The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1907-02-04
In The Indian Appropriation
Bill
GREAT CHANCES FOR OIL
Opportunity to Get Possession Of All the
Oil Lands of the Territory Said
to Be Opened by the
Measure.

tF NFAHhhiEbNls ~. Ats ItNt - IIUMblt
isAbrewing III the Senate over an Indian
appropriation bill, and there are pros.
poets 81 an interesting session today,
There Is shrewd suspicion that the bin
in the form in which consideration of
il was begun in the Senate Saturday
contains more unholy robbery than any
measure which has been introduced ii
either branch Of Congress with the in
dorsement of an officials COMMITTEES for
a long time past. Ordinarily there III
not much interest IN an Indian appro-
priaiton bin, but when it is loaded down
with manwdubious provisions, Including
one that will apparently remove all re-
strictions from the exploitation Of the
oil lands in the Indian reservations, it
wears a different complexion. Accord.
ing to the statement OF high govern.
ment official, this particular provision
win maze ii possible for the STANDARD
oil company to rain control of all the
Indian coal lands, aal there are those
who suspect that the provision was
drawn with that purpose in view
The mere fact th8s the Dill carried
only $sO00,O00 whsn il was passed by
the House and now carries SI4.O00,p00
as introduced by the Senate canmittee,
IS enough in itself 10 warrant scrutiny.
This increase Ii due TO tie insertion If
many claims against the government,
and IL Is felt BY those who ought to
know OF what they are ialkia9 that a
very large proportion OF these claims
or ,nf A f.d,
of the Senate who il familiar with The
provisions Of the Dill . credited WITH
saying that it is the worst Indian APP
preparation bin ever argcd This is very
strong language, in view VI the fact that
the Indian bill In other years has beer
notorious for the amount Of jobbesy that
has been worked into it or attempted to
be worked into it,
Much credit Ia due TO Senator Lodge
for having been instrumental IN having
consideration of many Of these doubtful
amendments which nav been made TO
the bill BY the Senate rom 'ittee deferred
until today, when opportunity will have
been had for inquiring int item more
closely. Unless Senator Ciapp, the chair.
man Of the Senate committee on Indian
affairs, cad oifer satisfactory explana-
lions for provisions that certainly APP
pear dubious, be is likely 10 he in Tor
ain uncomfortable session. Secretary
Hitchcock tof the interior department
will come pretty close to knowing what
is what in regard to the bill, and 1t il
a safe prediction that senators who have
already become suspicious will 70 TO him
10 he fully posted and armed before TO-
days session begins.
The House Saturday gave two hours
to the river and harbor bill during which
time Chairman Burton and the river and
harbor committee were subjected to fur.
Their criticism. At o'clock the Mouss
postponed further business and listened
to eulogies Of Senator German. Cor
gresham Towne Of New York, who il
rated as an orator, was agreed by many
of his colleagues TO have pronounced a
beautiful euIogy.
The query sent on to President Roosc-
welt from oklahoma as 70 whether he
would issue the necessary proclamation
admitting that state TO the union if
its constitution should contain a jim
Grow car clause, is considered BY some
politicians TO be an effort 10 put the
president in a hole. There is also sus.
picions that the 0klahemans were put
up to making the query by certain Dem.
ocratic congressman with whom they
have been corresponding. If the presi-
dent makes any statement in the mat
ter, he can hardly avoid causing resent.
ment III some quarter.
The foolish talk Of war with japan
has begun to subside. Senator Cullom
vigorously referred to IL as ''tomfooleryn
While no one deprecated the war talk
more than the president, it win appar-
emily simplify some things for him. He