Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-02-05
AT THE CAPITOL TO-DAY.
THE OKLAHOMA BILL.
1t is Discussed in the Senate.
NICARAGUAN CANAL BILL
Being Debated in the House.
'eing Debated in the House
The Senate.

10 tne committee on terrltorles, ana Mr.. Dawes
moved its reference to the committee on In
dian affairs. In support of his motion, Mr..
Dawes said that the real substance of the bill,
and everything pertaining to it, was the treat
ment of the Indians in that region and their
relations to the general government. Those
relations mad been n difficult question for a
great many years. and had invariably been re-
ferred TO the committee on Indian affairs.
With the exception of the little strip called mo
Man Land" (thirty miles wide and two hun
dred long), the whole of the proposed terri
tory was now held by the Indians under differ
ent titles. more or less exclusive. The COM
mittee on Indian affairs had had the subject
before it ever since the idea of establishing a
territorial government there had taken FORM
MIR. Platt disdained having any personal in
terest In the reference of the bill as he was
member of each of them. He thought il
scarcely decorous, however. to take from the
territorial committee a bill providing for the
organization of new territory. Such thing
had never bee n done in the history of the gov
ernment, either in the Senate or the House.
He confessed to
SOME DECREE OF ABATEMENT AND AsToNIsHMEST
at such motion being made. 1t might just as
well be put in the form Of abolishing the CON-
mittee on territories.
Mr.. Cockrell thought there might be very
reasonable doubt as to which committee the
bill should go to. and that it might appropri-
ately be referred to either. But he hoped that
whichever committee took charge of it it would
take early action in reporting it back to the
Senate.
Mr.. Chace asked Mr. Platt how many white
inhabitants there were rightfully settled within
the proposed territory.
MIR. Platt replied that there were supposed to
be more in that portion of it where the Indians
claimed right or title. But there were thirty
or forty or fifty people in No-Man's-Land; and
there we're two railroads running through the
territory.
Mr.. Chace said that he SO understood the
facts, and that it was well-settled principle
that no territorial government should be set up
It's boundaries. The evidence was patent that
this bill was
wELI-LAID SCHEME
to encroach upon Indian rights and to rob the
Indians. There were rich and fertile lands in
the territory and people were looking upon
them with longing eyes. Much of these lands
were held by the Indians under treaties which
could not be honorably violated. He was
not member of either committee: but it
seemed to him that the question which should
rule the reference of the bill was, whether the
rights of the Indians were to be affected by it.
The idea of raising mo Mans Land" to the
dignity OF territory was belittling to the
whole question. 1t was
LITTLE STRIP OF LAND
Mr.. Cockrell-It is larger than the state of
Rhode Island
MIR. Chace-It is not larger in the number of
its inhabitants or in the interests involved.
The state of Rhode Island had right to state
hood under compact with the United States
before the state of Missouri was dreamed of;
and in all the elements of civilization of intel
ligence, OF enterprise, and of everything
which goes to make great commonwealth she
stands to-day far in advance of that benighted
state.
Mr.. Manderson asked Mr. Chase if he took
the position that the condition of the Indians
in the territory would not be improved if they
owned their lands in severalty and had terri
torial government.
MR.. CHASE REPLIED
by asking Mr.. Henderson whether territorial
government should be set up over the Indians
before they asked for it.
Mr.. Manderson-The two can 60 hand in
hand.
Mr.. Hoar suggested that il was in perfect con-
formity with the custom of the Senate to refer
such matters to two committees. The question
presented in the bill purely an Indian
question. and the bill should therefore be
first submitted to the committee on Indian
affairs. After that committee reported the bill
might then be referred to the committee on
territories.
Mr.. Cullom thought Mr.. Hoar had put the
case wrong and that the bill should first go to
the committee on territories. and then if it
affected the rights of Indians it should go to
the committee on Indian affairs.
Mr.. Butler (as a member of the committee
on territories) said that if the bill went before
that committee the rights of the Indians would
imposing n territorial government over the
Indian territory without their full and free con-
sent.
THE BILL REFERRED.
After further Observation-Disclosures in by
by Senators Morgan, Coke, Platt, Dawes and
Blair-the bill was referred to the committee
on territories-yeas, SO; nays, IL.
House of Representatives.
On motion of Mr.. Kelley Pa.) the Senate
amendment was concurred in to the House bill
for the retirement of Gen. VIM. F. Smith. CAS-
finally agreed TO, the bill authorizes his retire
ment with the rank of major of engineers)
THE NICARAGUAN CANAL BILL.
Mr.. Clardy (Mo.) called up and the House
proceeded to the consideration of the confer
ence report ON the Nicaraguan canal bill.
Mr.. Cobb Ala. thought that the House owed
il to itself to reject the report. After mature
consideration the House had put upon the Sem
ate bill certain amendments for the protection
of the government. The amendments from
which the House eonferees had receded Vere
those which were pecuilarly obnoxious to the
promoters of the scheme. One OF them was
that which required the printing on the obliga-
tions of the company of the proviso, declaring
that the government shall not be liable on ac-
count of the company.
Mr.. Rayner (Md:) said that there was no
sense in the amendment, and for that reason
the House conferees had receded from it. 1t
would have the effect of intimidating and
FRIGHTENING PEOPLE FROM BUYING THE STOCK.
Mr.. Cobb thought that there was no force in
this reasoning The conferees had been ten
der-footed from first to last upon this point.
When called upon to give their reasons for re-
ceding the gentleman from Maryland said that
the amendment was absurd The House of
Representatives by majority Of 100 on Q yea
and nay vote had put it on the bull and vet
the gentleman said IL was absurd
UNIQUE.
The gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Ciardy)
had characterized it a. unique. And yet the
conferees had retained the amendment reouir.
ing private corporation to make an annual
report to the Secretary of the Interior. There
Was something unique about that It was .
stride toward Capitalization. Considering the
question Of granting the incorporation Mr..
Cobb declared that it was not fitting for Q great
government like the United States to put the
power in the hands of setof men TO 20 abroad
and get money under false, .pretenses. There
m nill;oua II, f<, he sr,,<,rr.or~x <ta