Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1895-03-02

age. had not voted in the minority, ana
therefore was not capable of moving the
reconsideration of the vote.
The President sustained the point OF
order
Mr.. Higgins then made an appeal to
the majority on this question, and Mr.
Hume moved to reconsider the vote on the
passage of the resolve to be engrossed,
and that the motion be laid on the table
and specially assigned for Wednesday
next.
Motion carried.
Senate document No 90, an act relat-
ing to the adoption of members into the
Penobscot tribe of Indians, specially as
signed for today, was then taken from
the table.
Mr. Shaw of Aroostook stated that two
wears ago petition and bill of similar
nature to this one had been presented from
the tribe, but owing to the late day of the
session it was laid over and referred to
this Legislature. This session there had
also been presented petition asking for
the enactment of this law. Upon inquiry
the committee had found that the tribe
was decreasing, and many of them are
striving to get hold OF children TO adopt,
with the result that many of them are
adopting white children, without drop
of Indian blood in their veins, and this
had led to a split in the tribe into two
parties, the old party, who We're opposed 10
the adoption o. any person having not IN
dian blood, and the new party, who We're
in favor of adopting any person, white OF
mart Indian. He said that this proposed
law was intended to limit the adoption OF
children by members of the tribe to per
sons who had Indian blood, and had
been recommended by the agent OF the
tribe, among others, and petitions had
been signed asking for its enactment by
the leading members of the tribe.
Continuing, he said: This bill provides
for tribal committee, consisting OF III
members from each party; and 1t pro
vides for the adoption of any person III
whole or in part of Indian blood by Ger
tain methods. This bill, we believe VIII
restrict the number of persons eligible TO
loin the tribe, and will lessen the number
adopted into it. In order to adopt any
person the adopter must have the en-
dorsement of the tribal committee. Some
time. ago there was a contest over the
adoption by one of the tribe of white
girl of H. The tribe voted almost unanl-
mously against her adoption, but the man
who was anxious to adopt her simply
went to the court and adopted her in the
regular legal way, and she is now mem.
Der of the tribe and is receiving stipend
from the State. We hope that this bill
will remedy that evil.
If there are any defects in the bill L
shall be glad to endeavor to remedy them,
but | think this bill ought to pass, and
that it will be in the interests OF the State
and of the tribe.
a will say here that some of them de-
sired clause put in the bill giving the
committee power to expect person from
the tribe, but our committee did not think
it wise to put in this clause.
Mr.. Savage of Androscoggin; So far
as | have been able to follow the sugges-
lions of the senator from Aroostook 1t
seems to me that they are very desirable,
that is, that there should be some way OF
restricting the adoption of members into
the tribe. The objection which make to
the bill is that while it perhaps accom-
pliShes that, it accompliShes good deal
more, and some of these things seem to me
to be very undesirable. | suppose that the
State is under treaty obligations with the
tribe and that we are obliged to render
them maintenance and support beyond the
amount they receive from certain lands
reserved to them. They are in q sense,
and do not use the word uerogatorily,
State paupers, because their lands We're
taken from them in years gone by, and 1t
is our duty to make provision for them,
but l apprehcnd that the State of Maine
is not ready yet to have the tribe constant
" augmented by accessions from other
states and countries.
Now, this bill provides that the tribal
committee at any regularly held meeting,
by q three-fourths vote of the total mem
bcrship, may adopt any person in whole
or in part of Indian blood. Now, the
particular thing that the Senator from
Aroostook desires comes in the next few
words, which provide that the adoption
of IL child by ordinary legal forms
shall not of itself be sufficient t.
constitute that child u member of The
tribe without the consent of the triba
committee | think that the tribe shoulc
not have the right to adopt white children
neither do | think that they should have
Il right to adopt persons with Indian
blood of any kind in them; | think tbs
restriction is not close enough. L thlnR
the senator from Aroostook could amend
this bill so as to make it more definite,
and draw the limo little closer.
After some further discussion of the
matter by Messrs. Shaw and Savage, MIR
Higgins of York, also spoke against th'
BILL saying that in his opinion this bill
is entirely and sorcly for the purpose o
| increasing these wards of the State, anf
that if this went on the appropriation:
would have to be increased. He said that
he thought an amendment should b.
made to the bill, limiting adoption t
Indians of this State.
Mr.. Hume of Washington spoke against
the bill, and urged that some restriction
| be put upon adoption into the tribe. HI
said that he did not want to see this tribe
prolonged and sustained artificially for al
indefinite time.
| On motion of Mr.. Shaw of Aroostook
the bill was laid on the table, and tomor
row specially assigned for its consdera
ton, the senator stating that he woult
/ consult with the committee and the sena
tors from York and Androscoggin, ant
would prepare an amendment to the bill
which he hoped would be satisfactory tt
all
On motion of Mr.. Higgins of York tn,
L