Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1898-01-26
Irrelevant Discussion.

tllc question ptlO1t tiie ->dtioiioti iIpuSS
of Representative is sometimes about
the only one in the wide world that
does not come in for discussion. Let
us take a case in hand. On Saturday
last the House resolved itself into
committee of the whole House on
the state of the Union for the consid
Grafton of the Indian appropriation
bill.
Mr. Sherman of New York, the
chairman of the committee on Indian
affairs. in a very few words. explained
the character and scope of the bill.
He then yielded to Mr.. Adamson, of
Georgia, who filed some four and
half pages of the Record with a de-
fence Of the free silver policy. Mr..
Little of Arkansas. was kind enough
to refer TO poor Lo, in the opening OF
his remarks, insisting that the inter-
state commerce commission should be
empowered by Congress to fix the rates
at which the railroads should be obliS-
ed to transport government supplies to
the Indian agencies. This started up
Mr.. kleberg of Texas who expatiated,
to the extent Of 24i. columns in the
Record-much of it in fine type-upon
the great desirability of government
ownership of railroads.
Mi Smith of Arizona. and Mr.. Lewis
Of Georgia. then spoke. Their remarks
We're held for revision. hut it is quite
safe 70 assume that neither of them
wasted any valuable time on the sub
iect of the Indian appropriation bill.
Mr.. Stephens of Texas, then startled
the House by submitting a few remarks
upon the general question of Indians,
making very clear his strong conVic-
ton that the only truly good Indian was
a dead one Then Mr. Cummings of
New York, made a ringing speech on
the spirit of 16 and the pressing need
of its resurrection in connection with
the Cuban situation. Mr.. King of
Utah. who recently visited Cuba, fol
lowed with an able defence of the
insurgent General Nestor Aranguren
for the trial and execution of Col.
Ruiz. Mr. Underwood Of Alabama.
then consumed considerable time, in
urging the necessity Of the early con
struction of q government plant for
the manufacture of armor plate.
Mir. Ridgey Of Kansas, followed, ana
prefaced his remarks with the state
ment that, touching the latitude o,
subjects allowed in the general debate
OF Il pending bill. old members had
assured him that he was AT liberty
to talk about anything outside Of the
pending bill" being careful not TO
allude to that subject. Nevertheless
he venured few general remarks up
on the general subject Of Indians, and
the proper attitude to be assumed
towards them by the United States
Government.
ON motion of MIR. Sherman the COM
mittee then rose. The speaker resum-
ed the chair. Mr. Hepburn Of Iowa,
reported that the committee of the
whole on the state of the Union, hay
ing had under consideration the Indian
appropriation bill had come to no
resolution thereon. There had been
three hours Of debate" filing some
40 columns of the Record, less than SIX
Of which contained the slightest refer
ence to the indian appropriation bill.
Much Of the time had been devoted to
the attempted manufacture Of political
capital, and most of the speakers had
preferred to address themselves to
| their constituents rather than to care
full and serious consideration of the
question before the House. acting as a
committee of the whole.
Surely it would seem as if some way
might be found to stem the easy cur
rent of such irrelevancy, and confne
remarks. even in the committee of the
whole House, to the discussion of the
subject properly under consideration.
tIn # II Ir h Il,