The herald., 1897-05-11
IN THE HOUSE
Indian Appropriation Bill Argued but
Not Passed

Indian Appropriation Bill Argued but
Not Passed
WASHINGTON, May 10.-The house
today resumed the transaction of pub
lie business, which had been suspended
since the Indian appropriation bill was
sent to conference three weeks ago.
The consideration of the senate amend
ments to the sundry civil appropriation
bill was entered upon by special order
providing for a recess each day until dis
posed of.
Mr.. Simpson of Kansas pursued his
tactics of the last few weeks, attempting
to harass the majority with points of
no quorum, but without success, and the
Democratic lack of harmony on the SUBJ
ject of party policy was again in evil
dence.
Mr. McMillin and Mr.. Bland both crit
icized the method of procedure by the
majority. The former said 1t marked the
continued decadence of the rights ana
powers of individual members, and the
latter declared that it was an outrage
to force legislation through the house
without consideration or information
from a committee appointed to examine
1t. In the Indian appropriation bill, lie
said, two or three jobs had been found.
The most conflicting statements were
made on the floor and members could
not vote intelligently. He said he would
continue to oppose and protest against
such procedure.
On the question of the adoption of the
order the Democrats divided, Mr.. Bailey
and his followers voting with the Repub
licans and several of the Democrats, in
Guiding Mr.. McMillin and Mr.. Bland.
with the Populists against the order. The
vote resulte Ill to Is.
Mr. Cannon, in charge of the time of
the majority, yielded fifteen minutes to
Mr.. Lacey of Iowa, Rep, chairman of
the committee on public lands of the
lssst house, who discussed the forest re-
servation amendment
Mr. Lacey criticized the senate pro-
vision restoring to the public domain the
reservations created by the order of
President Cleveland last February. He
thought the order should simply be sus-
pended pending an examination. If the
senate provision became law, he said
the lands could not be reserved until
they- had been surveyed, perhaps years
hence. He said, some of the most bitter
opposition to the order undoubtedly
came from the headquarters of mine
opera tors. He thought the suspension
should not be for more than one year,
as was originally proposed in the senate.
Mr.. McRae of Arkansas also took
ground against the complete revocation
of the Cleveland order. The present
overflow of the Mississippi and it's tri-
butaries was largely due to the denuda-
tion of the forests at the headwatepa Of
those streams and in his opinion should
be warning to congress of the neces-
sity of preservation of our forests.
Mr.. Knowles of North Dakota Pop,
and Mr.. Hartman of Montana, Silver
Rep, supported the senate amendments
for the unqualified suspension of Mr..
Cleveland's order and the restora ton of
the lands to the public domain. The lat
ter characterized the order as a part
ing shot of the greatest enemy the Anne
rican people ever had"
Mr.. King of Utah, Dem, used a pro
forma amendment to refer rather SEN
sationally to the very important ad-
mission made in an interview by the
distinguished chairman of the ways and
means committee, Mr. Dingley, to the
effect that the purpose of the tariff bill
is to create surplus and impound the
greenback"
II made no such statement" inter-
rupted Mr.. Dingley.
Ihe amendments providing for an in
spector and assistant for the islands, Of
st. Paul and st. George, Alaska. and
making appropriations for the protec.
tion of the salmon fisheries of Alaska
Immediately available, were concurred
in.
When the amendment relating to the
forest reservation was reached Mr.
Hartman of Montana moved concur
renee.
Mr.. Lacey moved concurrence with the
amendments providing for the suspen-
sion of Mr.. Cleveland's executive order
until March l, 1898, when the order, as it
may be modified, shall go into effect, and
substituting what is known as the Nc
Rae bill for the provision permitting the
use by bona fide settlers of timber and
stone on such reservations.
Mr.. Shafroth, Silver Republican. of
Colorado, argued earnestly for the
adoption of the senate amendment. espe-
cially for that portion of it allowing min
ers and prospectors free use of timber.
Mr.. Bell, Populist, of Colorado, argued
along the same lines.
MI. Jones, Populist, Of Washington.
declared that his state was more vital,y
interested in the revocation of Mr.
Cleveland's forest reserve order than
any other state. Until the order was re-
voked, he said, settlers could not cut a
stick of timber for any purpose what
ever under the existing law.
II was agreed to take vote on the
pending propositions at 1 o'clock tomor- (
row.
The house, at o'clock, took recess |
until noon tomorrow.
IN CAUCUS