The Indianapolis sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1880-1904, 1885-02-16
PROCEEDINGS In CONGRESS-.
Condition Of the Wards Of the Nation
Discussed In the Senafe-Indian
Depreciation Claims.
The Postofhce Appropriation Bill,
as Amended, Passed by the
House - National
Legislation.
PORTY-EIGHrH CONGRESS.


scented memorial of the Legislature OF
Pennsylvania, urging reimbursement By the
United States to the State of Pennsylvania
OF all sums expended in defense OF the
United States. Referred.
Mr. Hale, from the Committee on Appro-
priations reported the Agricultural ApDro-
priation bin, with amendment He said
the Senate Committee docket vas now clear,
this being the last appropriation Dill sent
over By the House.
The bill was placed on the calendar.
The bill to quiet titles to Dss Moiaes River
settlers was then placed before the Senate,
and Mr.. Laphsm continued his speech
against IT,
At l O'Clock the matter went over till
Monday, Mr.. Lspham still having the floor.
The Indian Appropriation bill was then
taken up. A number OF the Senate Con-
mittee's amendments having been agreed to,
come discussion arose IS 20 the proposed
amendment of the committee which would
strike out clauses OF the House bill involving
general legislation. The special clause on
which point was raised Vas one authorizing
the Secretary of the Interior, with the CON-
sent CT the Indians To extend the time OF
Omaha Reservation, author zed by act Of
August, 1882, to be sold.
Mr.. Henderson said the clause was iust
sDd it could not be wrong to do justice.
Mr.. Plumb said II the House items were 70
Re carefully examined, why should not the
Senate items be also investigated ii ex-
summation OF all was made an extra session
CT Congress would be necessary, ald the
committee could not undertake to risk that
even II the Senate were not what il is.
Mr.. Dawes was opposed to al legislative
propositions IN appropriation bills.
ar. Van Wyck said: Session after session
We are denying justice to our citizens be.
cause of rule OF the Senate It would be
little more sensible to fix our rules 50 that
some legislation could be had. Toe Ssnate
had IN the Pension bill tried 70 DO justice.
Notwithstanding a Senate rule There was
very little equity in the Provision under
consideration.
Considerable discussion ensued, in which
The House provisions for payment OF claims
Tor Indian depredstions formed leading
feature. There was some diversity OF
opinion &c to whether payment OF those
claims should be made out of moneys held
for support OF the Indians resulting from
sale Of Indian lands Or out OF the Treasury.
The question of proving the validity Of
claims also came under consideration.
Mr.. Dawes said there were s., 600 600 or
100000 of those cioims lying IN the In-
terror Department.; the claimants were ap-
parently convinced of the justice of their
claims. and il was a reproach to the Govern
ment that they had not been taken up and
disposed Of The claims were so large and
the funds from which, under the Indian
treaties they were TO be paid so small that
we had shrunk from disposing OF them. An
end should be made of them, but should be
n Just end. IL the Indian fuud WAS not
enough 10 pay the claims, we should settle
the question whether they should be paid
from the general Treasury. But. in SIR.
Dawes opinion, We should not pick out a
lew OF those claims and put them in appro-
priatioD bills, merely because the owners OF
lhGse claims had strong friends who were
willing TO urge them.
Mr. Coke described the sufferings caused
~ the depredetions and hardshlps impoged
OF white settlers. who were not permitted to
follow the Indians and recover stolen
property, becsuee the robbers were the
wards of the Nation" At one time 1G 900
horses and mules, stolen from Texas, were in
keeping OF the Indians. Claims that had
ago, were still unpaid. Mr.. Coke regarded
this as great injustice.
Mr.. Miller, of California thought we ought
to DO justice to the claims contained in the
bill, and not let the rule OF the Senate stand
between a citizen and justice.
Mr.. Maxey believed We should Eot post
pone the claims that were before Us simply
because other claims were not presented.
Mr.. Cockrell was IN favor OF making all
these claims charge on the Indaa Fdnd
The Indians should 0s made % pay every
dollar OF damages resulting from depreda
lions.
At the close of the discussion Mr.. Dawes
succeeded in getting the Ssnate 10 agree %
the committee amendment striking out the
legislative item indicated.
Reading of the bill then proceeded, and
On reaching the section providing for the
AssiniboineS, Mr.. Vest moved 10 increase
their appropriation from $50 600 to $50, 600.
He drew a most pathetic picture OF his per-
sonal observations of the sudsrings OF that
be IN q bleak, lnhospitable region of couu-
tTy.
When the Indians were dying by hun
drede of absolute starvation Mr.. Vest had
personally appealed 70 Commissioner Price,
of the Indian Bureau, for some rations to
keep life in them. but that gentleman could
only reply that he had mo funds" The
soldiers OF the United States 10 their honor
il should be said, saved many lives among
those starving people by voluntarily giving
mp their own ratiens.
Without sction on Mr.. Vests motion the
Senate went into executive session and soor
adjourned.