St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1892-03-31
WHO SHALL BOSS LO?
Senator's Discuss the Proposal
to Make Indian Agents Of
Army Officers.
Bad Blankets, Shoddy Cloth
ing and Able-Bodied Bacon
Touched Up.
Springer's Free Wool Bill to
Be Brought to a Vote
at Once.
Roger @. Mills Entrance as
a Member EnliVenS the
Senate.

WASHINGTON, March 30.-The Indian
appropriation bill was taken up in the
senate today, and the discussion which
was begun last week OH the subject of
army officers being assigned to the du-
ties of Indian agents was continued,
Mr.. Petugrew being the first to address
the senate on the subject. He opposed
the proposition as a step backward, and
argued that army officers did not pos
SesS the necessary qualifications, and
were not familiar with the business.
While the clerk was reading a long
and tedious letter from Commissioner
Morgan to Mr. Pettigrew as a part Of
that gentleman's speech, the attention
of the presiding officer was called by
Senator Turpie to the fact that major
ity of senators was failing to receive
the benefit of the views set forth in the
letter. This neceSsitated a call Of the
senate; and during its progress many
of the abSentees came in, so that forty
eight senators (three more than quo
rum answered their names.
Mr.. Pettigrew appealed to the senate
in the interest of humanity and civiliza-
ton to strike out the proposition. Some
of the points made by Mr.. Pettigrew
were replied to Ivy Mr.. Proctor-particu-
larly one as to the
Troubles at Pine Ridge.
II there had been three or four army
officers at the PINE Ridge Agency, Mr..
Proctor believed that those troubles
would not have occurred there and that
the millions OF money expended and
the lives lost would have been saved.
A dissertation upon the general policy
of the country followed Oh the part of
Nh PETER. The discussion was con-
tinued by Mr.. HaWley, who favored the
proposed assignment of army officers to
the duties of Indian agents and who
was inclined to think the better of
1t the more objections he heard
urged against it; and by Mr..
Henderson, who expressed his belief
that the provision was very wise one;
and that with army officers as Indian
agents the era of bad blankets, shOddy
clothing and rancid bacon would be at
all end.
Mr.. Hawley moved to amend the
house provision by adding to it pro-
7iSo that whenever The president shall
be Of opinion that the good OF the serv-
ice specially requires it, he may appoint
a civilian. He was asked by Mr.. Palmer
whether the word specially" had any
significance, and replied it had in com
mon conversation, and that the law was
not much of fool.
Dawes Grows Eloquent.
The discussion. which had lasted over
two hours, was closed by Mr.. Dawes,
chairman of the committee Oh Indian
affairs, VINO had charge of the bill--In
all argument against the house pro-
vision as being a radical change in the
administration of the Indian service-a
change sprung by single member of
the house, and which had not received
the sanction of any executive officer.
He complImented MIR. Proctor's brilliant
administration of the war department,
although the Pine Ridge difficulties,
which had occurred during that admin
iStTation. S''reSulting in Il cold-blooded
butchery of l50 men and women and a
debt of S2,500,0G0, formed no part Of its
glory"
If civil places were wanted for the
200 supernumerary, highly educated
army officers, why not (Mr. Dawes
asked find places for them in the Gus
toms service, which was so rotten, or in
the land office service, which had been
so run riot with by political hucksters
out in the Western country? The COM
mittee OH appropriations, he stated, were
unanimous IN recommending that the
house provision be struck out. Finally
Mr.. Hawley's amendment to the house
provision was agreed to; and without
reaching a vote on the amendment TO
strike out the house provision the SEN
ate adjourned