Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-02-18
FUNNY AS A CIRCUS
Are Some Scenes Enacted in the House
-zv of Representatives.
A NUMBER OF CLEVER CLOWNS
Enliven the Proceedings and Are Most
Heartily Applauded.
THE SENATE MAINTAINS IxS DIGNITY

WASHINGTON, D. c., Feb. 17.-The
House has fairly entered upon the con-
alteration of the appropriations, and the
= second hill of Importance was to-day taken
up-the Indian appropriation. AS is usual
in the discussion of this bill, the Indian
agents and their treatment OF the nation
wards came in for a good deal of denuncia-
I, tion. and to have heard the manner in watch
the bumanitariaus of the House arraigned
: the American Government for its treatment
of the aboriginal red man would have
gladdened the heart of Europe and phil
anthropists. But humanity and sentiment
soon gave way to practical politics, and
then the House had half hours enjoyment
over the lively passage between Representa-
tive Watson, the keen-witted Farmers Al
lance member of Georgia, and Representa-
tive Funston, the sturdy Republican debater
of Kansas. Each gentleman was warmly ap-
pluded by his partisans, and Mr.. Watsons
contest this time happening to be with
Republican he also naturally had the en-
couragement and applause OF the Democratic
side.
No Delay in the Overture.
Immediately after the introduction of
bills and resolutions the House went into
committee of the whole-Mr Bynum, OF
Indiana, IN the chair-on the Indian ap-
preparation bill. The first dispute arose
over the Limitation to be placed upon gen
eral debate-Mr. Peel, of Arkansas, and
Mr. Wilson, of Washington, representing,
respectively, the majority and minority of
the Committee on Indian Affairs, being in
entire accord as to the propriety of restrict
ing the discussion to the smallest possible
compass. But the Peoples party, speak
ing through Mr.. Watson, OF Georgia, and
Mr.. Simpson, of Kansas, insisted upon its
right to debate the measure, and its protest
against limitation finally proved OF some
avail, as the discussion was begun without
anv limitation being ordered.
Mr. Peel made the opening speech. and
fully explained the provisions of the bill.
Mr. Stockdale, of Mississippi, criticized
the appropriation for the Indian school at
Carlisle, Pa, characterizing it as 100000
folly He protested against taking money
out of the pockets of his people to pay for
boarding schools for Indians The Indians
were as able to work as were the people he
represented, black and white, and yet his
people were taxed to-day for the transpor-
tation OF Indians in palace cars to Carlisle.
Determination on Color.
The colored people worked day by day to
furnish the money that Congress appropri-
ated to the Indians; and vet the United
States refused to give to those colored peo-
pie dollar for the education of their peo-
pie. The States had come to their relief,
and Mississippi IN proportion to her wealth,
gave more money TO the education of the
colored race than did the State of Massa-
chusetts Representing poor people, white
-,
that money should not be taken from them
and paid in folly He did not believe the
chocls had ciYilizing influence upon the
sndians.
Mr.. Watson, of Georgia, SAID his heart
was bleeding with sense of the distress of
the people he REPRESENTED. But his voice
could never be raised in this hall against 5
fair, liberal and wise appropriation for the
red men of the West Applause. What
this people wanted was not stinginess in the
treatment of other people, but Justice to
themselves. Give them fair laws-laws
that recognized no special class; that recog-
nized no special privileges. Referring to
the agricultural interests of the country, he
argued that the prices of the product of the
farmers had been greatly decreased owing
to the financial laws now in force. He was
frequently interrupted by Mr.. Funston, OF
Kansas-whom be dubbed Farmer Funston
and the colloquy between the two gentle
men was amusing, though carried on amid
confusion which rendered their voices al
most indistinguishable.
The Specially Favored Rich.
Mr. Watson declared that, according to
the report of the superintendent of the GEN.
sus, every man, woman and child in the
land was entitled to 81 900, but under the
law the money had been dumped into the
hands of those who had special privileges.
Those sections Of the country where rail-
roads, where banks thrived, where monopo-
lies thrived, had been bufit up at the e1-
pense of the agricultural interests For the |
last % years the national banks had had the |
peoples money for per cent, and had been
making money by lending it to the people |
TO whom it belonged at between and 80 |
per cent
At this point Mr. Funston again inter- |
rupted, and despite Mr. Watson's refusal to |
YIELD and his suggestion that Mr.. Funston |
had better resume his seat, continued to ply |
Mr. Watson with questions, much to the !
merriment of the House. The confusion |
was great, and it was in vain that the Chair |
man reminded Mr. Funston that the gentle /
man from Georgia could not be interrupted |
without his consent. Mr.. Funston was per-
sistent in his queries, and his persistency led |
The Chairman or the gentleman from Kan
sas?'
Continuing, Mr.. Watson attacked the |
national banking laws, and many of his |
statements were contradicted BY Mr.. |
Funston. One of Mr.. Funston's queries |
was 'Does the gentleman mean to say that !
the Government loans money to national
banks for the purpose of circulation?''
''There is no gentleman who has heard |
me that does not understand me, was Mr.. /
Watson's terse response. [Applause.l
Great Inducement Held Out
eff you show this House." continued Mr.
Funston, "that the Government has loaned |
one dollar to national banks for purposes of
circulating, will resign nv seat in favor of |
a Democrat. Applause. I'll
''The inducement is very great" retorted
Mr.. Watson, amid increased merri ment and |
Democratic applause
In conclusion, Mr.. Watson said that the
bankers, the manufacturers and the railroads
had asked Congress for donations. The
farmers had asked for nothing, Glass legis-
lation had been the ruin of the country.
Gentlemen talked about the defense of the
country by the construction of a navy, by
the erection OF forts but the strongest de- |
tense the country could have was in the
strong arms of her citizenship The best
bulwark of constitutional government was
in the hearts of the people and a govern
ment that recognized no special class or sec
tion, but did the right thing, whether to
the red man, the black man or the white
man.
After further debate the committee rose
and the House adjourned.
SERENITY In THE SENATE.