The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-02-11
LEASING OF INDIAN LANDS.
LIVELY DEBATE ON THE QUESTION
IN THE SENATE.


,oses an Amendment to the Appro-
rriation Bill Ruling Out Leases.
vr. RawIins supports the Amend
,,ent on the Ground That 1t VIII
Prevent MOnOpOlies Gaining Con-
troll of Mineral Lands-Mr. Allen
Takes Issue with Him-Amend-
ment Agreed to.
washington, Feb. 1O-Gen. William
e,orb of England, founder of the Saliva
ron Army, officiated as chaplain at the
onening to-day of the Senate's session.
He invoked the divine blessing upon the
conafe and its members and besought the
Great Ruler of All to continue his favor
n those here gathered for the ruling and
regulation of this great and mighty nation
and that all that might here be done be
n the honor and glory of God. He prayed
This country might move forward in the
march of Christianity so that it might be
on example to all other nations of the
earth.
Mr. and Mrs. Rooth-Tucker, the SON
,n-law and daughter of Gen. Booth, were
in the gallery during the prayer. Pre-
,,ious to the meeting of the Senate, the
entire party held a brief reception in the
4 Vice Presidents room.
Mr. FRYE of Maine reported favorably
from the committee on commerce bill
n AMEND the laws relating to navigation
He said that as the proposed bill related
only to Alaskan waters it was necessary
that prompt action should be taken. The
hill was passed without division.
Mir. Chandler of New Hampshire gave
notice that he would tomorrow call up
the Corbett case Immediately after the
morning business.
The Indian appropriation bill was then
considered.
considerable discussion arose over an
amendment proposed by the committee,
nroviding that hereafter no Indian, or
tribe of Indians shall lease for mining pur-
noses lands that are not patented to said
Indians"
Mr.. Rawlins supported the amendment,
and referred to efforts that are constantly
being made by private individuals and cor
porations to secure Indian lands, particu-
larlv mineral lands, by lease from the In
dams with the approval of the Secretary
of the Interior He said that when he came
Fl here in 1893 an application was pending be-
fore the Secretary of the Interior for ap-
proval of a lease of $4,000 acres of land in
the Uncompaghre reservation, containing
valuable deposits of giisonite. The lease
had been obtained by an individual
through the connivance of the Indian agent
and at once turned over to the American
Fl Asphalt Company. The agents and attor-
news of this corporation, Mr.. Rawlins said,
had come to Washington and representing
that they controlled senators and represen-
tatives and had great influence in high po-
ltical circles, were trying to force the APP
b prevail of their lease. Ultimately, he said,
the lease, covering about five hundred
acres, was approved. Now, he declared,
those same persons were endeavoring to
defeat the committee amendment to pre-
vent the Indians from leasing their land.
He believed in opening the mineral lands
by the government, the leasing of them
TO individuals, or companies, and the APP
pication of the proceeds for the benefit of
the Indians.
With this argument Mr.. Allen of Ne
Fl braska took issue. He maintained that
the Indians had higher and better right
10 the lands than the mere permission to
roam over them hunting and fishing and
feeding their ponies. He held that the
81 Indians had right to mine for minerals
supposed or known to be in the land, or to
cut timber growing thereon, and if the in
dividual Indians or tribes did not desire
to mine land, they had the right to lease
privileges to such persons as they pleas
ed under reasonable restrictions to be en-
forced by the interior department.
81 Mr.. Allen said he did not desire to i'm
"a pugn anybody's motives, but he could
readily conceive that those who resided
near these valuable gilsonite lands, be-
ing thoroughly familiar with the location
of mineral deposits might be anxious to
open those lands to location by white peo-
pie, as such opening would afford them an
immense advantage over people from 9TH
er parts of the country who were not ia
miliar with the location of the deposits.
NJ The committee amendment was agreed
Nj to.
Mr., Kyle of South Dakota proposed an
amendment that all or any part of the sum
OF Sl6S 1886 now in the treasury to the credit
of the Sioux Indians, Crow Creek reser-
Walton in Dakota, may be used for the
purpose of such cattle and agricultural
Implements as will promote their welfare.
The amendment was agreed to-
Mr.. Wilson of Washington presented
and secured the adoption of an amendment
~ approprating $4,000 for school buildings
and repairs on the Puyallup reservation
in Washington
IN view of this amendment, Mr.. Allison
presented and had adopted a committee
amendment reducing the sum appropriated
DIV the bill for the construction, purchase
ease and repair of school buildings from
100000 to $4,000
Mr.. Wilson also secured an amendment
III openng the south half of the ColvilIe In
Gian reservation in Washington to mineral
Ri locations.
AR Wilson also secured an amendment
restoring the annuities of the Sante Sioux
h. Indians.
Mr. Allison made point Of order against
.ne amendment. He said 1t would involve
ae payment of at least 100000, and per
maps double that amount
Mr Allen said he did not want so i'm
IoFlaht an amendment as that ''whisted
uoWn the wind" by point of order. He
s1lo ne ala not want to be picked up and
suuued out like a candle" but desired an
opportunity to discuss it.
MI Allison said he was convinced that
reIe was not the shadow of right in the
Hoposed amendment. He insisted upon
~ point Of order, but Mr. Allen withdrew
Nle amendment
az Ia amendment was adopted appropriate
, [-''0o for the construction and equip
~ OF an Indian Industrial School or
1 " OFT Keogh military reservation in
ANA on site not exceeding 1,00t