The Irish standard., 1905-02-18

slred tnat the Dill introduced by Repre-
sentative Lacey, providing for permis-
sion to allot these annuities in several
ty to the Indians, exactly as is now
done with land, should be enacted into
law. Its enactment and administra-
ton would prevent the raising of any
question of this character for each in
dividual Indian would then be left
free to use the money to which he is
entitled outright OH his own initiative,
instead of having it used for him by
the secretary of the interior in conse-
quence of his petition. earnestly
hope that congress will at once enact
this bill into law"
Cardinal Gibbons has issued a state
ment denying that DR.. E. l.. Scharf
had any connection with the Catholic
church or any right to speak for it.
He says:
''In view of certain statements made
by Senator Bard before the committee
on Indian affairs of the senate, | deem
it proper to state that the Catholic
church has no political agent at Wash
ington or anywhere else; that Profess
sor T.. l.. Scllarf. who is referred to
in Senator Bards statement, is not an
agent of the Catholic church nor of the
Bureau of Indian Missions, and has
never been employed by the church or
by the the Catholic Indian Bureau in
any way whatsoever
Further investigation reveals the
fact that OIL the request of Indians the
secretary of the interior has paid tut
tion to ten denominational schools for
Indian children. such payment having
been made in accordance with treaty
stipulatiOns. out of the interest OH
trust funds held for the Indians by the
government. Such payments have been
made in accordance with an opinion
of the attorney general, declaring that
the Indians. under the provisions Of the
treaties. were entitled to designate the
schools which their children should at
tend and to have their tuition paid
from such funds. OF the schools to
which such funds have been paid,
eight are Catholic. one Lutheran, and
one. the Hampton Institute of Virginia,
is Presbyterian.
The department of the interior is
clearly of the opinion that it was war
ranted in making these payments, es-
pecially as it's action was authorized
by the attorney general. The atten-
ton of the department was further
called to the materially decreased cost
to the Indians of educating their chill
tlren at denominational schools, as
compared iwth the government insti-
tutions. For instance, the average cost
of d years tuition for one child at any
one of four government schools is
$1S2.35, while the cost at denomina-
tiOnal schools on the same reservations
averages $1OS year. On the Usage
reservation there are two Catholic
schools at which the cost of tuition is
FISc d NCtti, NHilc 1T OAt SONcfNlIlcllI
schools the cost is $2O3 year.
Members of the Indian affairs COM
mittee of the senate point to the fact
that these payments are made from
the interest on trust funds. over the
expenditure of which the Indians have
IL right to exercise supervision, and
that no appropriation for any denomi-
national school, except that at Hamp.
ton. is. or has for some years. been
made by congress.
Bishop Thomas j. Conaty emphatic
ally denies the charges made in Wash
ington by Senator Bard that tile Cath
Ollie church had endeavored to influ-
ence the senator's action in the dis
tribution of Indian funds by the prom
Use of political support "The charges
are absurd" said the bishop. "In the
first place. they cannot apply to this
district because we do not receive any
government funds for the use in the
schools We take care of our Indians
without money. The Catholic church
does nothing that is not open and
above board, and the statement that a