New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-07-02
DIRECTING TO ITEMS IN THE INDIAN BILL
AN EFFORT TO STOP APPROPRIATIONS FOR De
NoMINATIONAL SCHOOLS AMONG
THE RED MEN.

Tie officers OF the National League for the Pro
lection of American Institutions are engaged IN an
earnest effort 10 defeat certain items In the oul
making appropriations for the current and contingent
expenses OF the Indian Department" on the ground
that they give money for sectaran religious purposes
The secretary Of the League, Dr. James VI. King
has Just returned from Washington where he has been
carrying on the work. The bill has already passed
the sHouse and all efforts concentrated on the
senate where the matter came up saturday. DR.. King
presented a protest against the bill which read in
the Senate referred to the Committee Appropriations
and placed IN the hands Of every senator. As result
Of his action tie matter postponed uRtl to-day.
The items that the League especially object to
are the appropriation for ST. Josephs Normal school
at Rensselaer, Ind. Of $3.50; Of S12,5oO Tor st.
Bonifaces Industrial school Banning Cal, and The
Holy Family Indian school at Blackfoot Agency, MonI
They also protest against amendment offered oy
senator Pierce giving 5000 to tie Sisters Of Chality
for the school at Devils Lake Agency, y. ID. Tley
say this school was built by the Government ana
should not be set apart for sectaran purposes.
The protest SAYS that the Indian Office has elaborated
a Uniform course Of study for the indian SCHOOLS
and asked the sectarlan schools receiving Government
aid 10 follow It. All but those under Roman Catholic
management complied, but Their refusal defeated the
workings Of the system. The denominauonal schools
have arrested the development Of the Government
cbooIs N such an extent that the Commissioner Of
Indian Affairs says:
=There are many Government schools that heea
s,Ipport. but have not the money, We have impo'T-
isbed Government schools IN our effort 70 help contract
schools"
Tie protest quotes from the last message OF US
President showing that he takes the same position
with REGARD 10 the National schools as the League does
and shows that in spite OF the settled policy Of the
Indian Office in the direction Of the development Ok
the public school system among the Indians me
appropriations for the denomnatlonal schools nave III
creased from 1928 259 in 1o56 10 S56l,91O III l79o'
OF this amount S356957, or 20 per cent, went 10
Roman Catholic schools while IN 1856 sll7,1f- OF
:. per cent went 10 the end. AT present the
"Bureau OF Catholic Indian Missions has applications
on file for 1923 1856 more and the pending bill gives
them slO533o This is in contrast 70 the ga, 20
given 10 Episcopal schools which are widely nO't,i
for their work. and to the S2o4J'3 gwen 20 An
Protestant schools in 1890 The Government schg"a
had I'm 1889 $3.50 pupils, decrease from looo1 NHio
the contract schools had 5,124, ana the huhDe' -
gradually increasing u the great detFlnent OF Le
system which the Indian Department seeks 20 follow,
IN view Of these facts the League takes te pOsluou
that congress should not tlrn over the eouCduoh oi
ire wards 10 any religious denomination wn$teVeI anu
asks that after timely notification 10 the pNutS
INTERESTED the Government appropriations LOT dehou
national schools among the Indians shall permanently