National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1885-02-17
INDIAN APPROPRIATIONS.
Debate In the Senate on the Methods OF Deal.
ing with the Red Man.

DeDnte In the SENATE On the hetnous Oi Dehl'
ing With the Red Man.
The bill to quiet the titles of settlers on the
Des Moines river lands was laid before the
senate as the unfinished business of the morn
ing hour Mr.. Iapham having the floor.
Mr. Sherman said 1t was manifest that
long discussion on this bill would defeat the
object Of the bill owing TO the lack OF time, II
was a senate bill, and after consideration by
the senate would have to go TO the house for
debate. II was interfering with oil the other
measures before the senate, and he, therefore,
moved to lay 1t on the table. Disagreed to,
after discussion-yeas IL, nays %.
MIR. Dawes then moved that the Des Moines
bill be temporarily laid aside la order that the
senate might proceed with the consideration
of the Indian appropriation bill. The motion
Mr. sherman asked the chair whether the
Des Moines bill would still continue to be the
unfinished business of the morning hour.
The chair replied afirmatively.
Mr.. Sherman. Then no business can be done
In this senate except that from the appropria-
tion committee and this Des Moines bill.
Mr.. Allison. Until that Is disposed OF.
MIR. sherman Tnen we may az well give 1t
up. We may as well take II easy for the re-
mainder of the session. don't thlnk tnat is
fair play in legislation.
Consideration of the Indian appropriation
bill was then proceeded with.
Mr.. Vest read n letter from the governor of
Montana, saying that notwithstanding the re-
liet offered by the government the condition
of the Indians in parts of Montana from ex-
pOsure and starvation was pitiable in the ex-
| to say 'lct the Indians work or die" That
was simply saying, Let them die" You
might rs well say TO child in the cradle, Go
| to work or die" Take n people, after cen
| turies Of barbarism and hurl them into the
/ intense aud terrible struggle OF civilization,
and say to them, work or die" was not per-
| forming our Christian duty. Mr.. Vest dis.
| claimed sentlmcnialty but actual personal
| observation OF the condition of the Indians
in Montana had converted him from the CON
| viction that tho best Indian was dead Indian.
! The condition of these Indians was stain
| upon our Christian civilization.
! Mr.. Plumb doubted whether so many In
dians had died OF starvation as had been re-
| ported.
| fact He thought the government had made
sufficient provision for the Indians, but the
provision had not been most advantageously
| applied.
Mr. IIawley agreed with Mr.. Vest that we
| should feed and clothe the Indians while they
| were learning to become self-supporting, but
agreed also with Mr.. Plumbtha they should
hettught TO be selfsupporting as soon as posi-
MIR Dawes said that neither the Indian
bureau nor the senate was responsible for the
insufficient appropriations OF 1888 which had
led to the starvation of 1883.
! The senate had tried to secure more money
for the Indians that year, but was not able to
succeed.
tinued; cease to rob and murder the Indians
and their children, and they will soon show
you that they can support themselves. Cease
Ia allow bands of white men, against the laws
of the United states aud the orders of the presi
dent, to march down with gun, drums, and
banners upon the Indians, and they will soon
cease to be II charge upon the United states.
Mr.. Dawes exonerated the present administra'
tlon of the interior department from rcsponsi
bility for tue condition Of the Indian ques
tion.
TO increase the emergency fund from $4,000 t.
$4,000 was agreed to.
At o'clock the anti-foreign contract labo
, bill was formally placed before the senate, but
on Mr. Dawess suggestion, was unanimousl!
laid aside to continue confederation of the Iu
r dian appropriation bill.
Debate was INDUCED in by Messrs, Blair
: Vest, Miller of California, Dawes, Allison
Beck, and MaXey.
, MIR. Plumb hoped the senate would no
: agree TO the proposition to strike out from tn,
I house bill the section authorizing the Presi
, dent ofthe United states to negotiate with tn
Creek, Seminole and Cherokee Indians for
7 surrender of their remaining rights in the 30
a called Oklahoma lands
Mr.. Vest did not think that the spirit OF tn
! senate rule would exclude matter germane I
au- appropriation BILL and strongly uryeC
the retention of the Oklahoma clause. II wa
no secret. Mr.. Vest said, that n raid was nov
@ being organized, more formidable than an
that ever had existed TO go into Oklahom
: country, and Couch had distributed his hant
q bills all over the west calling for volunteers.
. In the course of his further remarks Mr. Yes
- stated his dlsbeiei that THESE people had an
n encouragemeIt WhateVer ioI the pellel thh
}, they Were saiu 70 s~htertnlh ~ tnat Ihe halhihl
. trauoh OF MT NleNelahu Woulu IaNor the e
u plans ne, hs sena!soIl MAS MAS PIepare9 70 SUI
Q port the incoming % %hdihlhistlailon III lohoWlI
- up tle course pursued py tho last; NJ,
II Aller Iurlher uopate py hlossIs, Bawes, p@ecl @
4 ana others, the provision alluded 70 wa
stricken OUT asln the mature OF new legislnllol
= Inc Dill was theh pNSseu buoslanuaily
i reported from 'he seha'e appropriation con
s mittee,, .,.-.,...,...-, .....--
20 Mr; Haze callea up tne tne asrlcutural appr
" prlalloh Olll, Whlch VIII pc pfoceeuou WIZ
. To-Day ,,- - ~ ~, 4,
= AZ o:21 p m, on morton OF MI, ioar, u
% senate went INTO executive sesslohi ana,
a b'50, ADJOURNED. ,,,,- -
me house maIe h o9hsiueraple progleSs
= thG reading OF lhe icgislatHlSe ehecutLye, wv, aI