Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1892-02-29
SID CONGRESS.
DIpg'ey ti Maine Presents q
Resolution 10 lhs House.
Iadlan spplop'isll1rs.. ..Ths House Sill
at Work % tho Bill.
Army Officers TO Act as Indian Agents in
Casa af Vaeaueias

| wAsHIseros. Feb. 27.-In the Hou.t
today, Representative DIngley of Mai ls
| presented TO- reference the following pre-
smbie ard resolution:
| whereas, Certain gentlemen who have
| assumed chafze Of the Democratic party
have determined that, in order 20 avoid
| raising direct issue on the principles
| which separate :he Republican and the
Democratic parties in the approaching
| Presidential election. il is necessary to
make the people believe that there is q
question at issue between these parties as
10 whether the appropriations and sxpendi-
| lures for goverDment shali be needless and
| sickedly extrsvsgant or wisely prudent and
economical, and
"Wbersss, these so-eailed leaders OF the
Dsmocfatic party. in pursuance Of this plan
f dcdgirg the resi- Issues Of principle be-
tween the TWO great psrties 10 this cam
p.lgn, and il support Of thei- unfOunded
charges Of wicked extravsgsnce against 3
Republican Congress, and their equally un-
founded claim Of superior honesty and
economy for the present Democratic Con-
gress, have found it necessary 10 defer all
appropriations for public perms-
nent works, snd, as far as possible,
ali appropriations for necessary
objects of government until the second ses-
sion Of the prssent Congress, after the
Presidential election in order that they may
De able 10 point during the campaign TO the
apparent reduction Of appropriations in
support OF their chsrges and claims, regard
less of the cerssinty that this msthod of
procedure will simply render it necessary
rtaffn tnr AaH
cier cies and necessary public works at the
second session Of the present Congress;
therefore,
Resolved, ThA, in order to further this
pisn Of campaign, it is ine1psdient 10 pre-
vide for the construction of any Of the
numerous public buildings which this Con-
gress intends to authorize, until the session,
after the Presidential election shall have
been decided, snd the necessity which. IS
these Demo cratic members think, exists
for pressing the false issue Of economy. in
lieu Of the real issues Of the principle which
divides parties, shall have passed away"
After the transaction Of routine business,
the House went iato committee of the whole
on the Indian appropriation bill.
Bowers Of California offered an amend
ment authorizing the President to detail
officers OF the army as Indian sgeats when
a vscaucy occurr, in any of the agen cies.
In advocating his amendment, Bowers
stated thst, sooner or later, the people
would compel the adoption OF the principle
involved therein The officers of the army
were second to no people on earth in the
matter Of integrity and honor. If they per-
formed the duties Of Indian agents, ihs In
dians wonld be fairly dealt with, The ln-
dams respected the officers, aod IL they
were put in charge of the agencies there
would be no more wars.
Holman of Indiaps offered an amendment
to the amendment, providing that the army
off ,ers while acting IS Indian agents shall
p. under the orders ard direction of the
secretary of the interior Agreed to.
The committee agreed to Bowers amend
meut as amended-l23 TO 43
AL ugh the amendment wss ssreed TO
by the committee, Peel OF Arkansas gave
notice that he " auld ask separate vote
upon it in the House. He thought that 1t
vas too important mstter to be legislated
upon with ut greater dehberstion and con-
.idersiioa than had been given to il.
pickler Of South Dskots, vas opposed to
turning over the civil Establishment to the
mili,sry. He vas opposed to the usurping
IF civil powers by the armg. The Indian
service should rot be turned over to army
officers snd their daughters and sons.
Simpson inq aire whether it wss not worse
to turn it over to politicians who were sp-
rointed in order to DO political Work in the
Western states.
Pickler declared that the gentleman's
position wss an absolutely false one and
one w,thou. foundation. An Indian agent
vas not permitted to leave his reservation
except by permission Of the isterior de-
psrtment.
Simpson replied that for FIVE years he
had lived near an Indian reservation, and
too days nut Of every week tina agent was
absent H. saw that himself.
Pickler-Ths gentleman sees more than
sry other man.
Simpson, see more than you do.
P!ck.er said that he preferred civil
politician to military politician. and an
army officer would become 3 politician IS
soon a. he took charge of an agency.
Butler Of Iowa suggested that the agents
were given hot only permission, but orders.
By the interior department, to go of their
reservations on political business.
Picker denied this assertion in toto.
There were 10 civil officers whose ability
and integrity were so closely inquired into
AZ the Indian agents. There had been
scandals IN the Indian service in years past.
bat there were no scandals nov. He asked
any gentleman to point to An instance where
one dollar had been stolen by An Indian
agent during the last eight years.
"wha, angels" sjacuIsted Grain of
Texas.
They are s. good IS the army officers,"
replied Picker II AN tired OF hearing
army officer. eulogized for honesty over
every class Of citizens Of THE country.
DONE worship at the shrine Of the army"
TIE committee then passed on to con-
,tderaion Of the clause spproptisting
SiO0 900 for the construction and repair OF
lndisn day "a indussrisl chools, and, OF
motion of Lyaeh OF Wisconsin, an amend
ment va. adopted providing thst all school,
houses erected under this appropriation
shall be built on the reservation or as near
the boundary Of the reservation as may be
practicable.
Reed of Maine offered 80 amendment IL
crsssing from $1,000, 600 to 81, 800, 900.
the appropriation for the support OF Indian
day and industrial sChools. Lost
Pending final action 90 the bill, the COM
mistee rose AID the House al lurhed