The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-04-16
IN THE SENATE.
Vest Favors the Continuance of
Sectarian Indian schools.

NAShINTIONs Aprll lo-The senate
spent the day in considering the Indian
appropriation bill but did not complete 1t.
Early in the session the proceedings were
made executive. and when the doors were
again opened to the public the Indian bill
again came Up. The pending question was
on the committee amendment opening the
Encompahgre reservation. in Utah. to pub
lie entry. Jones Of Arkansas withdrew the
point of order he had made. and on a yea
and nay vote the auendmeNt was agreed
to. SO 10 Is. The amendment is as follows:
THAT the mineral lands of the Uncom-
rahgre Indian reservation. in the state OF
Utah. are hereby declared opened to public
entry under the mineral land laws of the
United States. and no person shall be al
lowed TO make more than one claim on
lands containing Gilsonite; and on and aft
er January l. IsaS. all OF said reservation
unallotted TO Indians shall be open TO pub
lie entry under the land laws of the Uni
ted States"
Gailinger OF New Hampshire moved to
strike out the provision giving tribal re-
lations 10 the children OF a white father
and an Indian mother. He declared that
the provision would permit white adven-
turers to marry the Indian women as
matter OF speculation, and ultimately to
dominate the Indians.
Berry OF Arkansas defended the provis-
ion, on the ground that 1t removed the
penalty now placed on an Indian woman
for marrying a white man. The motion
to strike out did not prevail.
Quay called attention to what he termed
a deliberate attempt to rob the Indians"
II dealt with the granting OF certain oil
rights on the Seneca Indian reservation, In
New York. Quay's amendment striking
out the ratification OF the oil grants was
accepted.
on motion OF Gallinger, the provision as
to children of a white father and an In
dian mother was modified so as TO give
these children tribal rights on the con-
sent of majority of the tribe and the
consent Of the secretary of the interior.
Vest of Missouri spoke in criticism OF
the bill abolishing sectarian Indian
schools. He knew, he said. that what the
said would subject him TO bitter criu-
cism. He was brought up Protestant
and had no connection with the Roman
Catholic church. But he had no sympa-
thv with that cowardly and ignorant SEN
timent that any religious denomination
could menace our liberties. He had been
reared TO believe the Jesuits Were opposed
TO republican institutions But he had
travelled through the Indian country, Wis
iting the schools. and had found them a
travesty on education except when con-
Quoted by the Jesiits. Broken down
preachers and defunct politicians were
sent out 10 the Western country to teach
the Indian children. He had found, he
said. that the only Indian schools accom-
pIishing any good were those conducted
by the Jesuits The ceremonial OF the
Catholic church seemed 10 appeal TO the
Indians
IF 1 had control of these schools" pro-
ceeded Vest, II would give them 10 those
who have studied the Indians; those who
have taken the young Indians from the
tepees segregated them from their faith
ers and mothers and taught them the re-
ugiOn of Christ even X the cross Is the
emblem Of their religion. would In
fuitely rather see them Catholics than
savages. / do not belong TO that sect
which would rather see an Indian damned
than see him in the Catholic church"
Vest said he would make no effort 10
oppose the provision Of the bill. but would
content himself with this protest.
The Indian bill was not completed. when
at 5 o'clock the senate adjourned 10 Mon
day.
In accordance with his previous notice.
Davis promptly moved an executive ses-
sion after the disposal OF the routine
morning business today for the purpose
of taking Up the Anglo-American arbi-
tration treaty. Davis endeavored 20 Sc
cure unanimous agreement upon time
10 take vote upon the treaty as whole,
but in this he did not succeed, owing 20
objections from several senator's, includ-
ing Carter. Morgan and Mills. The OBJ
lee. ors stated that they bad no purpose
20 unduly delay final action. and when
the executive session concluded. after
continuing about an hour and half,
there was an understanding that Davis
would renew his request or next Monday.
and that then there would probably be
no object ION TO fixing A date.