Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1892-02-18
IN THE HOUSE.
The Land Appropriation Bill Under Dis
cussion by the House.

WASHINGTON, Feb. H. - The House
went iIto committee Of the whole on tha
land appropriation bill. Peli explained
the proyi 'ions OF lhs bill, stating the law
for The current year on its face appropri-
sted sl7 ,65l s42. and of this sum s9,6l4,
89s was to pay fos lands purchased from
.he various Indian tribes. This amount
was not properly cnaraeable to the appro-
prislion bill for ludian service for thai
year. This, being deducted from the face
Of the law, she appropriation for the year
was SIS O3G,9 ,9t4.
The pending bill appropriated 81 ,2S6. 7S7
being $40. ,0j5 less than the amount car
ried by the Lass bill upon its face, and
$500, l57 less than the total Of that measure
after d, ducting the smount paid for lands.
Wilson of Washington said the committee
on Indisn affairs had given careful consider
alton to the bill. and had attempted to re-
port measure just, right and fair to the
Indian service.
Slockdsle Of Mississippi thought the sp'
preparation for the support Of Indian agents
was exuAvsgant.
Watson, Georgis, said that his heart was
bleeding with the sense Of distress of the
people he represented, but HE voice could
never be raised in this hall sgainst a fair,
liberal and wise appropriation for the red
men Of the West. Whist his people wanted
was not s,inginess in the treatment of other
people. but justice to themselves. Give
tht m fair laws, LAYS that recognized no
special class, and recognized 10 special
privileges.
Watson argued that prices Of farm Iro-
duets had been greatly decreased, owing 10
the tinsr cisl laws in force. He declared
that according 10 the report Of the superin-
tendent Of the census. every man, woman
ard chilli in the land was entitled TO $1,000.
but under the ls~ the money had been
dumped into the hand of those who had
special privileges. Those sections Of thu
country where railroads., bsnGs and moDop-
clies thrived, were built up at the expense
Of the agricultural interests. For % years
the national banks had the peoples
money for one per cent, and had been
lending it to people to whom it belonged, at
between 8 ard 80 per cent.
Watson then attacked the nstionsl bank
i7g laws, macy OF l4is statements being con-
trsdic,ed by Funston of Kansas. Watson
ss!d the bankers, manufacturers and rail
rosds asked Congress for donations. The
ihE 5shtu tiAse
ton has been the ruin OF the country.
Pendleton Of West Virginia said that as
long as the Indian question was handled by
the poets, the sentiIuentsists and d.
alists of Boston Rno the East it would re-
main a burning question. No Injustice
was being done tbs Indians today.
For all the lands the government
had taken from the Western Indians it
had given ample compensation. No race
of ssvsges had the moral right to occupy 3
vast Continent as happy hunting field,
when millions were aspiring to cultivate
and develop such Continent for the benefit
Of all mankind.
The goverpment is nov spending annU
ally IS 900 600 to bring up the Indians in
idleuess. IL should trest them as it did
o.her citizens. Let them work, and
il they did not behave let them be
killed, as other citizens would be killed un-
der like circumstances. After further de
bate the committee rose and the House ad
j0urned.