Omaha daily bee., 1888-01-15
THE MISGUIDED Mr.. MILLS.
He Assumes Too Much Importance
and Makes Himself Absurd.
MAY PROVE A COSTLY BLUNDER.
Not Unlikely to Lose Him Prestige
In the House-A Full Bioodcd
Omaha Distinguishes Him-
sclf-Dakota Affairs.
Made q Mistake.
WASHINGTON BUREAU THE OMAHA BEE, !
b13 t'OyRTrESTu STREET

l
513 FOURTEENTH STREET
WASHINGTON. ID. c., Jan. II.
Neither house of congress was in session
to-day, but there were many of its members
in their seats and about the committee
rooms There was only one subject of gen.
eral comment and that was the exhibition
made in the house late yesterday afternoon
by Chairman Mills of the committee on ways
and means. Speaker Carlisle is reported to
be considerably bored over the incident.
The chairman of the committee on ways and
means has always been recognized as one of
the leaders of the house, the mouth piece of
the speaker and the defender of the admins
tration, should it be on his side politically,
and an influential man in the majority of the
house, but this is the first instance on record
where any single member of the house. not
excepting the speaker has assumed to control
the action of the house on anything and espec-
tally to promise that the house would adjourn
day. The republicans regard the blunder
Mills made when he acknowledged that he
had promised many members to adjourn the
house till Monday as but the beginning of a
series of blunders which will disrobe him of
his prestige and the influence which sur
rounds him as the chairman of the most I'M
portant committee of the house. It will be
remembered that the prediction that Mills
would he made chairman of this committee
was dScrcdited by the most of the people
here last summer and fall, on the ground
that he was too brash and hot-headcd and
hasty to be a leader of the house. Many
| members went to the speaker and
asked him not to place Mills at the
head of the committee for these reasons, rep
resentng to him that the Texan was not a
man of sufficient GOODNESS and foresighted-
ness. If he should make another break like
| the one yesterday he will surely become the
| laughing stock of the entire town.
CONDITION OF THE oMAnAs.
AT the meeting of the board of Indian COM
missioners in session here to-day for the pur-
pose of advancing the interests of Indian ed
| ucation. Thomas Sloan, full l-blooded Omaha
| Indian, a pupil of the Hampton Va, school,
well known in Nebraska, gave very inter
esting history of the rise of his tribe. Mr..
| Sloan is a magnificent specimen of the Indian,
| speaks very good English and his narrative
| showing how his people were brought
from barbarism only thirty years ago
| through the efforts of missionary. work
| to their present condition of civilization was
| attentively listened to. He stated that last
month the Omahas and Winnebagoes were
| admitted to full citizenship, and that before
| casting their vote they resolved not to drink,
| gamble or take bribes at the polls. Most of
the latter, however, had fallen by the way
| side, and were in condition to need mission
| ary assistance.
| Delegate Clifford, of Dakota, told me to-day
| that the senate commission on Indian affairs
| would report unanimously next week in favor
| of opening the Sioux reservation, which block
| AIDES the way to settlement about the Black
| Hills country, and that there was little doubt
| that it had received the hearty support not
| only of the committee once or twice
| before but of the residents and others con
| nected with the administration. Mr.. Clifford
| is member of the house committee on Indian
| affairs and has canvassed the subject i'll that
| branch of congress and is confident that the
| bill will be speedily reported and acted upon
| when it reaches the house. He believes also
| that the bill to dcvide Dakota and providing
| for the admission of the southern nalf to
| statehood will be passed within a month by
| the senate, but he thinks that there Will be
| delay in the house committee as the chair
| man is committed against it. EX-Delegate
| PcttinCrew, who is here working fol
the Sioux reservation bill, and the di
| vision of its territory and statehood
does not think that the house committee will
| report the division and statehood bills at al
| as the majority are afraid that, even though
| it should be reported with unfavorable recog-
| milton, the bill as passed by the senate
| would be taken up and passed either ncrGaiils
| the report of the committee GI' as a substitute
to the one it mipit:.t. report. Inasmuch as there
is II" roiiIics III the Sioux reservation bill. il
| is very probable that it will become a law
within three months.
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