The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1896-04-12
FROM WASHINGTON.
c. b. Douglas on HIs Return From the
National Capital Talks Of the SItua-
tIon as lie Sees It.

4. b. Douglas, who has been in
Washington for the past four months
in the interest of legislation affecting
this country, arrived home Friday
evening.
From his general appearance phys
icailv, Mr.. Dougfas has enjoyed good
he 'th and kind treatment.
While in the national capital he
was n jealous worker and was direct
ly instrumental in accomplishing a
great deal of good, for which he
should ever be held in grateful re-
membrance by the non-citizen ele-
ment ~ the entire Indian Territory.
A reporter for the ARDNoREIrE saw
him yesterday and asked him for a
statement Of the situation as he re-
garded it, and below is given in his
own language what he had to say. II
is an impartial statement, and as
such should be read by every inter
ested party.
In conversation with the ARD
MoRETTE man, Mr.. Douglas said:
THE only thing in Washington
that is absolutely certain is the abso-
lutte uncertainty OF everything and
man is liable to lose his reputation a.
a prophet il he attempts to foreten
/ the action OF congress. However.
after exhausting every means Of in
formation and carefully considering
the situation, il is not perhaps ego
tism which leads one to believe that
some slight indication Of probable
legislation will come to him.
"If an inference can be drawn from
the individual and unanimous en-
I dorsement Of the Curtis bill by the
members of the house committee on
Indian affairs, and the hearty ap-
proval of that measure by the various
members of the house and many SEN
ators who have given the subject Of
/ Territory legislation much and care
/ full consideration, and IL their often
/ expressed desire and determination
TO enact some legislation bearing on
the question and their concentration
on this bill goes for anything, and
think il does, then we NAV reason
ably conclude that the present ses-
sion of this congress will pass almost
without opposition the compromise
or Curtis bin recently drafted by
Messrs. Curtis OF Kansas, Little Of
/ Arkansas and Fischer of New York,
and unanimously reported by the In
dian committee to the house, togeth-
er with an extensive report and rec
ommendation for immediate action.
This bill is, as you know, the re-
suit of several weeks consideration,
during which time members of the
various tribes, ex-United States Sen
ator Butler, Hon. Sam Peel and other
ex-members of congress appeared
| before the committee in behalf of the
/ continued existence of present con-
ditions, and the members Of the
Dawes Commission and others in be-
half of immediate and radical legis-
lation.
"Various measures were intro
duced, printed, considered and final
{ ~ aArAkAGGA ~ anu GM0AEh NAAAANAA~
cal reports and carefully collected
information to make several large
volumes were presented to the COM
mittee by the representatives Of both
sides. The treaties were gone over
and discussed at length, and it is no
exaggeration to say that never before
has so much time been given by any
committee to a subject under discus
sion, nor has such a stubborn fight
ever before been made in a commit
/ tee room as has been the case in this
/ instance.
"Mr. Curtis, of Kansas, was the
recognized champion of the Indian
cause and Mr.. Little the aggressive
leader on the committee in favor of
radical legislation.
1.-THE result of all these hearings is
what is known as the Curtis bill, and
there seems no reasonble doubt that
it will pass, especially as there has
developed no opposition whatever TO
it in the house and senate.
"There have been a number Of
measures considered by the senate
committee from a very radical Ter
ritory bill submitted by Senator Nor
gan to the Platt amendment TO the
Indian appropriation bill providing
for the continuation of the Dawes
Commission, and l was informed by
members of the house before leaving
that these would all give way TO the
Curtis bill by agreement which viii
be passed by the senate at an early
date. II is admitted that this bin is
only a start and is imperfect; that Ii
has been practically decided by those