New-York tribune., 1906-04-25
INDIAN FRAUDS.
DIR. Lodge attacks Doubtful Pro-
risions in appropriation Bill.
tFrom The Tribune Bureau. ]

Washington April 24-There is no measure
which comes up regularly for consideration by
the Senate which occasions more anxiety 10 the
CSder and more conscientious members of that
body than the Indian Appropriation bill, and
this years measure has proved no exception to
the rule During the long period when the late
Senator PIatt served on the Indian Committee
the leaders always felt confident that no deal
JOB" would get past him. and even when he
unable to defeat an improper provision in
committee he took pains 10 advise those of his
colleagues whom he could rely regarding the
Objectionable feature and it met with short
shrift on the floor of the Senate. Now there ap-
pears TO be no one on the committee with ex-
perience and industry sufficient to insure the de-
lection Of all Objectionable features and it falls
TO Senators outside the committee to exert the
utmost vigilance to prevent this measure from
being made the vehicle OF seriously objection
able legislative provisions.
The measure reported this year contains
eral extraordinary provisions, some OF which
were attacked to-day by Senator Lodge and
went out bodily wers passed over for fur
ther discussion. One, for instance provides that
ALI water rights and privileges on or connected
with streams within adjoining said reserva-
ton (the Blackfeet) shall be subject to the laws
OF the state Of Montana and all proceedings I'm
any pending suit commenced by the United
states praying for an injunction to enjoin the
use of waters of any such stream shall he
pended. and no like suit shall hereafter be COM
menced or prosecuted by the United States
against any person company actually using
the water or any Of the streams aforesaid for a
beneficial purpose"
IN other words. the irrigation companies and
individuals operating near the Blackfeet Res
ervation would by this provision be insured from
bN-t he faSa
less OF the amount of water they stole from the
Indians. and the Indians would have to intrust
their cases to the tender merces of the Mon
tana courts. It is said that already there are
several suits pending. brought by the govern
ment 10 protect its wards against the most out
rageous Injustice. and it is TO save the white
neighbor OF the red man from such inconvenient
interference that this provision was favorably
reported TO the Senate by the Committee on Ind
ian Affairs. Senator Lodge made violent pro-
test against this provision. and # is not likely
to be found in the measure finally enacted.
Another provision which came to grief when
1t met the carefuf scrutiny of the senior seua-
tor from Massachusetts provides that $4,000
which is about to be paid TO certain Kickapoo
Indians now living in Mexico shall be paid
through the Border National Bank of Eagle
Pass. Tex. The agents Of the Indian Bureau re-
port that this bank has in the past made similar
payments TO the Indians and has apparently
made the trif1ing mistake of paying off the
Indians In Mexican silver, whereby the Indian
received just 4G per cent of the funds actually
due him. and the bank made something over 50
per cent net the deal It is OF course irnpossi-
BILE TO verify the charge of the Indian agents
while the bill is on passage. but Mr. Lodge called
the attention of the Senate to the fact that there
was another and larger bank at this point the
First National. and that there was no reason
for restricting the payment OF the Indian funds
10 one bank. Incidentally. Mr.. Lodge informed
the Senate that the cashier of the Border Ma
tional Bank had been reported to the Secretary
of the Interior as having passed six fraudulent
Indian claims, and that his Indictment had
been recommended. Senator Culberson, who
was present when these representations were
made by Mr.. Lodge. attempted no defence of
the bank in his state. When the bill passes IL
VIII doubtless leave IL optional with the Secre-
tary Of the Interior as to which bank shall be
chosen as the representative of the government
at Eagle Pass.
Senator Kean. Of New Jersey also took a
hand at eliminating certain provisions from the
Indian bill. He made the point OF order against
provision for paying certain Kickapoo Indians
S2lo,OOO for certain specified lands Mr.. Kean's
point was that these Indians had already been
PAID twice for the same lands. and that in his
judgment a third payment for the same lands
was somewhat superfuous The point of order
sustained.
Mr. Lodge also objected 10 a provision which
declares that no army officer shall be engaged
in the performance Of the duties OF Indian
agent In so far as Mr.. Lodge has been able
TO learn. the only objection 20 such employ
nnent Of army officers is that they are too honest
to prove amenabe to the influences of zentle-
men who have designs on the rights and mock
etbooks of the Indians. and he rviII insist on
being apprised Of some better reason before he
viii consent to the adoption OF the provision.