Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1900-10-20
PETTlGREw's FALSE CLAIMS

From the Canton News of August "a:
Last week we promised to give the
facts concerning some OF the legis'a-
ton affecting the state, which Mr.. Ken
nedy of this city alleged, in his contr--
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 Pettigrey
should be reelected.
The first allegation is that in thu
land legislation of 1891, which repeal
ed the timber culture and ~pre-emption
laws, Senator Pettigrew had a pro
vision inserted which made Sparks
%annoyances in the future impossib g.
We have 1t, on good authority that
Congressman John A.. Picker was
chiefly instrumental in securing this
legislation.
Allegation No. 2 Is a bold attempt 70
secure credit which belongs elsewhere
The act opening the Fort Randall res
eryation was introduced by Hon. o.. s.
Clifford and passed the House. 1t went
TO the Senate where Senator PETIT g CIV
tackled on the bill, an amendment pro
viding for the opening of the Sissetol
reservation. When 1t got back 10 the
House 1t was Clifford, aided by P.ckler,
who procured it's passage and 1t cost a
hard fight. too.
The allegation that he occurred the
Fort Meade appropriations has no
foundation in fact. The War Dep lrt-
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 Wal De
partment. All Senator Pet!igrsw DID
was TO vote for the bill when 1t reach
ed the Senate, after passing the Hou @
The claim for credit in regard to the
Flandreau Indian school buildings
would be rejected In any court. The
bin originated in the Indian appropril-
lions 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, Sanltor
Pettigrew's home, belongs to Judge
Clifford who got the bill which was en-
acted, through the House and it was
afterwards passed by tho Senate. Ssn-
ator Pettigrew's bill for the same pur-
pose was passed by the Senate, but it
was Gifford's bill which became a law
and gave Sioux Falls her pubic build
ing.
The appropriation for the improve
ment OF the Missouri was for many
years expended under the direction o.
the Missouri river commission and
Kansas CITY, Omaha and Sioux City
for a long time gobbled the entire ap-
preparation. Through Gifford's efforts,
the operations Of the commission we Q
limited and the appropriations divided
so that Dakota secured a slice OF tho
funds and the ice harbor constructed
at Bismarck was occurred by him. 1t
was probably an oversight on the part
of Senator Pettigrew that he 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, Waa-
peton, Yankton and portions OF the
Great Sioux reservat ems was in 70
duced by Clifford In 1891 and the bill
he introduced became a law. 1t carr oil
a provision requiring the sett ng apart
of sections 16 and SO in each congress
sional township for school land eni
providing that the government pay 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 t.
claim the credit for 1t.
We have shown that Senator Petit
grew grossly imposed on the credul'ty
of his brother Democrat, Mr.. Kennedy,
and we hope before he writes another
argument in favor OF Senator Petit
grew, that he will not take the unSup-
ported "claim" OF the senator, but will
require the production Of the record
for each claim.