Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-04-16
THE U. s. SENATE.
INDIAN APPROPRIATION BILL AND
ARBITRATION TREATY.
QUESTION OF SECTARIAN SCHOOLS.
Dir. vest Protests Against Anti-Cnth-
o,ic scptimcnt-IIc Says the only
indian schools of Any Account Are
Those Conducted by the Jcsuits.

WASHINGTON, April 1.-THE Senate
spent to-day on the Indian appropriation
bill. but did not complete IT. Some
time was also consumed in executive
session on the arbitration treaty. At
the close of the days proceedings the
Senate adjourned until Monday.
The committee amendment TO the In
dian appropriation bill. opening the
Uncompahgre Indian reservation In
Utah 10 public entry, was agreed to.
The reservation is said 10 contain some
Of the richest deposits of asphalt in
existence
Mr.. Calinger Republican,. of New
Hampshire, moved to strike out the
provision giving tribal relations to the
children Of white father and an Indian
mother. He declared that the provision
would permit white adventures TO
marry Indian women as a matter OF
speculation, and ultimately TO dominate
the Indians.
Mr.. Berry DemocraD. OF Arkansas,
defended the provision on the ground
that it removed the penalty now placed
on an Indian woman for marrying n
white man. The motion TO strike out
did not prevail.
Mr.. Quay called attention TO what he
termed deliberate attempt to rob the
Indians" IL dealt with the granting of
certain rights orNShe Seneca reserva-
ton 10 parties In New York. Papers
submitted by Mr. Quay alleged serious
irregularities In securing the oil rights
MIR. Pettgre~ said the contest was one
between rival oil companies. In this
connection he stated that the Indian
reservations i'm New York ought TO be
wiped out. and the Indians made sub
ject TO the laws Of New York.
Mr. Quay's amendment striking out
the ratification of the oil grants was ac-
cepted
on motion of Mr. Gallinger, the pro-
vision as TO children of a white father
and an Indian mother was modified so
as to give these children tribal rights.
on the consent of a majority of the tribe
and the consent of the Secretary Of the
Interior
SECTARIAN SCHOOLS.
Mr.. Vest. of Missouri, spoke in criti-
cism of the provision of the bill abolish
ing sectarian Indian schools. He knew.
iect him to bitter criticism. He was
brought up a Protestant, and had no con-
nection with the Roman Catholic
Church. but he had no sympathy with
that cowardly and ignorant sentiment
that any religious denomination could
menace our liberties. He had been
reared to believe the Jesuits were OPP
posed to republican institutions. but he
had travelled through the indian coun-
try visiting the schools and had found
them a travesty on education. except
when conducted by the Jesuits. Broken
down preachers and defunct poll
ticians were sent out to the western
country 10 steach the Indian children.
He had found he said, that the only
Indian schools accomplishing any good
were those conducted by the Jesuits.
The ceremonial of the Catholic Church
seemed TO appeal to the Indians.
IF / had control of these schools
proceeded Mr. Vest. Il would give them
10 those who have studied the Indians.
those who have taken the young Indians
from the tepee. segregated them from
their fathers and mothers, and taught
them the religion of Christ. even If the
Cross is the emblem of their religion.
| would infinitely rather see them Catho-
lies than savages l do not belong to
the sect who would rather see an Indian
damned than see him in the Catholic
Church"
Mr.. Vest said he would make no effort
TO oppose the provision of the bill. but
would content himself with this protest
The Senate adjourned at o'clock
The House was not in session to-day