The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-01-21

himself He thought if that idea were carried
out, after ten or twelve years Congress would
not be required to pass Indian appropriation
bill The tribes would become self-supporting,
and IN the course of time their territory might
be admitted into the Union of States.
Mr. Throckmorton advocated the granting of
lands In severalty to Indians as an important
factor IN the work of civilization.
Mr.. Maginnis spoke in opposition to the prac-
tice of the Indians in lea sing lands for nominal
prices to cattle kings
Mr.. Ryan earnestly pressed upon the attention
or the committee the Importance of taking some
immediate action to settle the disputed question
as to whether that portion of Indian Territory
known as the Oklahoma strip was open to set
Element. Men had settled upon that land, claim
ing that it belonged to the United States, and
therefore they had right to settle upon it, 1t
was claimed by the government that the Semi
mole and Creek Indians ceded the land to the
United States in order to enable the govern
ment to locate friendly Indians there. Suisse
quently to the cession the government changed
its policy and pasesed law prohibiting the
settlement of any more Indians in the Territory.
he neither affirmed nor denied the claim on
either slde but the importance of settling the
disputed question could not be overestimated
Mr. Perkins followed in the same vein, and
impressed upon the committee that it was the
duty of Congress to frame some legislation per-
tanning to the Oklahoma lands, and restricting
the power of the Indians to lease their lands for
nominal prices He sent to the clerks desk and
d
lie meeting, held at Howard Kan, denouncing
as an outrage the treatment by the government
OF the Oklahoma settlers, who are striving to
make homes lands belonging to the people,
and the use Of the army to drive out actual set
tiers on any portion of the public domain.
Mr.. Cutcheon gave it as his judgment that the
Oklahoma strip was not portion of the public
domain. 1t was parcel of land which the gov
ernment held as trustee for specific purpose
Mr. ONeil of Missouri said the Indian cues
reached nOint taken
hold Of by Congress, not only for the purpose OF
! taking care of the Indians, but for the purpose
of taking care of white people.
A few days ago the would be leaders of political
sentiment on both sides Of the house had at
tempted to explain to the country the cause of
the suffering in the large cities, the cause why so
many mills were IDLE and so many men out of
employment. They need not imagine that they
deceived the people for one instant Working
men realized that the displacement of human
labor by mechanical labor had created problem
to which there was but one solution, and
that was encouragement to workmen 10 leave
the cities and settle upon the public lands, where
they could earn livelihood. Indian Territory
was lying without any possible hope of being oc-
cupled by the Indians, and YVES simply left to the
rapaclty and speculation of every combination
and ring that entered the Territory. A hundred
thousand acres were leased by this and by that
syndicate at nominal rates, while hundred
thousand people were wanting them for
homes. This idea of the sacredness of
treaties, which should be recognized, should rot
be carried to the edge of idiocy. The Indians
should he recompensed for whatever land was
taken from them, but the balance of the land
should be reserved for actual settlers only.
Pending further debate, the committee rose,
and public business being suspended, the House
proceeded to pay fitting tribute to the memory
of the late John H. Eavans of South Carolina.
Eulogistic addresses made by Messrs.
Bratton, Dibble and Tillman, Browne, of Indi-
ana, Hardeman, of Georgia, Dowd and Dun
ham, and then, as a further mark of respect 20
the memory of the deceased, the House ad-
iourned,