The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1896-04-30
THE INDIAN APPROPRIATION
THE BILL PASSED THE SENATE
AFTER A PROLONGED DE-
BATE.
PENSION DISCUSSION IN HOUSE.
Picker General Pension Bill Caused Quite
Wrangle-Messrs. Mahany of New
York and Talbert of South Caro-
lima Get Personal.

Washington, April 23.-Several minor
bills were passed at the opening of the
senate today. Prior to taking up the
Indian appropriation bill Mr.. Call asked
for an agreement by which the senate
would take up his resolution directing
the president to dispatch naval force to
Cuba for the protection of American in
terests there, but on appeals not to inter
rupt the Indian bill, withdrew his re-
quest, stating that he would call up his
resolution later. The Indian bill was
taken up, the question being ON Mr.. Platt's
amendment extending the services of the
Dawes commission with view to the
making of poll OF the Cherokee and
kindred nations The commission is Civ
EN- directions toward terminating the
tribal relations of the Indians and divid-
ing their lands in severalty.
Ihe debate was protracted. In the
course of it Mr.. Vest spoke of the condi-
tons in the Indian Territory as constitut-
ing national pest house and a nuisance,
Il harbor of refuge for criminals, depreci-
ating property in adjoining states one
third.
Mr.. Jones DEM of Arkansas spoke We
hemently against the rule of crime and
outrage in the Indian country, and APP
pealed to the senate to put an end to it
by this reformatory amendment.
Mr.. Bate Dem.) of Tennessee on the
other hand spoke of the bummers, land
grabbers and thieves seeking to rob the
Indians, and who would be given further
powers by this amendment"
Mr.. Platt author of the amendment, de-
clared that nowhere in Russia, Armenia
or Cuba more brutal and savage condi-
tons exist than in this Indian country.
Five hundred white men, masquerading
as Indians, had seized the property and
the government of the Indians, making
experiment of Indian self-government a
failure. The money appropriated for
these Indians was used in hiring lobbyists
to send here snd prevent legislation.
Mr.. Plat declared he had never in his
senatorial service known of so much mon,
ey used in lobby to defeat legislation. 1t
was time to put an end to this foul blot
and disgrace on our national honor.
After further debate the presiding Off.
Ger ruled the entire amendment out on the
point made by Mr.. Walhall Dem.) of
Mississippi that it contemplated general
leSlSlallOH.
Several minor amendments were made
to the bill, the most important being that
inserting S1,600,000 for payment of the
Cherokee outlet fund.- which had been
struck out by the committee The Indian
appropriation bill as thus amended was
then passed.
The sundry civil appropriation bill was
then taken up with the agreement that it
should dsplace all except temporarily the
bond resolution.
Messrs. Pettigrew, Teller and Cock
rell were named as conferees on the In
dian bill.
Bills were passed for an additional cir
cult judge in the Sixth judicial district;
appropriating 100000 for public build
ing at Salt Lake, and $1SS,000 for a pub
lie building at Ogden, Utah; for the dis
posal of the abandoned Fort Shaw militia
~ reservation, Montana, under the home
stead and mining laws.
At O'Clock the senate went into exec
utive session, and soon afterwards ad-
iOurnpl