The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1890-07-25
10, THE POOR RED MAN.
Shall HeBe Educated In the School
Of Religious Bodies?

WASHINGTON, July 24.-In the Senate
today, Mr.. Morgan introduced bill to fix
limit of value and provide for the free
coinage Of silver, which was referred to the
committee on finance. 1t recltes that the
market value of silver bullion is rapidly ap-
preaching the value Of gold on the standard
Of their relation fixed by the laws Of the
United States: NO provision has been
made by law for the coinage Of standard sill
yer dollars or the purchase Of silver bullion
by the government when the value of silver
bullion exceeds a dollar for 37t grains Of
pure silver. The bill pr0vids that the unit
of value in the United States shall be dol
lar OF 4121 grains standard silver or 25 $40
grains gold and that those coins shall be le-
gal tender for all debts. public AMI private.
Any owner OF silver or gold bullion may de-
posit 1t at any mint to be formed into dollars
or bars for his benefit without charge.
The Senate resumed consideration of the
Indian appropriation bill. The amendment
increasing the appropriation of 100000 for
the support of Indian schools to St50,000 in
Guiding the construction Of school building
at the Blackfeet agency, Montana, was op-
posed by Mr.. Vest as the introduction Of a
system to abolish UNCONVENTIONAL education
among the Indians. He spoke Of the official
visit he made to the Indian agency seven or
eight years ago and of his observation Of the
work Of the Catholic church In educating
Indians. The school building erected there
by the Catholic church was then standing
unoccupied because the agent would not per.
s ;lit The lesuits to teach Indian children.
The Jesuits had sa6S5oaed better than any
other people living in the eo9catlon OF the
Indians.
Mr.. Teller spoke of the Catholics astae
most successful educators Of the indians.
Mr.. Blair remarked that 1t was very clear
from the discussion that the Indian children
Of the country were much better off in the
matter OF expenditure for education than
white and colored children. The amend
ment was agreed to.
The next amendment to provoke discus
sion was one to strike out the item Of $3.50
for the support and education Of 60 Indian
pupils at st. Joseph's Normal School, at
Rensselaer,, Indiana, and S12, 500 for 100 Indi-
an children at Holy Family Indian school,
Blackfeet Agency, Mont.
Mr.. Dawes stated the committee had de-
cided not to go further than the present con-
dition OF affairs In appropriating govern
ment money for the maintenance Of schools
Of particular religious denominations. IL
the amendments were adopted, the existing
state Of things in that particular would be
precisely what 1t was last year. Every con-
tract with the various denominations had
been renewed on the old terms except as to
one one school. Inc reason why the contract
with that school was not renewed was
because it had taken pay for 60
students while 1t had only 40.
Mr.. Davis inquired to what denomination
the school belonged and Mr.. Dawes said he
had abstained from making that enquiry.
The present Indian Bureau was In favor Of
div0rcing the government absolutely from
par0chlal schools and found 1t impossible.
In order TO avoid discussion the policy was
adopted Of maintaining the condition of
things precisely as 1t was, but not enlarging
the connection Of the government with de-
nominational schools That policy was sup
posed to have allayed the agitation on all
sides, but there was very efficient, urgent
and active Catholic Bureau Of Missions in
Washington City which was very earnest in
ernment. He would want no better object
lesson than the difference between the Mis-
sion Indians Of Southern California and the
aggressive Cheyennes and Arapahoes. The
Mission Indians had been under the influence
OF the Catholic church 125 years, and today
were as incapable Of self support as so many
babes.
Mr.. Reagan declared himself opposed to
any connection between church and state,
and to all UNCONVENTIONAL schools.
Mr.. Davis said If the government chose to
educate Indian children In Catholic, Method
ist, or Baptist schools, 1t had q right to do
so. The government had the right to take
advantage OF the facilities the pioneers of
Christianity offered it.
When the vote was taken the amendments
were rejected and the Items were accordingly
retained in the BILL the vote standing, yeas,
10; nays, 27. The bill was then passed. The
tariff bill came up as unfinished business
and the Senate adjourned.