The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-01-30
THE FORTY-NINTH CONGRESS-
The Senate Devotes Most of It's Time to
Consideration of Dakota's Claims.
mr. Vest Argues in Opposition to the Argu-
ments Made by Messrs. Harrison and
Wilson-The Day in the House.


THE SENATE.
Routine Business-Mr. Vest Argues I'm Oppo-
sition to Admission of Dakota.
WASHINGTON. JAM 29--Mr. Walthall present
cd the credentials Of reelection of Hon. j. q.
George, United States Senator from Mississippi.
The credentials were read and filed.
Mr. Ingalls,, from the committee on the judici-
airy, reported favorabiy bill relieving from po-
hsicai disabilities George s. Storrs Of the State
Of Texas, and on Mr. Ingailss motion the bill
was passed.
Among the bills introduced was one by Mr..
Call, at the request, he said, Of the Governor of
Florida, to authorize the Secretary of the Treas
ury to settle and pay the claim of the State OF
Florida on account of expenditures made in sup
pressing Indian hostilities. In introducing the
bill Blr Call said that similar bill! had been be-
fore the Forty eighth Congress. but. at the re-
quest of the then Governor Of Florida. was
allowed to remain Enacted on, because Wash
ington claim agent, named Wales claimed COM
missions amounting TO $62 900 for services" in
connection with it. AS the amount of cash al
lowed by Congress was only $92, 900. there would
be little of the money left after paying the COM
mission. Mr. Cali regarded it reflection
money should be paid, contracted to be paid,
for services never rendered, in connection with
legislation, while soldiers who had rendered hard
service to the State, and the widows and orphans
of such soldiers, went unpaid and unprovided
for Under the circumstances, he regarded
: it as a public scandal that vast sum
of money should be paid TO lawyers, or pre-
tended lawyers, or agents, for votes to be given
in Congress. The idea of paying $62, 600 out of
States claim of $92, 900 should receive public
condemn alton; and Mr.. Call desired, from his
place in the Senate to give public expression to
this opinion. There were no Services" to be
rendered. Mr. Call said, in connection with such
q bin. The question involved was one we'll set
tied by the history OF the country, and 'legisla-
ton on it was nothing new. He believed how
ever, that the government of the United States
should pay interest on the claim of the State
Mr. Platt submitted a resolution for refer
enee to the committee on rules. and it was so
referred, providing that executive nominations
shall hereafter be considered in open session.
Mr.. Plat said he would not care to speak on the
resolution if it should be favorably reported on
by the committee on rules, but would probably
wish to do so if it were adversely reported on.
A resolution offered by Mr.. Edmunds was
r agreed TO- directing the Secretary OF the Navy
4 10 transmit to the Senate copies of the drawings
and report of the recent survey of the Nicaragua
canal route, made by Chief Engineer Menocal
resolution offered by Mr.. Eusts was agreed
to, directing the Secretary Of the Treasury to
inform the Senate whether any instructions had
Orleans to refuse to receive silver dollars on de-
post and issue therefor certificates, or whether
he had been instructed to receive only a limited
amount of such silver dollars and, if such in
struetions has been issued to inform the Senate
the reasons upon which they were based
The Chair laid before the Senate a commun-
cation from the Secretary of War reminding the
Senate, apropos of Mr.. Miller's resolution of yes
terday, that the circular space at the intersec-
Mon of Maryland avenue and First street, at the
western end of the Capitol grounds, had already
been by law set aside for statue of ex-President
! Garfield, and that a contract had been made
with j. @. A. Ward to erect pedestal on the
spot selected for the statue The communica
tisn was laid on the table until Mr.. Morrilrs res
olution should be brought UP.
Proceeding to the calendar, the Senate re-
stunned consideration of the bill to divide the
Eieux Indian reservation in Dakota.
IN the course of the debate Mr. Teller said he
had recently met lady who had built and Or
ganized free schools among the Indian tribes,
one of which coat SIG, 600, and she kept up the
schools by private contributions, furnished by
philanthropic people. Mr.. Teller thought it q
burning shame that individual citizens should
be required TO contribute to Indian education.
while the government had itself undertaken
that task Ii the Secretary of the Interior were
empowered to take Indian boys and girls and to
put them into manual-labor schools whether
their parents were willing or not, those children
would have constituted hostages and would have
prevented further Indian wars. Fifty Apache
Nation millions of dollars.
= Mr. Logan said that if his Mr. Logan'sl prop
csition of ten years ago. in this Senate, had been
agreed TO, there would have been no Indian wars
after that time. His proposition then was that
1t be made penal offense for anybody to sell q
gun or powder. or bullet to an Indian That
was what was the trouble in our Indian affairs.
At 2 o'clock Mr. Vest took the floor on the
Dakota bill. He disclaimed any hostility. per-
sonal or POLITICAL to the people Of Dakota, and
iFcA ~ q m and
proud OF the Western country and its magnif-
cent development. He desired to look at the
question involved in the Dakota proposition
from the standpoint of elevated craftsmanship
mot of partisan bias. In acrimonious spirit
he retorted on the Republicans that never had
they failed to take advantage of party feeling
and bias in putting through their measures. He
AMr. Vestl was Democrat. and was proud of
the fact Without regard to politics, however.
!. in this question, he would be coward if he did
not stand whore he now stood He asked why
repeated references had been made in debate by
the Republicans to party feelings why had refer
ence been made to the fact that the
people of Dakota were largely COM
posed of Union soldiers. and that
that fact might account for their restiveness in
their present political condition. Mr.. Vest could
show. and would before he got through, that
many brave exUnion veterans, who had been
shot, and shelled, and sabre-struck-and he hon
ored them for it-who were now residing in Da-
kota. were earnestly opposed to the measure re-
ported from thegSenate committee on Territories.
But he denied the right of any man to peculiar
privileges in this country because of having
fought under one flag; because of having
espoused a cause; because Of having done his
duty to his principles and convictions as he un-
derstood them. Justics should be done to all
men. Why thrust before the people, in all
financial social and religious relations. the dead
issues of dead strife when country, we
so well heard the other day, is now being hon
estly cemented together By the glorious memo
ries ct the past and the bright anticipations of
the future2
Mr.. Vest read from Dakota newspaper an
editorial which said that Enough one armed
and one-legged Union veterans are in Dakota to
whip whole brigade OF traitorous skunks like
Vest and Butler [laughterl, and you can bet
your boots they can do it any day, right here on
the open plains of the free soil of Dakota and
without resorting to bushwhacking or ku-klux