The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1874-06-16

there will be in less than two years a great ma
tional scandal growing out of it. 1t will be
found that the Indians have not got S1OO. 900 of
it, or il that be not so there Will be around and
about Washington, not in the halls of Con-
gress, thank God, the most hungry and disap-
pointed set of ravenous wolves that have ever
sought to impel claim through Congress.
Mr., Speer of Pennsylvania, favored the mo-
ton to strike out the section, and said that
when some DAYS ago the House suspended the
rules so as to make the section in order the
halls were swarming with lobbyists. There
was not one of these men who bear on their
faces the mark Of paid and corrupt lobbyists
that was not on the floor that day. He did not
say that the claim was dishonest, but he did
say that 1t was supported and pressed on the
House by the most infamous men known to
the history of legis ative jobbing. He believed
the claim itself, or portion of it was honest,
but he would never agree to pay this amount
to two irresponsible men without security in
negotiable securities or bonds of the United
States. These bonds would be handed around
the streets and in the corridors of the House
He would comply with the treaty and set aside
the balance due these Indians as fund, the
interest OF which would be paid them and such
portion OF the principal as the Secretary of the
Interior might deem proper to pay them, and
then he would have the House vindicate itself
and vndicate the honor of Congress by kick
ing out of the House this immense fraud.
Mr.. Harris of Massachusetts, member of
motion to strike out the section, and said that
having investigated the matter he had been led
to the conclusion that no more stupendous
fraud had ever been put upon any people than
the government had put upon these Indian
nations. In this matter the government had
received over 100000 from sales of these In
dian lands besides having granted 1000, 900
acres of land to the State of Mississippi and
yet the Indians were unpaid to-day, and the
gentleman from Pennsylvania tSpeer) had ar
gued that because there is lobby that might
receive some of these funds, the wrong so long
perpetrated on these Indians should be contin-
ued.
Mr. Speer-Why not provide for the payment
OF this money directly to the Indians instead
of the scoundrels around this capital?
Mr., Harris expressed his readiness to do so,
A long discussion followed on Indian claims,
lobbles, etc., during which Mr.. Hale of Maine,
said he was glad the sober attention of the
House had been called to this matter, and re-
marked that raging lobby had been impelling
this claim and had been operating in Washing
ton, Baltimore, Philadelphia, New York and
elsewhere. He quoted from report of Secre-
tary Boutwell,, to the effect that there was not
equitable ground for this Choctaw claim, and
he said that members who, after that decision
by an uninterested Secretary of the Treasury
voted for the claim, would do so ON their own
responsibility.
After further discussion Mr.. Kassons amend
ment was agreed to, 78 to 20, and then a SUBJ
stitute for the whole section was agreed to, 81
to 20. The substitute which was offered by Mr..
Wheeler of New York directs the Secretary of
the Treasury to inquire into the amount of liza
bilities of the Choctaw Indians to inhabitants,
and to report to the same at the next session
with view to astertaining what amount
should be deducted from the sum due the
Choctaws from the aited States.
A question as to the granite furnished for the
new State Department building from the quar-
ry near Richmond, Va, was started by Mr..
Speer, who alleged that not only were unusual
ly high prices paid, but that although the gov
eminent paid all the expenses of stone cutters
at Manchester the contractors received Is per
cent. on that amount rsr
In the course of the discussion Joined in by
Messrs. Beck of Kentucky and Platt and Smith
of Virginia, it was stated that pension agent
named Washbur1 was in some way mixed up
with the contract and had pocketed some $780,
600 illegally obtained from the government
The committee of the whole at 8. 3S p. m. rose
and reported the bill to the House.
Mr.. Garfield, Chairman of the Committee on
App OPERATIONS, stated that this bill appro-
prated little over $4,000, 900 as against $780,
100000 in a like bill last year, and there was
this difference between the bills. This bill did
not contain any appropriations for the District
of Columbia as the bill of last year did.
The House then proceeded to vote on the
amendments reported from the Committee of
the Whole. The amendment striking out the
provision that wages paid to printers and bind
ers in government employment shall not be
above the average price paid for similar work
in the cities of New York, Philadelphia and
Baltimore. was agreed to, yeas 129, nays so. So
the provision was stricken out.
The next vote was on the section repeating
the laws for the civil service commission and
giving preference for Office to soldiers and sail
ors and their relatives and making it the duty
of the several heads of departments to make
honesty, efficiency and fidelity the tests, was
agreed to as whole without discussion. The
amendment reducing the appropriation for a
light ship for Winter Quarter shoals on the
coast of Virginia from $4,000 to $4,000 was
rejected. The amendment striking out the
item of $4,000 for light house at Matthias
Point. Va, was also rejected. These items
were therefore restored as originally reported.
The amendment striking out the third section
in regard to the ChoctaW claim and subStitut.
ing for it Instructions to the Secretary of The
Treasury to inquire as to the amount of liabili-
ties which ought to be deducted from the-elain
was agreed to, yeas lis, nays 103 The bill
then passed. ets
The Senate bill appropriating S145, 1000 for the
construction of bridge across the Potomac
river near the Washington navy yard was pass
ed. -
l-q Evening Session.
The evening session is for business reported
from the committee ON public buildings and
grounds.
A good deal of opposition to the bill was
manifested by members who couldn't have tn
privilege of offering amendments, and after
several attempts to adjourn, the bill, on motion
of Mr.. Burchard of Illinois, was laid on the
tribe by vote of 10S to 70.
The House without taking up any other bust
ness adjourned.
Shot Dead.
LITTLE ROCK, Ark, June 15.-Dr. d. j.
Crittenden was shot dead by man named
Hall, in Conway county, yesterday. A sher.
iH's posse searching for Hall found him and a
fight ensued. One Of the sheriffs posse was
killed and another wounded Hall was wound
ed and captured.
-1o METEOROLOGICAL