Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-02-03
THE NATIONAL CAPITAL.
CONGRESSIONAL PROCEEDINGS.
The Indian Question Under Discus
sion In the HOuse-A Message from
the PresIdenE-ETr. TEorgan,s EIee-
tOral COunt Resolutions Passed by
the Senate = The Ingeroceanfc
Canal.


last eighteen months relStive to complaints
and charges against any Indian agent,
| inspector, clerk or other officer In the
Indian service, and also for information as
| to Whst steps had been taken to prosecute
the same. Adopted.
! The Speaker laid before the House mes
sage from the President transmitting the
report of the commission appointed to ascer-
tain facts relative to the removal of the
[ Ponca tribe of Indians to the In
! dian Territory, and 10 inquire into its
/ present condition, and also the declaration
made by the chiefs OF that tribe setting
forth the compensation which they will ac-
cept for their lands and for injuries done to
the tribe By Its removal to the Indian Ter
Titory.
Alter quoting from the reports of the Sec
retary Of the Interior, Agent Il. A. Howard,
( and the Senate Committee upon the sub
ject, the President 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 the Interior, and
tie report OF the Senate Committee touch
ing the injustice done to the Pouca Indians
by their removal to the Indian Territory
Happily, however, the evidence reported by
the commission and their recommends
tions point out eonclusivelY the true meas
ure OF redress which the Government OF the
United States ought now to adopt.
"The commission, in its conclusions, omit
TO state important facts as to the present
condition of the Poncas in the Indian Ter
ritorY. but the evidence they have reported
shows clearly and conclusively that the
Poncas now residing in that territory, 521
In number, are satisfied with their new
/ home. They are healthy, comfortable and
cOntented, and they are freely and firmly
1raf Id
nounced In the letter of October 25, 1880,
and the declaration OF December %, 1880,
to remain In the Territory and not to return
to Dakota Territory. The evidence report
ed also shows that fragment of the POnca
| tribe, perhaps one hundred and fifty In num-
ber, which is still In Dakota and Nebraska,
prefer to remain on their old reservation.
'In view of these facts am confident that
the recommendation of the commission, to-
gsther with the declaration of the chiefs of
December last, if substantially followed,
will afford a solution OF the Popea question
which Is consistent with the wishes and in
terests of both branches of the tribe with
the settled Indian policy OF the government.
and as nearly practicable with the demands
OF justice. Our general Indian policy for
the future should embrace the following
ideas:
"First. The Indians should be prepared
for citizenship by giving to their young of
both sexes that industrial and general
education which is requisite to enable them
to be eelt-supporting and capable OF self
pTote cifou in civilized communities.
Second. Lands should be allotted to the
indians in severaltv, fnalienable for GER
'ain period.
FThird. The Indians should have fair com
pensation for their lands not required for
individual allotments, the amount to be In
vested with suitable safeguards for their
benefit.
"Fourth. With these prerequisites secured
the Indians should be made citizens and in
vested with the rights and charged with the
responsibilities of citizenship.
at is therefore recommended that legisla-
tion be adopted in regard to the Ponca IN
dians, authorizing the Secretary of the In
terror to secure to individuaI members of
the POnca tribe IN severalty sufficient land
for their support, inalien&ble for a term Of
years, or until the restriction on inalienation
may be removed by the President. Ample
time and opportunity shall be given TO
members of the tribe freely to choose their
| allotmeIts, either on their new or old reser-
vGtion. Full compensation should be made
I for lands to be Telinquished and for losses
/ to them by Sioux depredations, and
| by reason Of their removal to
named in the declaration Of the chiefs,
made December q, 1880. In short, nothing
| should be left undoue to show to the In
| dians that the Government of the United
States regards their rights as equally sacred
with those of its citizens. The time has
come when the policy should be to place the
Iudians as rapidly as practicable on the
same footing with other permanent inhabi-
tants of this country. l do not undertake
to apportion the blame for the injustice
done to the Poncas. Whether the Executive
or Congress or the public is chiefly in fault
IS not now q qut stion OF practical i'm
portsnce.
"As the Chief Executive at the time when
the wrong was coRsummated, l am deeply
sensible that enough OF responsibility for
that wrong justly attaches to me to make 1t
nav 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 humanity"
The message was ordered printed and
referred to the Committee on Indian
Affairs.
The post route bill was reported from
the Committee on Post Offices and Post
Roads, and passed.
The House then went into committee Of
the whole on the District appropriation
bill, ard after adopting several amendments
of local interest, reported 1t to the House,
aud It was passed.
Mr.. Atkins, CT Tennessee, Chairman Of
the Committee on Commerce, reported the
legislative, Judicial and executive apprO-
priation bill, which was ordered printed and
recommitted 1t sppropriates Sl7, Isl 900.
After a brief contest between a number
/ of members as to the bills which should
have precedence, the House proceeded to
the consideration OF the apportionment
bill. Pending action, the Speaker laid
before the House q message from the Presi-
dent transmitting letter from the Secre-
tary Of the Navy recommending an appro-
pr.ation of 500 000fo the establishment of
naval stations on the American isthmus.
Referred to the Appropriations Committee.
SIR. Cox then spoke at length upon the
spportionment bill. and, at the conclusion
OF his argument, the House adjourned.
SENATE PROCEEDINGS.
In the Senate, the Vice President having
submitted the message Of the President of
the United States on Ponca Indian affairs,
transmitting the report of the commission,
with the testimony taken by 1t, and also
the minority report OF Mr.. Allen, of the
commission, when the reading Of the same
was proceeded with, occupying fifteen min
utes.
Mr.. Hoar, referring to the concluding
sentence, in which the President expresses
the desire that full reparation for the wrong
done to the tribe shall be made during his
term Of Office, commended It as a most
manly and msguaDimous utteranee.
On motion of Mr. Kirkwood, the message
and accompanying papers were then refer
red to a special Ponca committee.
Mr.. Mcpherson, from the Committee on
Naval Affairs, reported favorsbly the bill
appropriating $1e0, 900 to equip vessel to
90 in search of the Arctic exploring steam
er Jeauuette. Mr.. Mcpherson said: "We
would ask consideration of the bill to- NOR
rown
On motion Of Mr.. Morgan, the Senate
then took up his electoral count resolutions
of previous day, and, at Mr.. Morgan's
suggestion, they were amended In minor
details so as to make them concurrent, and
to provide for two tellers instead or one on
the part of the Senate.
Mr.. Morgan, Ia advocating the resoiu-
tions as the plan by which a peaceful, or.
derly and regular count would be secured,
remarked that they followed precedents In
former similar instances and we're In accord
with precedents running back to 1887.
Mr.. Edmuuds offered an amendment pro-
Viding that the two houses assemble In the
Senate chamber instead of the hall OF the
House for the purpose OF counting the
electoral votes.
Mr.. Thurman opposed the amendment,
and SIR. Hoar spoke in opposition to the
resolutions.
Mr.. Garland spoke in support OF the reso-
lutions, and Mr.. Ingalls, In favor OF Mr..
Edmunds' amendment.
Mr. Hill, Of Georgia, after observing that
the election Of Garfield and Arthur was con-