Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-02-02
FORTY-SIITA CONGRESS-.
WEDNESDAY EnhruarY .


report OF the commission. with the Test mony
taken by IT.. and also the minority report or Mr.
Allen, OF the commSsion), the reading OF the
same was proceeded with, occupying fifteen
minutes.
Mr.. Hoar referring to the concluding anteuce
In which he President expresses desire that
1ull reparat1on for the wrong done TO The tribe
Shall be made during his term Of Office. COM
mended 1t as most manly and mag aanimous
utterance.
ON motion of Mr.. Ktrkwood. the message and
accompanying papers were then referred to the
special Ponca committee.
rhe Vice President also submitted a commu-
nlcation from the Secretary OF the Interior In
response to two Senate resolutions of the 2Tth
ultimo, and transmitting the Ute commission
report and correspondence with the governor OF
Colorado concerning the Utes. Tabled and Or
deTed printed.
The following reports from committees were
placed on the calendar:
By Mr.. Mcpherson from committee on naval
affairs, favorably the bill appropriating 500 900
10 oe used under the direction OF the Navy de-
partment TO prosecute search for the steamer
.Ieannette, OF the Arctic exploring expedition.
MI Mcpherson said he would ask Consideration
OF the Dill TO- morrow.
THE ELECTORAL COUNT RESOLUTIONS.
taken up.
temporary eXpedlent. insisted upon the Senate
chamber. instead or The hall OF the House. as
the place for the meeting OF the two houses.
Mr. Hoar followed In opposition to the Nor
l0nal requirement to complete the count as it
would not be completed IL the vote OF Georgia
was not added to the one side or the other.
MessrS. Morgan and Thurman advoc4le the
resolutions Ii the interest of peaceful, orderly
count.
HOuSE.-On motion of Mr.. Joyce, the Senate
joint resolution was passed, approprating
10000 to aid In the erection of monument to
commemorate the revolutionary battle OF Ben.
nington.
ON motion nf Ny Valentino hin u-os ,,r,oy;
confirming the private land claim known as the
Petica grant in The territory OF New Mexico.
MI Scales, chairman OF the COMMITTEES On In
dian affairs. reported back resolution calling on
the Secretary OF the Interior for copies OF all
papers which have been filed In his Gfli ;e dur
ing the last eighteen months relating 10 com
plants and charges against anyIndian agent,tn-
spector clerk or other officer In the Indian ser
vice, and also for information as 10 what steps
have been taken to prosecute the same.
Adopted.
Message from the President.
The Speaker laid before The House a message
from the President, transmitting the report OF
the commission appointed TO ascertain the
facts relative to the removal OF the POnca
tribe lof Indians to the Indian territory, and
inquire into its present condition: and also a
declaration made by the chiefs OF that tribe
setting forth the compensation which they will
accept for their lands. and for the Injuries done
10 the tribe by Its removal to the Indian terri
tory.
After quoting from reports of the Secretary
OF the interior, Agent L. A. Howard and the
says: The report of the commission appointed
by me, and the testimony taken by them. add
very little to what was already contained In
the official reports of the secretary OF me Ia
committee touching the injustice done
70 the POnca Indian 10y their removal
TO the Indian territory. Happily, however.
the evidence reported by the commission anu
their recommendations point out conclusively
tie true measure OF redress, which the govern.
ment OF the niIed States ought now TO ADOPT.
The commission. In its conclusions, omit TO
state the important fact as TO the present con-
dit1on OF the PoDcas 10 the Indian territory,
out the evidence they have reported shows
clearly and conclusively that the Poncas now
residing In that terrltOry-52l In numba--ara
satisfied with their new home; that they arr
healthy, comfortable and contented, and that
they are freely and firmly decided TO adhere to
the choice announced in the letter OF OCTOBER
25th, 1Sso, and the declaration OF December 9th,
$780, TO remain In the Indian territory and MOI
10 Teturn to Dakota territory. The evidence re-
ported also shows that the fragment OF the
stil in Dakota and Nebraska, prefer to
remain on their old reservation. In view OF
these facts, am confident that the reconmen-
dation OF the commission, together with tn
declaration OF the chiefs Of December last it
substantially followed, Will afford a solution or
the Ponca question which is consistent with
the wishes and interests of both branches OF
the tribe with the settled Indian policy or the
government, and as nearly as practicable with
The demands Of Justice Our general Indian
policy for the future should embrace the. fol
lowing ideas: 1st. The Indians should be pre-
pared for citizenship by giving TO their young
OF both sexes that Industrial and general edu-
cation which is requisite to enable them to be
self lf-supporting and capable Of self protection
In civilized communities I'd. Lands should
be allotted TO Indians In sever
atty, inalienable for certain period.
Sd. The Indians should have fair compensa-
tlon for their lands not required for individual
alOtments, the amount TO be invested with
suitable safeguards for their benefit 18th. With
these prerequisites secured the Indians should
be made citizens and invested with the rights
and charged With the responsibilities OF citizen
ship. 1t is therefore recommended that legiSia-
tion be adopted In regard TO the Ponca Indians,
authorizing the Secretary OF the Interior to
secure to the individual members OF the Ponca
tIibe In severalty sufficient land for their sup
port, 1nallenabe for term OF years, or until
The restriction on alienation may be removed
by the President. Ample time and opportunity
shall be given to the members OF the
tribe freely to choose their allou-
ments, either on their new or old
reservations. Full compensation should be
made for lands to be relinquiShed, and for losses
10 them by Sioux depredat1ons, AMI by reason
OF their removal to the Indian territory, the
amount not to be less than the sum narled in
the declaration OF the chiefs made on Decem-
Der q, 1850. In short nothing should be left
undone to show to the Indians that the govern
meht OF the United States regards their rights
as equally sacred with those OF It's citizens The
time has come when the policy should be 20
place the Indians, as rapidly as practicable, Oh
The same footing with the other permanent in
habitantS OF this country. | do not undertake
TO apportion the blame for the injustice done TO
the PoncaS. Whether the executive or Con
gress o. the public is chiefly In fault Is not now
question OF practical importance. AS the
Chief executive at the time when the wrong
was conSummated, am deeply sensible that
enough of the responsibility for that wrong
justly attaches TO me to make IL my personal
duty and earnest desire To do all can to give
TO these Indian people that measure OF redress
which is required alike by justice and By hG-
manI1y.
(SIgned0 RUTHERFORD E. HAYES
Executive Mansion, February l, 1881.
The message as ordered printed and re-
ferred to the committee on Indian affairs.
The post route bill was reported from the
committee on post offices and post roads and
passed.
Mr.. Knott chairman of the committee on the
judiciary, submitted the report OF that commit
tee touching the right or the Senate TO origi-
nate appropriation bills. Printed and recon-
m1uted.
Mr Townsend {Ohio) introduced bill, which
was referred 10 the committee on ways ana
means, In regard to duties on manufacturers or
iron, &C.
Mr. Wal presented petition of the Ameri-
can Iron and Steel Association and numbers OF
large manufacturers OF Pennsylvania in favor
OF the Eaton tariff commission. Referred.
The District Appropriation Bill.
The House then, at 11:50, went into commit
tee of the whole {Mr. Converse, OF Ohio, In the
chair) on the District Of Columbia approprla-
tion bill.
TIE SCHOOL HOUSE AMENDMENT.
The Amendment 0f Mr. HunfOn bo