, 1896-04-24
UNITED STATES SENATE
Indian Territory a Reproach to
Civilization.
HOME OF THE OUTLAW
b another Circuit Judge In the Sixth
District Provided
BiIl Displaced Only
Temporarily.

Washington, April 23.-Several min
or bills passed at the opening of the
senate today, including a bill author
izing a bridge across the Missoui river
at Bonneville, Mo. Prior to taking the
Indian appropriation bill. Mr.. Call
asked for an agreement by which the
senate would take up the resolutions
directing the president to dispatch a
naval force to Cuba, for the protection
of American interests. but on appeals
to interrupt the Indian bill he with
drew, stating he would call ur the reso-
luton later. The Indian bill was then
taken up, the question being on Mr..
Platt's amendment extending the SER
vice of the Dawers commission with a
view to making Of Cherokee and kim
dred nations. The commission is Civ
ing directions toward terminating tri-
bal relations of the Indians and divid-
ing the lands in severalty. The debate
vas protracted. In the course of it.,
Vest democrat, Missouri) spoke Of the
conditions in the Indian territory as
constituting a national pest house and
a nuisance. A harbor of refuge for
criminals. depreciating property in ad-
joining states one-third.
Mr.. Jones democrat. Arkansas)
spoke vehemently against the rule Of
crime and outrage in the Indian coun-
try and appealed to the senate to put
an end to it by this reformatory
amendment. Mr.. Bates democrat,
Tennessee) on the other hand. spoke
Of the boomers, land-grabbers and
thieves, seeking to rob the Indians and
who would be given further power by
this amendment" Mr.. Plat, author Of
the amendment, declared that nowhere
in Russia. Armenia or Cuba did more
brutal and savage conditions exis,
than in this Indian country. Five hun.
dred white men ~masQuerading as In.
dians had seized the property and gov
eminent Of the Indians, making the ex
pertinent of Indian self-government
! failure. The money appropriated fol
1ndinas is used In hiring lobbiests t.
send here and prevent legislation. Mr.
Platt declared he had neve during hi:
senatorial service know of the use O
SO much money on iobbiests to defeaI
legislation. 1t was time for congress
to put an end to this foul blot and dis.
grace on the national honor. After
further debate, the presiding officer
ruled the entire amendment out on a
point of order. Several minor amend
ments were made to the bill. the most
important being the insertion of an
item Of $780, 900 for the payment of
the Cherokee outlet fund. which had
been struck out by the committee. The
Indian appropriation bill thus amend
ed. passed.
The sundry civil appropriation bill
was then taken up with the agreement
that 1t should not displace, except tenn
porarily. the bond resolution. Messrs.
Pettigrew, Teller and Cockrell were
named as conferees on the Indian bill.
Bills were passed for an additional
circuit judge in the Sixth Judicial cir
cult. appropriating $500, 900 for a public
building at Salt Lake. and 1882. 900 for
a public building at Ogden, Utah. and
for the disposal of the abandoned Fort
Shaw military reservation, Montana.
under the homestead and mining laws.
At 6 O'Clock the senate went into
executive session and soon after ad-
journed.