The record-union., 1897-02-21
The Indian Appropriation Bill Leads to
Two Animated Debates.
One Was On Silver and the Second on
Sectarian Schools.
A Resolution Offered by Senator CAM
eron of Pennsylvania, Expressing
Sympathy With Greece in the
mOusly Adopted.

mOusly Adopted.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 20-Tq1e Sem
ate had a lively session to-day, appar-
emily relishing the work in open ses-
sion after the protracted struggle be-
hind closed doors on the treaty. At the
outset resolution by Mr.. Cameron of
Pennsylvania was unanimously adopted
expressing sympathy with Greece in the
present continental conflict. 1t is as
follows:
Resolved, That the Senate of the
United States, being mindful of the
sympathy for the United States ex-
pressed by the Greeks at the time of
their war for Independence, now ex-
tends like sympathy to the Govern
ment Of Greece with its Intervention in
behalf of the people of tine Island of
Crete for the purpose of freeing them
from the tyranny of foreign opprassOrs
and to restore peace with the blessings
of Christian civilization to that dis
trassed island.
Mr.. Quay sought to bring forward
the bill for a commission to look into
placed by a vote of 81 to 2S, to take
up the Indian appropriation bill. The
latter measure Led to Two animated de-
bates, first on silver and then on sec
tartan schools. a provision that GER
tain Indian payments shall be made in
silver, in accordance With treaty re-
quirements, led Mr.. Allen to comment
on provision for a ''ffty-cent dollar
coming from gold men ON the Appro-
priation Committee.
The decision brought up considerable
campaign "reminiscences. The sectarian
schools question was revived. Mr..
Lodge of Massachusetts asserted that
the Senate Committee had reported an
amendment reversing the policy of last
year for the abandonment of sectarian
schools after July /, 1897. Senator
Gallinger opposed the amendment and
8 mar ~ Hawley, Teller. Pettigrew, Al
lison, Allen and Hoar supported it on
the ground that the Government facili-
ties for Indian education would not per-
nit a sudden change. The debate on
this item and on the bill was not con-
cluded when the Senate adjourned.
When the Senate met, Mr.. Allison,
Chairman Of the Committee on Appro-
priatiOns, appealed to the Senate to
allow the consideration of appropria-
ton bills, and asked Mr.. Quay espe-
cially to let the commission bill go over.
He then asked unanimous consent to
take up the Indian appropriation bill.
Mr.. Quay objected, and said that the
bill was in charge of Mr. Perkins of
N.,1s h.. .+s.1 -
go over MIR. Quay would consent. He
called attention to the fact that it was
being pressed by the great labor in
terests of the country.
Mr.. Perkins said that if the oppo-
rents Of the bill would consume as little
time as it's friends, a vote would be
had in thirty minutes
Aldrich (R) of Rhode Island said he
considered the bill utterly impractical
bic.
After considerable sparring the In
dian appropriation bill was taken up
81 to %.
When the item directing the payment
Of the annuities to Pottow2ttomies in
silver was reached, Allen H'op) of Ne
braska made it the text for a speech
know why the so-called sound money
men of the committee had insisted on
paying these benighted Indians in 90
cent dollars"
Several Senators explained that this
provision was in accordance with
treaty provisions.
Mr.. Platt observed that by the efforts
Of the Republicans the silver dollars
are as good as gold dollars.
Mr. Wilson said the Nebraska Sena-
tor had threshed over some of the is
sues of the late campaign. He wished
TO say the free coinage of silver was
not the only issue in the campaign, and
that plank in that platform which
excited much opposition was that
which differed from secession in degree
only. jefferson Davis had said: III
take my State out of the Union Gov
ernor Altgeld had said: THE United
States shall not come into my State -
and the Chicago platform indorsed
him. The question of law and order
entered into the campaign.
Mr. Allen replied by discussing the
platform declaration regarding the Su-
preme Court which, he said, he indors-
ed. Referring to the income tax de-
cision, he said that certain Justice of
the Supreme Court owed it to the world
to show cause why he changed front
on that case. Mr.. Allen declared that
the Justice would go into history under
a cloud. unless he explained
The conference report on the agri-
cultural appropriation bin was agreed
to. and the consideration of the Indian
appropriation bill was continued.
The question of sectarian Indian
schools came up in connection with the
item appropriating 81 100000 for school
purposes.
MIR. Lodge said the Senate committee
had proposed an amendment which re-
versed the entire policy as to seetarian
schools adopted last year. The COM
mittee amendment is as follows:
Provided that the Secretary of the
Interior may make contracts with
contract schools, apportioning as near
as can be the amounts so contracted
for among schools of various denomi-
nations for the education of Indian pu-
pills during the fiscal year 1898 but
shall only make such contracts at
places where non-sectarian schools cam
not be provided for such Indian chill
dren, and to an amount not exceeding
40 per cent. of the amounts SO used for
the fiscal year: provided further that
the foregoing shall not apply to public