Arizona citizen. [volume] (Tucson, Pima County, A.T. [i.e. Ariz.]) 1870-1880, 1876-07-08
Delegate Elkins on ApprOpria-
lions for Apaches.

AAOhs -. II. l~lhll> III new AltAlGO
made manly and able effort to have
such appropriations for the Apaches
as Is clear V required, but without sue
, cess. He is nevertheless entitled to
great credit for the inGisive way he ar
gued the subject and went for " those
opposed to him. Following is an ex
tract from his remarks in the House OF
r Representatives, made June ?, while
the approx ration for the Apaches was
being considered:
As | was saying, Mr. Chairman, in
T the river and harbor bill the House
gave five or six millions of dollars for
that purpose, and yet you refuse to
appropriate money to keep your pied
ges 10 the Indian tribes, thereby melting
them TO go forth upon raids to commit
murder and rapine and destruction of
property The trouble is the Indian
reservations are all in the Territories;
if there was large one in each con
gressiOnal district, think the difficulty
would soon disappear and millions
would be voted without word
| The river and habor bill went through
without objection from a single men,
100000 voted away in less than
an hour by a House determined upon
iretrenchment and reduction of expendi-
lures. If during these perilous times
any branch Of public improvement and
work could be suspended for a season,
it was work upon our rivers and har-
bors. Human life and blood, the safety
of the property of citizens, did not
call loudly for this work 10 go on
But, on the other hand, an honorable |
necessity, interest in the welfare of
your citizens on the distant confines of
the Republic, safety of life and pro-
perry, do demand that a sufficient sum
be Appropriated to retain these Indians
on reservations.
But sir, when the river ana harborI
bill was up for consideration l did not
hear the chairman Of the Committee
on Appropriations say a word against
It, nor the six millions it gave away;
although lac was suffering, literally
sick to get an opportunity to oppose
II, yet / did not hear feeble word or
see him make feeble attempt to do
so; and the gentleman from Indiana.
Mr.. HOlman,) do not see him in his
seat beg his pardon, l did not no {
rice he was IN the chair-did not say
a word on the subject. nor shed single ,
tear at the disappearance OF six mill {
ions ii one dash from the Treasury. :
There is a river il Indiana, certainly
one in the gentleman's district, and
vet III the face of this record YOU refuse !
10 vote Il sufficient amount for the
protection OF the men who are hewingl
Town the forests and carving out IN ,
empire in the West Gentlemen talk
about these things being sentiment |
.hese are facts. If itwerc in the power y,
If the distant West to vote or be heard !
he result might be different, but We 4
IRE without power. But if the Sioux
DR. some Of those industrious Apaches :
If whom the gentlman from Pennsyl-. 4,
7ania speaks, should be let loose in the '
of Philadelphia or some
IF the Atlantic States, hundreds of :
IF millions would be appropriated, /
u word being said against il, q
o feed them and keep them on their
,
Now have perhaps said more than a
should; but l do appeal to the House l
% grant Us proper appropriation. .
This kind of economy will cost =
blood and property. The New Mexico i
Indians are mostly peaceable and we c
nave but few Apaches there, 50 that II
.annot be charged that | am advocat- :
nc this measure in order that the v
money may be expended in my Terri
orv. Most of the Indians there have
commenced agricultural pursuits ca
,ept the Apaches. / am speaking rath-
r in the interests of Arizona, and
peg the House and the gentlemen in
he majority to protect these people, p
md to give a sufficient appropriation +,
If money. -