The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1897-02-21
Offers a Resolution of Sym
pathy Which the Senate
Adopts.
Labor Commission Measure Side.
tracked for Indian Appro-
priations.
Question of Voting Government Money
for Sectarian Schools Causes
Lively Debate.

the Senate to-day the following resolu-
ton was offered by Cameron (R.) of Penn
sylvania and agreed to without objection:
Resolved, That the Senate Of the United
States, being mindful OF the sympathy of the
people OF the United States expressed for the
Greeks at the time OF their war for independ'
ence, now extends like sympathy 10 the Gov
eminent with its intervention IN behalf OF the
people of the island OF Crete for the purpose
OF freeing them from the tyranny OF fore ign
oppressors and 10 restore peace, with the
blessings OF Christian civilization, 10 that dis
tressed island.
On motion of Quay (R.) of Pennsylvania
the Senate took up for consideration the
bill passed by the House last session, au-
thorizing appointment OF non-partisan
commission to coliate information and to
consider and recommend legislation to
meet the problems presented by labor, ag-
riculture and capital.
Platt (R.) of Connecticut opposed 1t as
the ''most remarka BILE bill, both in its de-
tails and purpose, ever presented to Con-
gress." 1t proposed to offset the govern
ment by injunction" by the government
by commission" That commission was
to be composed of three men representa-
tive of labor, three men representative OF
manufacturing and three men representa-
tive OF business. This involved an expen-
diture of 800. 600 year for officials alone.
Allison (R.) of Iowa, chairman OF the
Committee on Appropriations, interrupted
Plat with a motion to lay the bill aside
and proceed with the appropriation bills.
Quay objected to that. He said he had
called the bill up at the request of the
great labor organizations of the country,
which believed 1t to be q measure of great
magnitude and importance.
Allison said he felt it his duty to test
the sense Of the Senate on the motion to
proceed with the Indian appropriation
bill, and he accordingly made that mo-
ton.
Quay, by way of compromise, asked
unanimous consent that the vote on the
labor commission bill be taken on the 1st
of March at $3.50 P. N.
Hawley (R. J OF Connecticut objected.
After further desuItory talk Allison
moved that the Senate proceed to the
Consid Grafton OF the Indian approximation
bill.
Hill demanded the ayes ana noes, and
expressed the hope that the friends of the
labor commission bill would vote down
the motion.
The motion was agreed to-ayes "a,
noes IS.
The Senate then proceeded to the con-
sideration of the Indian appropriation
bill. When the paragraphs were reached
to pay the Pottawstto ME Indians various
sums in severalty under the treaties made
as far back as 1875, Allen (Pop) of
Nebraska said he should like TO have the
member Of the Appropriations Commit
tee explain why they were guilty of the
crime OF imposing on the benighted In
dams money worth, according TO some
Senators, but so cents on the dollar. A
dollar that was dishonest for the white
man ought to be dishonest for the red
man.
This question provoked considerable
discussion, in the course OF which the de-
cision of the Supreme Court in the incom e
tax case was brought up. Allen said:
Mr.. Justice Shiras owes it 10 the coun-
try 10 say why he So suddenly changed
front on that subject. This change was so
radical and so extreme that the man will
80 into history under q cloud unless he ex-
plains to the country what motives intiQ-
enced him TO change his position on the
income tax case"
Consideration of the bill was proceeded
with. The question of Indian schools
came up OF the item appropriating S1200
for that purpose, to which item the Com
mittee on Indian Affairs had reported an
amendment providing that the Secretary
OF the Interior may use $1,000 for the edu-
cation OF Indians in Alaska: provid ed
that the Secretary of the Interior NAV
make contracts with the contract schools
apporuoning the amount among the
schools Of the various denominations, but
shall only make such contracts at places
where non-sectarian schools cannot be
provided and 10 an amount not exceeding
40 Per centum OF the amount so used for
The fiscal year 1895; provided further, that
the act shall not apply to pubic cbools
or TO schools specifically provided for
Lodge (R.) of Massachusetts opposed
the amendment as something which
might entirely undo the work of last ses-
sion in returning to sectarisn Indian
schools.
The amendment was defended by Sena-
tors Hawley (R.) of Connecticut and
Teller (R.) of Colorado on the ground that
the schools would have TO be continued
for another wear or the children would
have to be turned away.
Gallinger (R.) of New Hampshire, in
the course OF his remarks, said that every
church but one IN the United States re-
fused to take money from the Govern
ment for Indian education.
wv hat church does not refuse 10 take
it?" Allen (PoP.) OF Nebraska asked.
The Roman Catholic church" CALM
ger replied.
Il do not mean to artaign that church, :"
said Allen, but l am absolutely, irreyo-
cably and eternally opposed TO voting u
dollar fo- education in sectarian or religi-
Gus schools"
Hawlev defended the amendment. He
was not Catholic he said, but it was g.
aith honestly held by an immense num-
Der of people. 1t was a church of tremen-
dous organization and executive power.
The two houses last session were some
what merciful in the matter in permitting
Indian children to learn TO read under
Catholic priest for little time until other
schools could be organized.
That was all that was proposed in the
smendment-that the Indian children
should not be turned out OF school-and
in the meantime efforts should be made
10 establish non-sectarIan schools. He
never had such a prejudice against Cath
Ole schools that be would not prefer 10
see his child 90 there rather than have
him run the streets SIS a loafer.
Pettigrew (SiI.) of South Dakota, chair
man of the Indian Committee, supported
the resolution.
Wilson (R-l OF Washington said that
after the Government spending fifteen
millions on Indian schools he had yet TO
see single Indian who had received the
slightest benefit from them, and be urged
Gallinger TO say whether the statement
was CORE L
Gsliinger admitted that it was
Palmer Cd of Illinois argued that the
Senate should not permit itself TO be
drawn into q controversy about the mis-
erable question OF denominational control
of Indian schools" His own feeling was
that the good men and good women of
various churches who rad done such
praiseworthy work among the Indians
should not be abandoned By the Govern
ment; but the Secretary OF the Interior
should be permitted 10 make contracts