The San Francisco call., 1904-03-23
INDIAN BILL
IS DISCUSSED
Senators Enter Into Lively
Debate on Excluding Civil
Service From the Agencies
PROVISIONS CRITICIZED
Dispute Arises Over Clause
Allowing School Superin-
tendents to Act as Agents

WASHINGTON, March 22.-The Sem
ate spent the greater part of the day
on the Indian appropriation bill. Lodge
took exception to the provision ex-
empting candidates for the position of
Indian agency farmers from civil SER
vice examination, and on his sugges-
tion the amendment was passed over
without action.
Later in the day Senator-elect Dick
of Ohio appeared in the Senate cham
Der. He went direct to Senator Fora
ker's seat and was cordially greeted,
but their conference was cut short by
the announcement of an executive ses-
sion, from which Dick, not yet having
had the oath of office, was excluded
under the rules of the Senate. The first
discussion was in connection with the
bill over the House provision permit
ting superintendent of Indian schools
to act as Indian agents. Spooner
called attention to the fact that school
superintendents are appointed as the
result of civil service examinations,
whereas Indian agents are appointed
by the President and confirmed by the
Senate. He said that to adopt the
resolution would be for the Senate to
abandon it's functions. The resolution
was defended by Stewart, Dubois and
Platt of Connecticut, as calculated to
promote the service in the conduct of
business at the agencies.
The provision was amended by strik-
ing out the word hereafter" which
has the effect of confning the opera
tion of the clause to the next fiscal
year.
Lodge made a point of order against
the amendment relieving the agency
farmers from civil service examination
Messrs. Stewart, McCumber, Teller
and Platt of Connecticut contended
that the provision is necessary in order
to procure efficient service, and said
that a collegiate education is not neces-
sary to efficiency in teaching agricul-
ture TO the Indians.
German criticized the provision as
showing tendency to get away from
the requirements of the civil service
law. He referred to reported utter
anoes by Admiral Walker in favor Of
the suspension of the law in it's appIi-
cation to the isthmian canal commits
sion.
Spooner supported the amendment
saying that to require farmers and
stockmen of the aliens TO pass civil
service is absolute nonsense" and
away beyond the intention of the orig
inal civil service reformers. German
said he agreed, largely with Spooner's
view, but Congress did not act by
piecemeal in modifying the civil SER
vice laws.
AT Lodges request the amendment,
together with that of a similar ma
ture relating to the employment of
matrons at Indian agencies, was
passed over
The committee amendments author
izing the Commission on Indian Af-
fairs to exercise supervision of the
renting of homesteads and surplus
lands by the Creek, Choctaw, Chicka-
saw and Cherokee Indians in Indian
Territory, requiring the recording of
all leases of land blythe five civilized
tribes, and authorizing the Secretary
of the Interior to disDossess lessees
claiming leases obtained by fraud or
by inadequate consideration, were
stricken from the bill on points of
order.
Without completing the reading of
the bill the Senate at p. m. went into
executive session and at 5:15 ad-
journed.