New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-02-23
THE INDIAN BILL DEBATED.
SUSPICIOUS ITEMS AROUSE VIGOROUS DIS
CUSTOM
CUTS IL THE SCHOOL APPROPRIATIONS MADE
TO PAY BIG CLAIMS.
1BY TELEGRAPH To THE TRIBUNE.1

1BY TELEGRAPH To THE TRIBUNEI
Washington, I:b. - t,pecnD.-The debate on the
Indian Appropriation iii in the House Of Represen-
tatives to-day was interesting and at times rather
lively. The bill contains number OF provisions which
many members Of the House regarded ms exceedingly
Objectionable not TO say suspicious. and these items
provoked brisk discussion. According to the report
OF the committec-a document which, on its face.
shows gross and neXcu'abe carcessness In prepare
ton-the hill carries total OF s7333,j51, which Is
1929 900 less than the appropriation for the current
fiscal year, although, according to the committee
report the hill is small amount larger than ior
last year, According to the report the amount
recommended for the support Of Indian schools Is
81 O45 40 (which is S13756O less than last year
As n matter Of fact II Is S2661j less than last years
appropriation
Every item on account Of Indian schools with two
or three exceptions, has been reduced below the ap-
Precipitation for the current fiscal year, and the total
reduction below the estimates amounts to about $''o'
600. This amount corresponds rather closely with
the total OF three items 1901 JAG. for the payment OF
antquntcd Indian claims no estimates Tor which were
submitted by the Department Of the Interior and no
recommends lions for which found In the annual
report OF the Secretary Of the Interior or Commissioners
Of Indian Affairs According TO the statement Of Mr.
Rockwell In the debate to-day, these items were never
| considered by the full Committee on Indian Affairs.
One Of them Is for the payment OF S3os,o2o on ac-
count Of arrears OF interest the sum Of $2401
of the trust funds o; the Chiciasaw Indians. THESE
arrears OF interest supposed 20 cover the period
from the year 1870. For years the Chickasw VS.
pressed their claim for trust funds, which they claim
had been improperly dsbrscd by tho officials of the
| Government and several years ago Congress appro-
| pIiatrd the amount OF the caims-$2iO, 1h4 The
| Committee on Indian Affairs recommends that
NOR, than double the amount Of the original claims
| he paid account Of arrears OF Interest Anoter
Item ds for arrears Of Interest portion OF tho
| Ch0ctaw orphan fund and amounts 10 T@o.olO, Inc
principal being only $1,000. y third item for S2 2"o
| Is for the transportation and subsistence OF Creek
| Indians who removed themselves from Alabama to
| Indian Territory more than hail century ago
| Mr. Rockwell delivered vigorous speech In op
position To- these items, and Chairman Poet defended
the Chclasaw item with equal vigor, asserting Thai
! the claim for interest Is all fouIs with that fo
the principal. which paid by IN act Of ConsrrS
scvei. years ago Mr.. Poet also showed that the
Commissioner of Indian Affairs had recommended tbs
payment 81 the claim, I'm Response to letter from
! MIN in regard to bin which he had offered on TN
subject
| / GOOD deal Of Mr. R0ckwcll's speech was devotet
| to Inc subject Of Indian education. lie took th'
! ground tnnt NOR attention should b. devoted 4
| urinary school, among IN" Indians and less rhor
IL, bestowed upon attempts to civili1c ia" Indian
by Of boari'ns and iralnins schools r'i 1
! rom the Indian country lie fortified hi position
by citations the last rep II Of the superintendent
| ~ Indian schools and ~ letter winch h' .il -
ccivcd from captain lcnny oi me Nrnt WIZ , ia,
Mr.. Rockwell ala not COMPLAIN of 'hr amount .
| money Appropriated tor Indian schools, bui cohuhue
that il could BE- NOR" piofnbly used ~, rcuilrh
ON the subject aroused Gcne:al Hooker. OF 'llpP
who is a irm believer IN tho efficacy ~ higher "dh'
ton rs a factor IN Indian cv.llziton ana VINO Spoh
| Win great energy IN support OF that pol'y'