at the OF %
cents acre. The friends Of the Grow bill
were forced to accept the substitute receive
nothing-and the latter was what they received.
for the substitute was vetoed by President Buch-
the ground that it unconstitutional.
and the Senate refused TO pass 1t over his veto.
although il had previously passed that body by
vote Of A. to 3
Ex-Speaker Grow now the oldest member Of
the House Of Representatives still alert and
vigorous both physically and mentally. spoke
again to-day in behalf of free lands for the
landless' and Of re-establishing the homestead
policy which. to a large portion Of the public
domain. reversed by a Democratic House
and Administration dozen years ago. Mr.
Grow spoke with all the fire and vigor of man
hood. despite his seventy-seven years, and the
applause from all parts Of the House and from
members Of all parties which followed his pero-
ration hearty and enthusiastic It
appropriate and well deserved. The House paid
him a fitting compliment when 1t unanimously
consented TO have printed a appendix TO to-
days speech the one he delivered in that body
on the same subject in February. 1861
THE DEBATE ON THE BILL.
Other strong speeches made in favor
Of the bill to-day by Mr.. Eddy. Of Minnesota;
Mr.. Flynn Of Oklahoma, and Mr.. Wilson. of
Idaho and in opposition TO it by Mr. Maddox
of Georgia. who asserted that the to the
| Government Of the adoption OF the measure
would amount TO SS6,OO0OO0. That certainly
was not a under estimate. being about $50,
| 100000 more than the official estimate Of Secre-
| tary Bliss two years ago when he recommended
| that a similar bill be not passed.
In respect to the wisdom expediency OF
the legislation opinions. of course, differ but as
regards proposition everybody is agreed
That Is that the settlers the lands in question
| will never be compelled by the Government to
pay for them and will never be evicted by rea-
son Of failure to do So Year after year Con-
gress has extended the time for payment, and
the total amount received to this time first
and subsequent payments has been small
compared with the total liabilities that
account, TO be not worth mentioning; or,
Mr.. Toots would have said. 'of no consequence
whatever
The remainder Of the day was devoted 20 the
Sundry Civil Appropriation bill. the last but one
of the gTea- supply measures.