The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-07-21
THE PUYALLUP BILL.
Senate Begins Consideration, to
Be Continued Today.
sp=EcH BY SENATOR ALLEN.
D.mocratic Congressmen Indict Russell
Hsrrison-senator Vest Condemns
tho Anticipation Bill.

WASHINGTON CITY, July 20. Especial. l.
The Puyallup Indian bill was taken up for
consideration in the Senate today. 1t Gre
.ted good deal of debate, and more than
.be usual interest in a local measure of
this kind. The debate was participated in
nv such well-known legislators
a. Senators Plat of Connecticut. Villas Of
wisconsin. Mitchell of Oregon and others.
Senator Allen made an able presentation
Of his side in the contest, but owing to
lack of time the completion of the debate
and the vote had to be postponed until to-
morrow. In presenting the subject to the
Senate, Mr.. Allen said in part:
The state of Washington, in great difference
10 the congress OF the United states, as much as
state can show to the general government,
vben il was called upon to act in the matter
made provision in the act passed by the state
legislature that it should take effect
~ be In force after the removal
Of the restrictions should have been given by
the United States. The legislature of the state
n Washington enacted that law upon the re.
ouest and for the accommodation OF every In
dividual member of the Puyallup Indian
tribe / have presented the petition of
the state legislature and of the city
Of Tacoma, a city of 10000 population, situated
near this reservation, whose very interest 10
directly affected by the incubus that is placed
upon these lands
The Puyallap Indians are remarkable tribe
Of indians, to begin with. In 1854 treaty was
entered into between the United states and
this tribe At that time they were a tribe
of Indians who owned horses, traversed the
mountains and ranged the forest. 1t shows
that these Indians were navigators, because in
this treaty is stipulation that they should con-
fne their trade to the United States. Now, all
that bespeaks great deal of capacity the party
OF these Indians, even in the year of 1854.
They had been brought in contact with the
whites from that early day in trading in furs,
notably with the Hudson Bay Company, and
had il measure adopted their habits. The
government undertook to furnish certain edu-
cational facilities TO these Indians, and
the treaty stipulated further that il would
nav them $4,000, the last installment to
terminate in twenty fvc years. Although these
Indians wen. to war within six months after
the treaty and killed number of whites, the
government overlooked this offense and en-
tered apon the conclusion OF the treaty.
From that day forward the In
dams have made wonderful strides in civil.
ization until, at the present day, they have a
high grade of civil zstion, owning their own
homes. cultvating the land, respecting the
marriage relations and, in general,
adopting the habits of the whites. The
government in its treaty had empowered
these Indians with the oil rights of citizenship,
the suffrage as we'll, and yet when It comes to
giving the power OF dsposing of their property,
congress says they are incapacitated. while per-
iecty capable of performing all other duties
and the rights of citizenship.
After referring to certain. qualities of the
Indians, the senator concluded:
have offered substitute for the committees
bill which proceeds directly in the line of the
treaty The treaty of 1854 provided that
after these lands Were patented to them they
should not be subject to sale or forfeiture until
such time as the legislature of the state in
which the reservation was situated shall pass
Q law removing these restrictions and
TO which congress should give its assent.
This Is the position in which the Indians were
placed before citizenship was conferred upon
them, but having made them citizens they have
received the impression that the bar of
alienation should be removed and that they
have power to dispose of their property.