Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1880-04-21
From Oar Regular Correspondent
Washington Letter.

WASHINGTON, u. u. Aptu Ia 1901
The Indian question and the Geneva
award bill have engrOssed the attention OF
congress during the greater part OF the
week. Both subjects are too well worn to
De very vigorously exciting. Millions are
expended every year to clothe and feed
the red men. so that they will be Peaceable
and refrain from taking scalps, and cattle,
and burning squatters' huts. II is POSI-
bic that if the same bride were given the
burglars. foot pads and common thieves
all over the country, We would realize a
quanium of domestic peace and security
that would prove the home charity the bet
ter of the two, although no enthusiast,
even in this sentimental age. will advocate
it. If then, nobody will defend the least
bad of Two policies what should become OF
the worse' 1t is principle long estab'
lished in nature, and written in law, that
human beings must be honest and work ;
and that mauraders and brigands, no mat
ter bow wide they pitch their tents. must
Weld to the benign encroiehments OF civ
ilization. In the light and might Of civ
ilization the Indian has no more right 10
the soil over which he roams than the
prairie wolf and grizzly bear. II he is
an animal of superior intelligence, he is
also friend of more diabolic',l cruelty.
The bill to carry out the agreement oil
the interior department with the Utes was
passed in the Senate on Monday By thirty
seven to sixteen. This measure was most
vehemently resisted by western senators,
who desire to open all available reserva
tons to white industry or cupidity. though
singularly enough. the two Colorado sena
tors were found on opposite sides. II was
also opposed, on the final vote, BY Mr.
Edmunds, on the ground of its unconsti
nationality, as infringing on the treaty
making power Of the executive. Thu
"agreement requires the consent o
three fourths Of the Ctes, and one of The
difficulties pointed out by Mr.. Edmunds is
that they are dividei into three separar,
communities, compelling any one OF which
to bulge by force. because outvo,ed By III,
remainder. would seem a great hardship
Incidentally, also. he showed how doubt
full is the power TO exempt from stqt
taxation the lands to be granted 10 tht
Indians in severalty. With no prejulic,
against the experiment, and apparent,
unable to suggest better way from th'
old to the new system. he could not over
come his scruples as 10 the legality OF tn
bill.
The Office of commissioner of patents
about to be vacated By Gen. Paine, and
is rumored that his designated successo
is. though lawyer, without any con
siderable special training and experienc
lin patent matters" His decisions on AZ
peaed cases, in the capacity Of lega
adviser to the department of the interior
nave been far frem giving satisfaction
General Paine's administration has. in 81
respects. excep. personal integrity, born
cut the fears expressed at The time OF h
appointment, and strengthens the argt
meut of those who commended then. as the
contend now. that the appointment shout
be in the line of promotion from With
the office, not only on the theory of SCUM
civil service. but because the requisit
experience and trained judicial facult
can only be found there. Any difficult
which may arise from rivalry and "pre'
sure on the part Of the body OF exanir
ers can surely be overcome, and at lea
should be disregarded in face of the in
: portauce OF establishing the principle
the immense interests at stake. There i
even in General Paine's case, physic;
limit to the tenure OF office on the part
an untried man.