National Republican., 1886-07-08
A RAILROAD BILL VETOED.

Because 1t Invites General Invasion
of the Indian Country-Several Other
Reasons Stated.
The President yesterday sent TO the SEN
ate without his approval the bill granting
TO railroads right Of way through the In
dian reservation In northern Montana. The
President says!
The reservation referred to stretches across
the extreme northern part of Montana terri
tory, with British America for It's northern
boundary. II contains an area of over 10000
square miles. 1t is dedicated to Indian occu.
pancy by treaty Of oct IL, 1850, and act of
Congress OF April II, 1874. No railroads are
within immediate approach to its boundaries,
and only one, as shown on recent maps, is
under construction in the neighborhoOd lead.
ing In its direction. The surrounding country
is sparsely settled, and have been unable TO
ascertain that the necessities OF commerce or
any public eXigencies demand this legislation
which would affect so seriously the rights aud
interests of the Indians occupying the reserva.
tion. The bill is in the nature of n general
right OF way for railroads through this Indian
reservation. The Indian occupants have not
given their consent 70 1t, neither have they
been consulted regarding II, nor is there any
provision in 1t for securing their consent or
agreement to the location or construction of
Iailoads upon their lands. the United
States must exercise its right of eminent do.
main over the Indian territories for the gen.
eral welfare of the whole country, II should be
done cautiously, with due regard for the in.
terests OF the Indian, and to no greater extent
than the eXigencies OF the public service 70.
quire.
The President then states that bills tend
ing somewhat In the direction OF this gem
eral character Of legislation, affecting the
rights Of the Indian reserved to them by
treaty stipulations have been presented to
him during the present session OF Congress
which have received his rell Giant approval,
though he is by no means certain that a
mistake has not been made In passing such
laws without providing for the consent to
such grants by the Indian occupants, and
otherwise more closely guarding their
rights and interests. 81 hoped,n the Presi-
dent says, "tbat each OF these bills as 1t
received my approval would be the last OF
the kind presented" He says, in conclu-
| sion:
The bill now before me is much more gen.
| eral in its terms than those which have pre-.
| ceded 1t. 1t ignores the right of the
Indians to be consulted as 10 the disposition OF
| their lands. II invites general in.
vasion OF the Indian country. "a am
impressed with the belief that the bill under
consideration does mott sufficiently guard
| against an invasion of the rights and n distur.
| bance OF the peace and quiet OF the Indians on
| the reservation mentioned, nor am / satisfied
| that the legislation proposed Is demanded by
| any eXigency of the public welfare,
| A RAILROAD BILL BECOMES A LAW.
The President has allowed the act author
izing the Kansas City, Fort Scott and Gull
Railroad Company to construct and operate
a railway through the Indian territory tC
become law, without his signature, undel
the ten days limit.