The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1896-04-11
HERE WAS A BREEZE


and it appeared to prevail. Mr.. Call
asked for roll call Thereupon MI.
Sherman said he would assent to REFER
the motion to the judiciary committee.
This was agreed to.
Consideration of the Indian appro-
priation bill was then resumed.
Mr. Cannon of Utah offered an
amendment providing that the mem
bers of any commission treating Wilh
Indians shall be bona flde residents
of the state or territory in which the
Indians are located.
This brought on a debate as to the
personnel of Indian commissions
Mr. Chiffon Oem.) of Texas urged
that local commissions would be
prejudiced to the Indians, While MI
Cannon insisted that outside commls-
sions. particularly from the east, were
costly and inefficient. One commits
sion. now turned loose on furlough,
had spent $4,000 before getting TO
work These eastern commissions
made up through political influence
were frittering away the public funds
without accomplishing anything Ior
the Indians or the public.
Mr.. Cannon severely criticized the
interior department for its conduct OF
Indian affairs.
Mr.. Palmer said it had become quite
the habit-not restricted to the SEN
ate-to make charges against executive
officers, basing the charges on gener-
aIities and loose statements. The SEN
ator paid a tribute to the commission
er of Indian affairs and deprecated the
generaliZed charges of Mr.. Cannon OF
wilful irregularity of the Interior de-
partment in dealing with the lndlans.
A PROTEST.
Il protest. said Mr.. Palmer,
against these general charges. They
amount to the imputation of crime. l
protest against the imputation that
officials are eager to do wrong ana
purposely do wrong. The secretary OF
the interior may not be wise man,
and | am inclined to believe he is not
very wise, since the senator from
Colorado CWolcotD says the secretary
is down in Georgia making speeches.
in favor of the gold standard, and that
the speeches are actually converting
people to the other way of thinking
Mr.. Cannon answered that in the
Sahara of incompetency at the interior
department. there were two eXcep-
tions-the commissioners Of the lana
office and of Indian affairs, and he ad-
dressed his criticisms against the
secretary of the interior.
The Cannon amendment was hnaliy
ruled out on a point of order. This
school provisions of the bill.
Mr.. Carter Rep.), of Montana, moved
to strike out the provision declaring
that no money herein appropriated
shall be paid for education for sectar-
ian schools
Mr.. Carter said that in 1870, under
the peace policy of General Grant, the
government developed the plan of
civiliZing and
EDUCATING THE INDIANS.
This work of education and civiliza-
ton proceeded until 1894, Mr.. Carter
went on, when change OF policy was
determined upon, by which govern
ment schools would take the place Of
the contract private schools. The pres
ent bill made the radical proposition
that no money whatever shall be paid
to these schools. 1t also made the
change so precipitately that thousands
of Indian children would be cut off
their schools. Such a course was not
in accordance with honesty and hu-
mainly AS to the claim that denomi-
national influence was exerted toward
the Indians, Mr.. Carter said he knew
of no form of Christianity which, be-
ing injected into the American Indian,
would do him any harm. He urged
that the change from contract to gov
eminent schools be brought about
gradually.
Mr.. Lodge Rep.), of Massachusetts,
said the abolition Of contract schools
was a subject long before congress and
the effort was always met by the same
pleas, that Indian children would be
cut off from their schools. There was
no doubt, said Mr.. Lodge, that the
Christian faith might be profitably
erjVen IN Indians but ii was
NOT FOR THE GOVERNMENT
TO foster this sectarian education.
Mr.. Gray Dem.), of Delaware, sup
ported the amendment of Mr. Carter.
Mr.. Gallinger (Rep), of New Hamp-
shire. opposed the Carter amendment,
which he said was intended to con-
tinue appro oriations to sectarian
schools, most of which were conducted
by one denomination. Mr.. Hawley
(Rep), of Connecticut, said he was for
the Carter amendment. He had doubts
as to the meaning of "sectarian
schools" Was it not possible, asked
Hawley, to adopt some middle course
agreeable to all, by which the Lords
prayer and the golden rule could be
permitted in these schools?
Mr.. Palmer Oem.) of Illinois said
that as it was conceded the govern
ln6nI ndQ 10 GQuCdlS The ana
was not ready with the facilities for
education, then the sectarian facili-
ties might well be taken advantage of
until the government was ready to
assume its full duty.
Mr.. PETER (Pop) of Kansas offered
an amendment to overcome Mr.. Car
ter's objection, providing that IL any
case Indian children were deprived of
their schools, then the secretary of the
interior is to provide temporary school
facilities.
Mr.. Hoar said General Grant had
started tie
SECTARIAN SCHOOL PLAN,
and he regarded it as one of the best
of his accomplishments. The only
safe principle was to entirely separate
church and state, abandoning the sec
tartan schools, with due precautions
against interrupting the partly COM
pleted school course of Indian chill
dren. Mr.. Hoar said that he had no
sympathy for any intolerant exclu-
sion of citizen from all privileges as
a result of his faith.
Mr.. Allison said it was mistake to
suppose any number of Indian chill
dren would be deprived of their edu-
cation if the bill passed without the
amendment. He said the idea of Cen
eral Grant was that the churches
should assume the education OF the