Huntington advertiser. [volume] (Huntington, W. Va.) 1874-1921, 1875-01-21


I believe that it is an admitted fact
that the Indians OF the United States
are decreasing every year, and MT
withstanding this decrease in the num-
Der of Indians who are to be fed,
clothed, and protected by the gov
ernment. yet year by year we are in
creasing, and increasing at an enor
mou, rate, the expenses of taking care
of them and protecting them. l hnd,
sir, by tine report Of the Secretary OF
the Treasury, ON page IA. that IN the
year 1860, there was appropriated
for the Indian service g., 1891, l2l.5
in 1861, 81, 1865. 4s1. IL; in 1857, ~
327. 94s. 81 in 1868. s., 152, OBJ 90;
and in 1864. 81, 629, 1881.
Now let us take the FIVE years COM
mencing with 1870. During that pc
riad the appropriations were, in 1870,
81. 4O7. 1913. IL; in 1871 81, 426. 997 A;
in 1877, $7,O6l, 72S 81; in 1873,
1881, T04.SS; and in 1874, $685.
472.09.
Now, sir, in view of these figures,
/ ask the House, l ask the gentlemen
of the Committee on Appropriations,
if il il not high time that We as the
guardians of the Treasury of the Uni
ted States, should inquire into the In
dian policy of the Government? In
1868 it cost less than S3,00',OOO to
clothe, feed and protect the Indians /;
to day il costs s7,OO0,0 900, although
the number OF Indians to be cared
for has largely decreased. There
must be some answer to tins question
nv the committee, aud it is high time,
in my judgment. that We should either
change our policy entirely, or that
the money We appropriate for the In
dian service should be more honestly
expended. | have never yet had
sufficient answer given me by the
members Of the Committee on Ap
preparations, who have charge of this
bill, why it is that when the Indians
are decreasing in numbers year bv
year, il casts more To care for them
now than it did in the year 1861 =
In 1860 it cost less rhm S5,OOO.0O0
AID to day il costs 81, 000, 009 to take
care of less number of Indians. 1t
is like the Sibylline leaves the fewer
there are the more they cost.
Mr.. LOUGHRIDGE. In 1888,
| believe. we had q Democratic adj
ministration.
Mr.. HEREFORD. Yes. sir.
Mr. LOUGHRIDGE. That was
a good while ago, and at that time
the Indians had the whole West to
roam over and to hunt over, and they
did not have 10 be supported by the
Government. To the same extent that
they do now. IL cost then 80, 5OO, 900
under \ democratic administration 10
take care Of them. and it costs now
less than $1,000. 900, when they are
no longer able 10 roam and hunt
We are now feeding one hundred
thousand Indians, and this bill calls
for less than $4,000, 900. Will the
gentleman explain the difference ?
Will he explain why it is that under
a democratic administration, when
the Indians had the whole country to
roam over, il cost more to support
them than it does now?
Mr.. HEREFORD. II my memo
~ serves me right. at that time there
were treaties pending for the removal
of the Indians to other locations which
involved. OF course, large increase
of expenditure. This was the year
when we were removing large bodies
of Indians from Alabama ana Missis-
sippi, and paving in part for their
lands. Another reason Is that nj that
time We had no railroad lines passing
through the Indian country, and |
remember that that was one of the
arguments used in favor of the con.
struction of the Central Pacific Rail
road and in favor of the grant To the
Northern Pacific Railroad, that it
would cost less to transport provisions
and other supplies to the Indians if
these ROADS were constructed than II
did under the old :, stem Yet, not
withstanding these increased facilities
of transportation, and the decrease of
the number of Indians, our e..'oendi
lures have run up from $3,0O0,Jo0 to
81, 900, 900
Mr.. PARKER, of Missouri. Al
los me 10 ask the gentleman ques-
ton
Mr.. HEREFORD. In one mo-
ment. The gentleman from iowa,
(Mr Loughridge) has called nv at
tention to the expenses for Indian
purposes in 1888. | ask him what
were the expenses in the next year,
1899? As soon As these Indians had
been removed. the appropriations for
that purpose were reduced to frac
ton over 81, 900, 900; the next year
they we're 1000. 900; the next year
s., 900, 900; and the next 81 900, 900.
And in 1912 the appropriations ran
down to $500. But We are now
on the upward turn, the appropria-
lions are going on increasing until we
have now reached s., 900, 900 a year.
Here the hammer fell.
Proceedings Of tho LsGislaturs.
TUF ,aO;sla tnra mot IN last Tues-