Evening star., 1898-02-11

again at the New York Avenue Presby
terian Church. which will bring to a close
the series Of meetings to be held In this
city.
AN ATTACK ON THE SPEAKER.
An Incident of the Debate ON the
Indian Bill.
The consideration Of the Indian appro-
priation bill in the Senate yesterday after
noon was continued until 5:15 o'clock, when
the absence Of quorum brought about an
adjournment. 4
Considerable discussion arose over an
amendment proposed by the committee.
providing that hereafter no Indian or tribe
of Indians shall lease for mining purposes
lands that are not patented to said In
dians."
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-
larly mineral lands, by lease from the In
dams. with the approval of the Secretary
OF the Interior. He said that when he
came here in 1898 an application was pend
Ing before the Secretary Of the Interior for
approval Of lease Of $4,000 acres of land
in the Uncompahgre reservation, contain
ing valuable deposits of gisonite. The
lease had been obtained by an individual
through the connivance OF the Indian agent
and at once turned over to the American
Asphalt Company. The agents and attor-
neys 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 DO
1t1cal circles, were trying to force the ap-
proval of their lease. Ultimately, he said,
a lease covering about 5000 acres was ap-
proved Now, he declared, those same per-
n of no
mittee amendment to prevent the Indians
from leasing their land. He believed in
opening the mineral lands by the govern
ment, the leasing of them to individuals or
companies and the application of the pro-
ceeds for the benefit Of the Indians.
With this argument Mr.. Allen (Neb.) took
issue. He maintained that the Indians had
a higher and better right to the land than
the mere permission to roam over it hunt
ing and fishing and feeding their ponies.
He held that the Indians had right 10
mine for the mineral supposed or known to
be in the land, or cut the timber growing
thereon, and if the Individual Indian or
the Indian tribe did not desire to mine the
land they had the right to lease privileges
to such persons as they pleased, under rea-
sonable restrictions to be enforced by the
Interior Department Rr Allen said he did
rot desire to impugn anybody's motives,
but he could readily conceive that those
who resided near these valuable gilsonite
lands, being thoroughly familiar with the
location of the mineral deposits, might be
anxious to open these lands to location by
white people, as such opening would afford
them an immense advantage over people
from other parts Of the country VINO were
unfamiliar with the location of the de-
posits.
The committee amendment was agreed
to.
At the conclusion of the reading of the
bill it was thrown open to amendment.
Mr.. Kyle (S d. proposed an amendment
that all or any part of the sum of $f6S. 1885,
now in the Treasury to the credit Of the
Sioux Indians of the Crow Creek reserva-
ton, in South Dakota. may be used for the
purchase of such cattle and agricultural
implements as will promote their welfare.
The amendment was agreed to.
Mr.. Wilson (Wis.) presented and secured
the adoption of an amendment appropri-
ating $4,000 for school buildings and re-
pairs on the Puyallup reservation, in Wash
ington.
In view of this amendment, Mr. Allison
presented and had adopted a committee
amendment reducing the sum appropriated
by the bill for the construction, purchase
lease and repair of school buildings from
100000 to $4,000.
Mr.. Wilson also secured an amendment
opening the south half Of the Colvflle In
dian reservation, in Washington, to min
eral locations.
Mr.. Jones (Ark) offered as an amend
ment to the bill the agreement between
the United States commissioners to nego-
tiate with the five civilized tribes and the
commissioners on the part OF the Seminole
nation, and 1t was agreed to.
In the course of discussion of an amend
ment offered by Mr.. Thurston, against
which point of order was made by Mr..
Allison. Mr.. Allen (Neb.) made a sharp at
tack upon the Speaker of the House of
Representatives. He declared that it was
impossible to secure the passage through
the House of many meritorious measures
because one man stood at the entrance of
the caverns into which proposed legislation
was dumped and would permit nothing to
be done about that of which he did not
approve. He said that lin the other end of
the Capitol this one man stands for 32s
and his bold unwarranted, undignified ac-
tton was disgrace to the Congress and to
the American people"
Mr.. Frye (Me) said the senator (Allen)
was himself out of order while speaking to
point of order.
Mr.. Allen said he had no desire to violate
the rules, and did not think he had violated
them, as he had not referred to any man
by name nor to any particular end of the
Capitol.
This was received with sarcastic laughter
by other senators, and even Mr.. Allen smil-
reverted to the power exercised by the
Speaker of the House. declaring that in
view Of the impossibility of securing con-
sideration of meritorious Hesitation the
truth ought to be known of all people In
the country. If the truth hurt or if 1t
broke any rules he was not responsible.
Il want it understood" said Mr.. Allen,
that hold myself responsible at any time
and In any place for such statements as
may make or have made on this subject
Mr.. Alltson's point Of order was sus-
tained by the Vice. President. Mr.. Allen
took an appeal to the Senate from the Vice
Presidents ruling. Mr.. Hoar moved to lay
the appeal on the table.
Mr. Allen made the point Of no quorum,
and, roll-calI disclosing the presence of
but 30 senators-not a quorum the Senate,
motion of Mr. 5.15 n. m
adjourned.
CHIEF HAZENS SUCCESSOR.