The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1897-04-22
INDIAN BILL IS DISCUSSED
THE SENATE PUT IN MOST OF YES
TERDAY'S SESSION ON
THAT BILL.
VEST Defends SECTAR|AM SCHOOLS
UncOmpahgre Indian Reservation
Amendment Agreed TO-Finance
Subcommittee Sweating Over
the Dingley Bill.

Washington, April 15.-The senate
spent the day considering the Indian ap-
bill, but did not complete it.
Early in the session the proceedings were
made executive, and when the doors were
again opened to the public the Indian bill
was called up. The pending question
was on the committee amendment OPEN
ing the Uncompahgre reservation in Utah
for public entrance. Mr.. Jones of Ar
kansas withdrew the point he had made
and yea and nay vote on the amend
ment was agreed to, 33 to 10. The
amendment is as follows:
'That the mineral lands of the Uncom-
pahgre Indian reservation in the state
of Utah are hereby declared open to pub
lie entry under the mineral land laws of
the United States. and no person shall
be allowed to make more than one claim
on lands containing gilsonite. And on
and after January 1, 1898, all of said
reservation unallotted to Indians shall be
open to public entry under the land laws
of the United States"
Mr.. Gallinger (rep) of New Hamp-
shire moved to strike out the provision
giving tribal lands to children of white
father and Indian mother.
He declared the provision would permit
white adventures to marry the Indian
women as matter of speculation and
intimately to dominate the Indian.
Mr.. Berry (dem.) of Arkansas defended
the provision on the ground that it re-
moved the penalty now placed on an In
dian woman for marrying white man.
The motion to strike out did not prevail
Mr.. Quay called attention to what he
termed deliberate attempt to rob the
Indians" He dealt with the granting
of certain oil rights on the Seneca In.
dian reservation in New York. Mr.. Quay
offered an amendment to the bill striking
out the ratification of the oil grants
which passed.
The motion of Mr.. Gallinger to strike
out the provision giving tribal lands ia
children of white father and Indian
mother was so modified 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.
Mr.. Vest spoke in criticism of the pro
vision of the bill abolishing sectarian In.
dian schools. He knew, he said, that
what he said would subject him to bitter
criticism. He was brought up protest
ant anu nuU no COnUpCtlOn WIFI UUe ltO
man Catholic church, but he had no SYM
pathy with that cowardly and ignorant
sentiment that any religious denomination
could menace our liberties. He had beer
reared to believe the Jesuits were op
posed to republican institutions. But he
had travelled through the Indian coun
try and had found the schools a travest!
on education except when conducted b!
the Jesuits. Broken down preachers an(
defunct politicians were sent out to the
western country to teach the Indian chill
dren. He had found. he said, the only
Indian schools accomplishing any goot
were those conducted by the Jesuits
The ceremonial of the Catholic church
seemed to appeal to the Indians.
"If / had to control these schools,
proceeded Mr.. Vest, 81 would give then
to 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 tC
that sect who would rather seen an In
dian damned than to see him in the Cath
Ollie church."
Mr.. Vest said he would make no effort
TO oppose the provisions of the bill, but
would content himself with this protest.
The Indian bill was not completed
when. at O'Clock, the senate adjourned
till Monday.