The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-03-01
 BILLS PASSED
 WITH A RUSH Large Number Handled by Unanimous Consent. AS TO HOMESTEAD LAWS Final Action Prevented by
 Dilat0ry Tactics. MT. Linn Causes Democratic Laughter With His Facetious Reference to
 Federal Judge Charles
AS TO HOMESTEAD LAWS

w tOu, w. Sos-&AS SSSoeOA ~S the House today was devoid of any in- cidents such as marked the closing
 hours yesterday. On the contrary the proceedings were orderly and without particular note.
 As an evidence of the approaching adjournment a large number of bills were passed by unanimous consent and an evening session was held in order to discuss the general deficiency appro- priations bill.
 During the day the bills amending
 the homestead laws as to lands In Colorado and South Dakota so as to permit the entry of $40 acres instead of
 l60 was discussed. Final action on them. however. was prevented by the dilatory tactics of the opposition. When the House met today consider ation was given to a number of bills by unanimous consent. The follow ing were passed:
 Conveying to the city of St. Augus- tine, Fla, for school purposes. the strip of land known as the lines" set
 ting aside certain public lands in the
 Philippine islands for school purposes;
 authorizing the county of Quitman. Miss, to construct bridges across the
 Coldwater, and Tallahatchee Rivers, Miss, to provide for circuit and the
 highest courts of the United States at
 Selma, Ala; authorizing Triggs Coun- ty. Ky, to bridge the Cumberland River at or near Caton. Ky: providing
 for an aditional circuit judge in the
 Seventh Judicial District, Indiana, Illi-
 nois and wisconsin and providing for an additional judge of the district court
 of New Jersey. In the case of the latter bill. MT. Linn (Minn.) facetious- ly inquired of MT. Parker (N. Jo who called 1t up if 1t would be satisfactory to have an amendment transferring Judge swayne to the new district. TiclkIed the Democrats. MT. Parker declined to answer, the Democrats in the meantime fndulging 1 in laughter. Other bills passed as follows: Extending the time within which
 actteasf foeotiss recoxery of duties paid 1 in Porto Rico may be taken in
 the court of claims: permitting
 the building of railway bridge across
 White River, and to regulate the con-
 struction of dams over navigable riv- CTS. This last bill is n general one
 and prescrfbes the terms under which ! such exercise of powers may be had
 in the future. Other bills passed
 were:
 To provide for the investigati ton of Ieprosy. with special reference to the
 care and treatment of lepers in Ha-
 waii; amending the statutes so as to
 permit entry men under the home
 stead laws to deed rights of way for
 telegraph and telephone lines without
 prejudicing their claims.
 The naval appropriation bill was sent
 to conference. Messrs. Foss, UlL): Dayton, (W. Va.) and Meyer, Ga )
 being appointed conferees on the part
 of the House.
 | The Senate amendments to the bill amending the copyright laws was agreed, to which action finally passed the bill.
 The House then took up the bills
 amending the homstead laws to unap- propriated and unreserved lands in south Dakota and Colorado, so as to allow selection of $40 acres of land in-
 stead of 160.
 OppOred By Underwood.
 The bills were opposed by MT. Un-
 derwood (Ala.) beacuse of his be- lief that their provisions afforded an
 opportunity for gross frauds. The view, however was controverted by MT. Smith (S. D. who de- ciared that the bills were framed es- pecially to prevent frauds.
 MT. Burke (S. D. made
 strong plea for the passage of the bill in the interest of the settlement of South Dakota, against the large cattle companies" It would aslo, he said, fin answer to MT. Sims (Tenn.) in-
 sure the building of at least one rail- road through the section affected. Debate was cut off by MT. Martin moving the previous question which was adopted.
 The engrossment of the bill on divis- ion was ordered, 153 to 6, which was followed by demand by Mir. Lacey for yeas and nays. In that he was suc- cessful. But on his further demand for the reading of the engrossed bill the measure for the time being had to be laid aside pending its engrossment. In the meantime the Colorado bill, almost