Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1896-04-21
54th CONGRESS-.
The Senate Labors With the
Indian Appropriation Bill.
Stewart Says Bond Resolution Fight
Will Be No ChiId's Play.
Fun Over Fees Of Attorneys for the Western
Cherokee indians.

| Washington, April 20.-In the Senate,
| in the course of a long discussion. on
| the amendment to the Indian appro-
| priation bill. calling for the payment
of specific sums to some IA lawyers for
| legal services to the Western Chero-
| kec Indians, Pettigrew said that more
| than 20 years ago. the Western Chero-
KEGS made written contract with Joel
NJ. Bryan, to pay him 50 per cent. of
| all money to be received by him on
their claim of $500. 900 against the gov
eminent; that he prosecuted the clairl
| in the courts and recovered the sum
which was paid to the Indians. minus
| IS per cent; that this amount had been
all distributed except S79. 600 provided
in this bill. No one but Bryan was in
| terestcd in the controversy, as the So
per cent. all belonged to him. and not
a dollar of it could go to the Indians.
| Teller defended the committee
amendment and gave the history of the
transaction with which he was familiar
as having been secretary of the in
| terror. when the first contract with
| Bryan came up for approval. In the
course of his narrative he mentioned
tilt lt't tftdl dtiOuS iIlt law NiS TN
| ployed by Bryan, was Mr.. Cleveland s
| first attorney general. Mr.. Garland
who charged $4,000 for his services in
| arguing the matter in the court of
| claims, and had been paid by 1.-THE sec
| rotary of the interior.
Teller argued that Peabody had rem
| dcred very valuable services. He said
| that Peabody got into a controversy
| with the Indian bureau and that the
| bureau refused to allow him anything
under his contract inasmuch as he was
| (part of the time) employed in one of
| the departments. The secretary of the
| interior decided that was not a good
ground of refusal; and he had cut down
the $4,000 claim to $4,000 and paid that.
At the close of Teller's remarks, PEI
fer expressed desire to lay the Indian
appropriation bill aside and take up
the bond resolution. Allison appealed
to PETER to defer the bond resolution
until the appropriation bills were out
of the way. PETER appeared inclined
to assent to Allison's suggestion, a
vigorous protest against his doing so
was made by Stewart, Wolcott remon-
strated with Stewart. intimating that
| the friends of the bond resolution would
certainly gain by accepting the sug-
gestion of Allison. The resolution, he
said would thus secure the added sup
| port of those now urging the appro-
priation bills against the bond resolu-
| ton.
Stewart yielded to this appeal. saying
| to Allison: 1T might as well be known
| that when the time comes there will be
| a fight to the finish on this subject.
| We will stand to it. day after day. to
| the end. 1t will be no child's play.
The administratio is fighting it 1t
was agreed by unanimous consent that
the bond resolution be postponed till
the appropriation bills now reported
were disposed of.
Pugh presented. on the part of his
colleague. Morgan, absent on account
of illness, the minority report on the
Pacific Railroad debt bill Wolcott.
member of the Pacific Railroad COM
mittee. said the bill reported by Gear.
Friday. was not the unanimous report
of the committee. He had not agreed
and did not now agree with the rest
of the committee as to SO much of the
bill as related to the settlement with
the Union Pacific. and reserved the
tight " lile d ifilIiOfltS report. he re-
port filed on behalf of Morgan repre-
scented that senator's views; he (Wol-
cott would also file minority report.
Brice. another member of the commit
tee. said that the chairman. Gear, was
revising the majority report which had
not been presented. In view of that
statement the two minority reports
were withheld.
The consideration of the Indian APP
preparation bill was resumed and the
argument as to attorneys fees for the
Western Cherokees was proceeded with.
Chandler commented sarcastically up
on the allowance reported for legal SER
vices. He singled out an item of s7OO3
for Reese II. Voorhees, and John Paul
Jones' and asked what that item was
for. when these gentlemen had already
been paid their claim of $4,000. Teller
informed him that the $1,000 item was
for additional services in resisting the
demands of other lawyers.
That Is very singular state of
things" said Chandler. These In
dams paid out So per cent. of their
claim then, and are called upon to pay
the same lawyers for protecting them
against unreasonable claims of other
attorneys. Then there is a case of
Mrs. Belva A. Lockwood. She is to get
$1,000. while her claim was for $500
Why not treat a woman as well as
man."
IF the senator asks for information,
Teller tartly replied. Il will give it to
him. but if he is only talking to hear
himself talk will not interrupt him."
Chambers comment upon this re-
mark was that the senator from Colo
RADIO had bad temper enough. and but
little information daughter) The
matter went over. without action. The
Senate at AIS adjourned until tomor-
row.