The Weiser signal. [volume] (Weiser, Idaho) 1890-1904, 1895-01-17
INDIAN APPROPRIATION NIL.
Schools Soon to BE Secular and Gradua
ly Freed From Contracts

Schools Soon to BE Secular and Gradual
ly Freed From Contracts.
Washington, Jan. 3-Representative
Holman, chairman of the house commit
tee on Indian affairs. has prepared a
report to accompany the Indian appro-
priations bill. 1t shows that the total
appropriations for 1895 were $663, 5s9
less than for 1894, while the bill provid-
ing for 1896 carries a total of Sc, 496, 92O,
a reduction of $685. below the appro-
priation for 1895. Many of the reduc-
lions were made upon the recommends
ton of the commissioner of Indian af-
fairs. Representative Holman says
while there is a material reduction
from the estimates, especially as to con-
tingent expenditures, 1t is understood
by the committee on Indian affairs
that in the main the reductions will
not embarrass the Indian offices in pro-
viding for the Indian service. The most
important of the legislative features
incorporated in the bill is the plan by
which 1t Is proposed to solve the vexed
problem of governmental relations with
contract schools so-called, most of
which are under church control and
which have been the cause of sectarian
contentious. The secretary of the in
terror Is authorized to make contracts
for the reduction of Indian pupils In
these schools for the next fiscal year to
an extent not exceeding 80 per cent. for
the amount SO used last year, and each
succeeding year the amount Is to be re-
duced 20 per cent, 50 that at the end OF
five years all SUCH contracts will cease.
This plan does not include the public
schools with which the bureau has ar
rangements for the education OF its In
dian wards.
IT is explained that the reduction of
SIS, 900 in the amount of the estimates
for transportation of Indians to schools
is in pursuance of the policy OF gradu-
ally concentrating them in schools on
their reservations In the belief that the
education of children among the tribes
tends to elevate all the Indians OF the
tribes.
IRRIGATION SYSTEM. q
Washington, Jan. 12--Secretary
Gresham, Senior Romero. the Mexican
minister and Major Dutton Of the United
States engineer corps, had a conference
respecting the appointment Of COM
mission to provide a system of irriga-
ton for the southwest by damming the
Rio Grande river. The authority for
the appointment of such a commission
is already lodged in the president by
legislation. The talk was purely In
formal and took a broad range, the
subject being discussed from an inter-
national point of view as well as an
economic proposition. One objection
to the scheme which seemed to strike
the conference with some force, was
the suggestion that any damned river
would be sure to fill up gradually from
the deposit of salt brought down from
the mountain headwaters and SO the
supply of water for irrigation purposes
would diminish and In the end serious
controversies would arise over Its dis
tribution
ORDERED TO MADAGASCAR.
Washington, Jan. 12.--Secretary Her.
bert says preparatory orders have
been issued to the Castlne to sail for
Madagascar. The original orders to
the Castine were to go to China and
| 1t may be that she will continue her
| journey in case matters become more
quiet in Madagascar. The orders to
| the Castine have been issued as the
result of advices from the United States
consul at Tamatave, representing the
ACCESSIBILITY of having a United States
man-of-war there to protect American
interests in the present state of affairs.