Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-02-28
MAINE TO THE FRONT.
Two Of Her Representatives in Con.
gresS Heard From Frequently.
DINGLEY AND REED BOBBING UP
And Letting the Democrats Know That They
Are Still on Deck.
POSSIBLE INNOVATION FOR THE ARMY

dmDle anu feSOluJlOns
WHEREAS, Certain gentlemen who hav'
assumed charge of the Democratic party
have determined that in order to avoid rails
ing direct issue on the principles which sepa
rate the Republican and Democratic partie:
in the approaching Presidential election it i:
necessary to make the people believe thai
there is question at issue between these
parties as to whether the appropriations
and expenditures for the Government shall
he needlessly and wickedly extravagant OF
wisely prudent and economical, ana
Whereas, These so-called leaders OF the
Democratic party, in pursuance OF tins plan
OF lodging the real issU es of principle be
tween the two great parties In this cam,
palCn, and in support OF their unfounueu
charges of wicked extravaganza against a
Republican Congress, and their equally un-
founded claim Of superior honesty ana
economy for the present Democratic Con-
gress have found 1t necessary to defer all
appropriations for public permanent WORKS,
and, aS far as possible, all appropriations Tor
necessary objects of government, until the
second session of the present Congress after
the Presidential election. in order uhat they
may be able to point during the campaign TO
the apparent reduction of appropriations in
support OF their charges ana claims, regard
less OF the certainty that this method OF pro-
cedure will simply render it necessary to
make larger appropriations for deficiencies
ana necessary puDnc works at the secohu
session of the present Congress, therefore,
Resolved, That IN order to further this
plan Of campaign it is ineXpedient to pro
vide for the construction of any of the
numerous public buildings which Congress
intends to authorize, until the second ses-
sion, after the Presidential election shall
have been decided and the necessity which,
as these Democratic members think, exists
for pressing the false issue of economy in
lieu Of the real issues of principle which
SHAH divide parties shall have passed
away.
An innovation in Indian Affairs.
On motion of Mr.. Smith, of Arizona, a
bill was passed ratifying the act of the
Arizona Territorial Legislature making an
appropriation for an Arizona exhibit at the
Worlds Fair The House then went into
committee of the whole, Mr.. By
nun, of Indiana, in the Chair,
on the Indian appropriation bill.
In its consideration of this bill the House
authorized an innovation which, if con-
CURED in BY the Senate, will be OF great in
terest to Indian agents and officers of the
regular army. After two hours debate an
amendment, proposed by Mr. Bowers, of
California, was adopted, providing that the
President may detail officers of the army to
act as Indian agents whenever vacancies
occur in any of the agencies. On motion OF
Mr. Holman, however, further amend
ment was adopted, providing that such
army officers, while acting as Indian agents,
shall be under the orders and direction Of
the Secretary of the Interior
How the army officers will receive this
innovation is a matter of great speculation
among Congressman to-day, as officers of
the regular army have always been very
Jealous of their independent position, and
NAV resent being transferred from the War
Department and placad under the orders of
civilians of the Interior Department
There are MANY representatives, however,
who maintain that the change will he
welcome one to the army officers and that
under the proposed regime the Indians will
be much more fairly treated.
Solving the Indian Problem.
Il is pertinent to state in this conn ection
that Western army officers have generally
cortended that all the troubles with the In
dians for years past have been attributable
to the Indian agents, and that the 'Indian
problem" would never be solved until the
wards of the nation were placed under the
direct charge Of the army officers and the
Army Department
The amendment of Mr. Bowers was the
first one proposed to the bill. In advocat-
ing his amendment, Mr. Bowers stated that
sooner or later the people would compel the
adoption Of the principle involved therein.
The officers of the army were second to no
and honor. II thev performed tie duties of
Indian agents, the Indians would be fairly
dealt with. The Indians respected the Off
GERS, and if they were put in charge of the
agencies there would be no more wars.
Mr. Wilson, Of Washington, suggested
that the officers had been educated as sol
diers, not as Indian agents, and he did not
believe they would perform good service in
the latter capacity.
Mr. Bowers took the opposite view, and
that army officers would conduct
the agencies much better than they were
conducted at present. When the Indian
agents GOT into trouble the army officers
were called in to quell the disturbance.
Nh. Pickler opposed the amendment.
Change of snIdier Management.
At this point Mr. Holman, of Indiana,
proposed an amendment which was at once
agreed to, providing that the army officers,
while ?cling as Indian agents, shall be
under he orders and direction of the Secre-
tarv of the Interior.
Bowers amendment. This was the first time
be had ever heard an excuse for the existence
Of an army in this country. Laughter. |
Here was proposition to put the army in |
some useful employment, and a proposition \
to take political strikers out of Office. He |
could not see how the Democrats could vote |
against it, unless it was that they expected |
to control this political force in the future |
But in view of the dissensions in their ranks |
and their inability to agree on any economic |
policy it was not clear to him that they |
would have chance to control it.
Upon a standing vote the committee |
agreed to Mr. Bowers amendment as
amended.
Mr.. Picker of South Dakota, raised the
point of no quorum.
Mr. Wilson, of Washington, said that |
here was evidently quorum present.
The Chair replied that there was evidently |
quorum present, but that the Chair could |
lot vote them. The gentlemen must do |
heir own voting. Applause on the Demo-
ratio side On a vote by tellers, Mr.. |
Bowers amendment was adopted-yeas 123;
lays a.
Too Important to Be Railroaded.
Although the amendment was agreed to
W the committee, Mr. Peel, of Arkansas,
ave notice that he would ask a separate |
-ote upon it in the House. He thought /
hat this was too important a matter to be
egIslated upon without greater deliberation
nd consideration than had been given to it.
The committee then passed on to con-
liberation of the clause appropriating $780, /
90 for the construction and repair of Indian
ay and industrial schools, and on motion
Mr. Lynch, of Wisconsin, an amendment
as adopted providing that all schoolhouses
rected under this appropriation shall be
uilt on the reservations, or as near the
oundary of the reservation as may be
Mr. Reed, of Maine, presented his views
z the Indian problem, and advocated
roposition increasing by $4,000 the ap-
ronration for the education of the red