The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-02-14

as one man, on account of the conflict
OF counsel, and, above all, by reason
OIL the lnducement to perpetuate their
existence, Which can only continue so
long as their work lasts
Ihls commission Is very shining
example OF that sort of proceeding.
Ihey nave perpetuated their existence,
making only one or two treaties in sew
eral years time, and making a very
unlmportant agreement with the In
dams. Last fall they visited the Crows
| in Montana for the purpose of making
arrangement with those Indians, and
after spending all the fall--for it is
very pleasant to live in that country
in the fall-they adjourned for the win
ter and came to Washington, and have
been here ever since December doing
nothing.
"They made an agreement with the
Indians that they would hold a council
with them next April or May, when the
weather gets pleasant again. They are
going to go to Montana to spend the
summer and return to Washington to
spend the winter 1t will be rare in
deed if we are able to get report out
| of them once a year; and for all this
they are to receive not only $40 d day
apiece, but also travelling expenses,
board bills. clerks to wait upon them,
&
can be made in justification Of their
continuance in office or their existence.
There is no pretense that they are OF
any value to the government or that
their services will accomplish any good.
The only reason in the world why the
commission is continued for a day is
TO furnish places for three men; to pay
them out of the treasury of the United
states and collect the money from the
people of the United States by taxation
to do it. 1t seems to me, before we
continue their existence longer. there
should be some reason given here why
| the money should be paid out of the
treasury. There should be some laud-
able. proper purpose to be accomplished
by the continuance of this junketng
commission, or else it ought to be wiped
| out of existence at once"
Senator Carter said: 1.-THE amend
ment proposing to extend the time of
the life of the commission to Jan. /,
1900, was presented in behalf of the
senator from Indiana, who is alb
sent"
And the member of the commission
from Indiana is, l understand, the most
worthless member of the whole COM
mission" replied Pettigrew. 1T is re-
ported that in Montana last year when
employed upon this work he was con-
stantly intoxicated and utterly unfit to
fill any position under the government.
| have this information from a very
prominent and important citizen of the
state of Montana, and yet it is pro-
posed to perpetuate this commission
and continue this commission two
months longer, in order that he may
continue to draw $40 a day spend his
summers in Montana and his winters in
Washington, and do nothing"
Senator Carter then continued: 1.-THE
members of this commission are esti-
mable gentlemen, undoubtedly, and as
to the men personally I have nothing
whatever to say in the way of crti
cism. Whatsoever they may have ac-
complished in other sections of the
country stands to their credit accord
ing to the testimony that may be borne
by the senators representing the re-
! spective states, but so far as concerns
their performances in the state of Mon
tana, where they were commissioned
and directed to negotiate with three
distinct Indian tribes, I feel constrained
to say that their work was Inefficient
| wholly unsatisfactory. and not to be
| continued, based upon what they have
attempted to accomplish in the past
They spent the entire summer out
there without accomplishing anything
| at all except to get up a misunder-
standing between the Indians on one
| reservation and their agent. That was
| done by the chairman of the commits
| sion coming to Washington, spending
number of days in the autumn and
| winter here and explaining to the In
| dians, by letter and otherwise. that
| their agent had not been attending to
their business. and that he had secured
by and through his own magnificent eff
| forts. the recognition of certain claims
| the Indians had against the govern
ment which the agent had neglected.
Il do not anticipate any agreement
| by or through this commission with
| any tribe in the state of Montana be-
| tween now and the LIST of April. l do
| not anticipate the contamination Of any
agreement by and through them be-
| tween now and the LIST day of Novem-
| Der. l have suggested an amendment
which will clearly empower the secre-
! tary of the interior to remove them at
any time, and l am perfectly free to
| say judging these men on their merits,
according to the record they have made
| to my knowledge, if I We're secretary of
| the interior 7 would remove them the
| day after this bill passes and would
| designate an inspector, as suggested by
| the Senator from Nebraska, to go out
and in businesslike way negotiate
these desirable agreements
The senate also adopted an amend
ment providing that with the consent
of the Crows, portion of their an
nuity may be used to complete the rri-
cation system on the reservation.
Private Patrick Derrig of Company
| A. 1st Montana volunteers, has been
honorably discharged
c. H. Toliver of Arlington is in the
city. HOSFORD.
| Good citizenship.
| ,