The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1896-04-23
THE F|FTY-FOURTH CONGRESS
INDIAN APPROPRIATIONS, WITH
SECTARIAN ITEMS, DISCUSSED
IN SENATE.
BOND INQUIRY measure DEFERRED.
Till All Appropriations Are Out of the
Way-In the House, Democrats
Taunt the Republicans for Their
Inability to Legslate.

Washington, April 2O.-With the ther-
mometer in the senate chamber at 80 de-
grees, less than twenty senators were on
the floor when the president pro TEN
called the upper house to order.
During the morning hour the joint reso-
lutions for the appointment of Gen.
Franklin, Representative Steels, Gen.
Beal and Gen. Henderson as members of
the board of managers of the National
Soldiers Home was adopted without de-
bate.
Mr.. Cannon (Rep.) of Utah introduced
bill for the construction near Washing
ton of a ground map of the United States
on scale of one inch to the mile.
Mr.. Mitchell Rep) of Oregon gave
notice that on Wednesday next he would
ask to take up the bill to pension sur
vivOrs of the Indian wars.
Mr.. Allison (Rep) OF Iowa followed
with report of the sundry civil appro-
priation bill and said he would seek to
bring it up at the earliest possible day.
The Indian appropriation bill was
taken up on motion of Mr.. Pettgrew.
Mr.. PETER, author of the bond reso-
luton, was not present, but it is said he
was cognizant that the Indian bill was
the next to be taken up.
The pending question related to secta-
rian schools.
fered an amendment, striking out the
provision that no appropriation shall be
made to sectarian schools.
Mr.. PETER offered a flu ther amend
ment directing the secretary of the in
terror to provide temporary schools for
Indian children cut off from school facili-
ties by the closing of the sectarian
schools. This amendment was adopted.
Mr.. Cockrell (Dem.) of Missouri then
| offered substitute for the entire prop
osition. The substitute provides for con-
tracts with existing schools for 1897 to
the extent of 80 per cent of the contracts
of 1895. 1t adds the following:
And it is hereby declared to be the set
tied policy of the government to make no
appropriations whatever for the educa-
ton of the Indian children in any sec
tartan school, just as soon as it is pos
sible for provision to be made for their
education otherwise, and the secretary
of the interior is hereby directed to
make such provision at the earliest prac-
ticable day, not later than July l, 1898.
The further consideration of the sec
tartan school amendments was then de-
ferred owing to the absence of Mr.. Car
ter
There was sharp criticism of the
amendment appropriating various
amounts to thirteen lawyers in connec-
tion with the settlement with the west
ern Cherokee Indians.
Mr.. Chandler pointed out the peculiar
features of the proposed payments.
Mr.. Brown Rep.) of Utah declared it
was not only fraudulent scheme, but
also ,palpable steal-clean and unvar-
Mr.. Palmer Dem.) of Illinois asked for
an explanation of what he thought to be
''palpable fraud on its face.
Mr.. Gray Dem.) of Delaware eX-
pressed a wish to learn the method of ar
irving at the value of a lobbyists service.
Mr.. Platt (Rep) of Connecticut said
the lawyer referred to as a lobbyist, Mr..
Peabody, had never lobbied a day, but
had performed legitimate legal service.
In the course of lengthy discussion,
Mr.. Pettigrew, in charge of the BILL eX-
planned that the Cherokees had set aside
30 per cent of their claim of $SOO,OOO
against the government for the services
of ]. NJ. Bryan and others. The Indians
had received all their share and this was
IL
Mr.. Teller gave a detailed explanation
of the claims, with which he was per-
sOnally familiar
After the Indian discussion had pro-
| ceeded for some time, Mr.. PETER asked
| to have the bond resolution laid before
| the senate.
Mr. Pettigrew insisted on continuing
| with the Indian bill. This promised to
bring test on the placing of the reso-
luton. and Mr.. PETER. to avoid this,
| sought an agreement for a vote ON the
bond resolution.
at is utterly impossible" said Mr.. Call,
| ''tO say when the senate will conclude,
| rs several senators have indicated a pur-
nose to speak. For that treason it is i'm
possible to agree now, as the time for a
| vote and several requests to name a
| limit for debate have been refused"
Mr.. Allison, chairman of the commit
| tee on appropriations, appealed to the
| chair to defer the bond resolution until
| the appropriations were all out of the
| way, and Mr.. PETER assented, saying
| that Mr.. Allison's statement was evi-
IDENTIFY in good faith, but Mr.. Stewart
objected TO delay.
Mr. Wolcott appealed to Mr.. Stewart
to yield, saying that the friends of the
bond resolution would certainly gain by
accepting the suggestion of Mr.. ALI
son, as the resolution would thus secure
the added support of those who were
now urging appropriation bills as against
the bond resolution.
Mr.. Stewart reluctantly yielded, turn
ing to Mr.. Allison, behind him, saying:
at might as well be known that when
the time comes there will be a contest
to the end on this subject. We will
stand by it to the end. The administers
ton is fighting it. Now. when the fight
comes, will the senator (Allison) be
there?"
81 am likely TO be in this neighbor-
hood" answered Mr.. Allison.
The unanimous agreement was there
upon made to postpone temporarily the
bond resolution until appropriation bills
now reported were disposed of.
The debate on the Cherokee claims
in the Indian bill then proceeded to ad-
journment, at $40 o'clock.
HOUSE PROCEEDINGS.
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