Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1900-10-25
PETTIGREw's FALSE CLAIMS

From the Canton News of August "a:
Last week we promised to give the
facts concerning some of the legisla-
ton affecting the state, which Mr.. Ken
nedy of this city alleged, in his contri-
button to the August number of the
Monthly South Dakotan, was due to the
efforts Of Senator Pettigrew, and for
these alleged services to our state, Mr..
Kennedy thinks Senator Pettigrew
should be reelected.
The first allegation is that in the
land legislation Of 1891, which repeal
ed the timber culture and presumption
laws, Senator Pettlgrew had a pro-
vision inserted which made Sparks
annoyances in the future impossible.
We have it, on good authority that
Congressman John A. Picker was
chiefly instrumental in securing this
legislation.
Allegation No. 9 is a bold attempt to
secure credit which belongs elsewhere.
The act opening the Fort Randall res
ervation was introduced by Hon. D. S.
Clifford and passed the House. II went
to the Senate where Senator Petit grew
tackled On the bill, an amendment pro-
vlding for the opening of the Sisseton
reservation. When 1t got back to the
House it was Clifford, aided by Picker,
who procured its passage and it cost a
hard fight, too.
The allegation that he secured the
Fort Meade appropriations has no
foundation in fact. The War Dep art
ment has never since 1876 intended to
abandon Fort Meade. The appropria-
ton for a hospital and barracks there
were made by request of the War De-
partment. All Senator Pettigrew did
was to vote for the bill when 1t reach
ed the Senate, after passing the House.
The claim for credit in regard to the
Flandreau Indian school buildings
would be rejected in any court. The
bill originated in the Indian appropria-
tions committee of the House, of which
Clifford was a member. All Senator
Pettigrew did was to vote for the meas
ure when it reached the Senate. The
credit for the appropriation for a pub
lie building in Sioux Falls, Senator
Pettigrew's home. belongs to Judge
Clifford who got the bill which was N
acted, through the House and 1t was
afterwards passed by the Senate. Sen
ator Pettigrew's bill for the same pur-
pose was passed by the Senate, but 1t
was Gifford's bill which became a law
and gave Sioux Falls her public build
ing.
The appropriation for the improve
ment of the Missouri was for many
years expended under the direction OF
the Missouri river commission and
Kansas City, Omaha and Sioux City
for a long time gobbled the entire ap-
nrnnriofinn ThrntYoh rif9nr1Su affnrfr
the operations of the commission were
limited and the appropriations divided
so that Dakota secured a slice of the
funds and the ice harbor constructed
at Bismarck was secured by him. 1t
was probably an oversight on the part
of Senator Pettigrew that Re did not
claim credit for this ice harbor also.
Appropriations for public land sur
veys always originate in the House and
the senator is entitled to no particular
credit for these appropriations.
The bill to open the Sisseton, Wah-
peton, Yankton and portions of ne
Great Sioux reservations was intro
duced by Clifford in 1891 and the bill
he introduced became a law. II carried
a provision requiring the setting apart
of sections 16 and SO in each congress
SlOEal township LOT SCHOOL lduu ana
providing that the government psy for
this school land. This added hundreds
of thousands of dollars to the school
funds of the state, or will, when the
land is sold and we do not wonder that
Senator Pettigrew should want TO
claim the credit for 1t.
We have shown that Senator Petit
grew grossly imposed on the ~credulity
of his brother Democrat, Mr.. Kennedy,
and we hope before he writes another
in favor of Senator Petit
grew, that he will not take the unsup-
ported claim" of the senator, but will
the production OF the record
fer each claim.