The semi-weekly tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1890-1891, 1891-01-07
GRANNY H0AR IS DISCOASOLATE.
The Republican Caucus Resolves
Itself Into an lnquest-GloOm
on the Republican Side
Of the Senate.
Noble Unbosoms Himself on
the Indian SituatiOn-He Does
not Want the Red Man
Turned Over to the
War Depart
ment,

WASHINGTON, Jan. 5.-On motion of
Senator Stewart by a vote of "a to 30 the
elections bill was displaced aud the silver
bill taken up in its place.
HOW IT HAPPENED.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 5.-The action of
the senate IN d%isplacing the elections bill
with the financial bill was a complete
surprise to the friends of the former
measure and several of the republican
silver senators, who voted for the motion,
say it was withoat prior knowledge. on
their part. So far as can be learned the
arrangement to displace the elections hill
was not effected until some time after the
senate met, though there had been some
quiet consultation prior to today on the
subject. 1t is understood that Senators
Stewart and Teller1 were the principal
movers in the scheme. The matter was
kept SO quiet that the Idaho senators
wen did not know what motion was to
be made. Senator Shoup says he was
told not to go away, that something of
interest to silver was to take place but he
did not know what was gong to happen.
The democrats are rejoicing over the dis
placement of the elections bill and think
it has received its death blow. The
financial bill must now be displaced by
q direct vote ami has the colgn of vantage
occupied by the election bill. 1t has the
right of way and the resolution to bring
the fight to an end was reached suddenly
by the silver senators and was preclpi-
tated by the decision to hold a republican
caucus toni. ut. 1t has not yet been de-
cideI whether or 10 to abandon tonight's
caucus, but there is a prospect of its Iost-
ponement until the republicans can get
matters into better shape. A democratic
senator said it would be an inquest and
not a caucus when it was held.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 5.-The secretary of
the interior, under date of January 3,
1891, approved the instructions submitted
by the commissions of the general land
office, under the railroad forfeiture act of
September 20, 1890.
The commissioner of Indian affairs
says to the best of his knowledge and be-
lief the Sioux Indians of South Dakota
are not starving, and that he has reason
to think the statements regarding their
restitution arc grossly exaggerated. 1t
Is true, he says, that congress has greatly
reduced the appropriations for the Sioux
and other tribes, and that the agreements
made with them have been only partially
fulfilled. Whose fault 1t was he could
not say. The recent outbreak was, lie
thought, partially due to the reason above
stated, the failure of crops and religious
craze. He was opposed to the transfer OF
the control of the Indians to the war de.
partment. The following table shows
the amount by which the estimates of the
Indian bureau has been reduced by con
gress from and including 1879: 1879
$1O5. 900; 1880, 100000; 1881, $S5,000
1859. $l25. 900; 1883, $275,O 600; 1884
$275, 900; 1885, $375, OGN 1886, $780, 600
1887, $500, 900; 1888, 100000; 1889, no re-
duction; 1890, 100000; 1891, $4,000
II INDIAN SITUATION.
Secretary Noble was questioned II
day as to what action had been taken OF
recomme ndation of Gen. Miles that tn,
Indian agents at South Dakota agencieI
be relieved from further duty and tina
their places be filled by military officers
The secretary SAID he would not care
to disc ss the matter further than t.
say the subject had not been mentioned
by any one with authority to act in TIL
matter.
1t is believed, however, that should
Gen. Miles recommendation be suit
mitted to him by the president for hi
views, the secretary would strongly oppos1
the transfer. The agents sought to be re
lieved are regarded as competent Official
and any attempt to substitute the m%ilitar.
for civil supervisors of the Sioux would
undoubtedly be met with vigorous oppo
sition by the interior department officials
The secretary spoke with some earnest
ness of the reports that have been in cir
culatiOn recently to the effect that tn
Indians were in a starving condition an,
that the pending trouble grew out of tn
fact that the government had not KEEP
their agreement with the Sioux, but on tn
contrary had already begun to cut dow
%rations supplied to them in violation o
all treaty obligations. The secretary de
%nounced these statements as entirely false
Gen. Morgan, commissioner of India
affairs, says he is ready to go to DaKot
to treat with the Indians If the presiden
and secretary of the interior desire hin
to do 30.
WANTS ri COAL.
Representative Clunie of California to
day introduced a bill to place cassiterit
bar, block and pig tin; coal, bituminou
and shale, and coal-slack or culm on thu
free list.
APPROPRIATIONS FOL THE INDIANS.
There was today laid before the hous
a letter from the commissioner of In
dian affairs to the secretary of the int
rior, giving it a. his opinion that tn
relief fund should be furnished by con
gress so as to enable the department t
assist all Indians who require aid thi
winter not only with food, but also in tn
purchase of seeds and other articles re
quired for planting in the spriug, and t
grant immediate assistance when required
He submits a draft of items to b
inserted In the Indian appropriations bill
proposing appropriations of 100000 70
the purposes mentioned. The tribes ar
pealing to the government for help ar
principally Yankton Sioux of Sout
Dakota, Arickaries, G%rosventres an
Mandans at Fort Berthold agency, N. /
and northern A%rapahoes of Wyoming an
Sisseton and Devil Lake Indians c
North and South Dakota.