The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1886-07-08
From the Capital.

hAsHISGToS. July THE President,
to-day, sent to the Senate, without his
approval, the bill granting to railroads
the right of way through the indian
reservation in northern Montana. The
reservation referred to-" the President
saws: stretches across the extreme
northern part of Indiana, with British
America for its northern boundary. 1t
contains an ARIA of over 5000 square
miles. 1t Is dedicated to indian oc-
cupancy by the treaty OF October 18th,
1855, and the act of Congress of April
10th. 1864. No railroads are within inn
mediate approach TO its boundaries, and
only one, as shown in the recent
maps, IS under construction an a
neighoorhood leading in is direction.
The surrounding cOu2try is sparsely
settled, and l have been unable to as
certain that the necessities OF COM
merce, or any public exigencies, demand
this legislation, which would affect so
seriously the rights and
INTERESTS OF INDIANS
occupying the reservation. The bill is
in the nature of 2 general right Of way
for railways through this reservation.
The Indian occupants have not given
their consent, neither have they been
consulted regarding it, nor is there
any provision in 1t for securing their
consent or agreement % the location
or construction of the railroad. If the
United States must exercise lis rights of
eminent domain over the Indian Terri
tories Tor the general welfare OF the
whole country, It should be done eau
tiOusly with due regard for the interests
OF the Indians and to greater effect than
the exigencies of the public service re-
quires. The President thenstates that bills
tending somewhat in the direction OF
this general charactero of legislation af-
fecting the rights of Indians reserved to
them by treaty stipulations, have been
presented 10 them during the present
session OF Congress, which have re-
ceiYed his RELUCTANT approval, though
be Is by no means certain that u mis-
take has not been made in passing such
laws without providing for consent to
such grants by the Indian occupants,
and otherwise more closely guarding
their rights and interests. Il hoped, -
the President SAYS. that each OF the
bills, as it received my approval. would
be the last OF the kind presented"
He says, in conclusion, The bill now
before me is much more general
in its terms than those which have pre-
ceded it. 1t ignores the right Of the
Indians TO be consulted as to the dis
position of their lands. 1t invites a
general invasion of the Indian country
l em impressed with the belief that the
bill does not sufficiently guard against
an invasion of the rights and disturb
ance of the peace and quiet of the In
dians on the reservation mentioned,
nor am 1 satisfied legislation is de-
manded by any exigency Of the public
welfare.
EoMISATIoSs.
Postmasters-Jeremiah J. Hennessy.
White SuIpher Springs, N. T.; Robert
K. Nandeuer, Ration, n. NJ; John A.
Harris, Cheney, ". t.; J. ]. Mueller.
Ellinsbury. w. T.
The report upon the La Abra
MEXICAN CLAIM
Prepared by Senator Morgan, was
reported to the Senate to-day, 1t says
the country will not be satisfied that
its honor has been indicated by a mere
rejection-of the convention when the
vote of the Senate does not clear up or
explain the strong array of facts which
tend to show that the demand against
Mexico is unjust and has no substantial
foundation.
Senator Brown made long minority
report adverse to the bill