New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-02-06
Mr.. DEPEW ON INDIANS.
Objects to Placing General Legisla-
ton on appropriation Bills.

Washington, Feb. 5.-Senator Depew came tine
rescue Of the nations wards in the consideration
of the Indian Appropriation bill in the Senate to-
day, and made his first speech in the Senate since
his recovery from his Illness of year ago. Ris-
ing In support OF point OF order made against the
allotment OF certain Indian lands. Senator Depew
spoke forcefully and conv!ncngly of the evil OF
placing general legislation in appropriation bills
and especially OF putting legislation affecting the
Indians In the Indian Appropriation bill
Mr.. Depew deprecated the disposition to consult
dictionaries with a view finding the widest pos
slble meanings for the words contained in the Sen
ate rules. and declared that the meaning of the
committee which framed the rule and of the Sen
ate in adopting It was obvious The rule was clear
" intended to prevent the inclusion Of new legis-
ation In the regular appropriation bills. which have
a single misson-the provision Of funds to carry
into effect legislation passed separately and pre-
sumably It's merits.
The Senator strongly condemned the enactment
Of legislation affecting the Indians as part OF an
appropriation bill He pointed out that the friends OF
the Indian watched closely all bills whlch aHec'eu
the nations wards, which were properly iH''ouuCVN
and regularly considered, and that the careIuHy
prescribed route through which bill must pass
before It became a law afforded ample opportunity
for the detection of Jobs and steals ana the
heading off Of injudicious or improper measures
When a bill was introduced ii was considered oS a
committee of each house in the hsht OF '"'etai
circumstances. and then could be examined by the
merits When new legislation placed on an
appropriation BILL the other hand, II usually re-
ceiyed the consideration OF only one committee Ut
OF none The conferrees on the bill would oIteh
yield even in opposition TO their best judgment III
order to save some other portion OF the measure
and enaIv the President was placed in an embar-
RAISING position because, however meritricious ne
might consider the new legislation. he could not
veto Il without vetoiug the entire Appropriation
bill and thus Gripping the department 1t was n
tended TO supply, perhaps even making necessary
a special session OF Congress.
Senator Depew referred TO the annual conferences
at Lake Mohonk, where. he said, proposed 4hdian
legislation was carefully considered by men ana
heart and were well Informed on the suoleCt, ouS
general legislation affecting the Indians ana enacted
as "a part or appropriation bill rarely or never
came TO the attention of the Mohonk cohieronCe;;
usually slipped through in manner which would
be impossible We're IL passed IN the tfEuIar t aiu
was due some OF the most discreditaole Indian
legislation which Congress- had ever passed ana
he declared that the treatment or me lndlas oy
the national government was IN some Respects as
disRraceful any thing which had occurred In the
Congo Free State under tho sovereignty OF mug
When Mr. Depew ended his remarks tho Vice
President sustained the noint of order As the con-
sderatlon proceeded, an item anecllnS the trust
p endA t S no G of 9Tder pS9pst this item Mr.
eSeH saidp howeVer that he was not interested
in the item. that It was merely matter OF book
tho convenience of the United States Treasury,
However, II the point OF order was raised he would
be glad to see Il sustained. The point not
pressed and the item went through.
The Senate spent practically the entire daX con-
sidering the Indian bill and is likely 10 spend the
OF the week the measure.
An amendment authorizing tho Secretary of the
Interior designate for fun citizenship any in
dividual Indian OF any tribe whenever he believes
any such Indian is capable. and to pay TO him his
share OF tribal funds rejected point of
order made by Mr. Spooner, who remarked that
every stage OF the Indian problem goes toward
the spoliation Of the Indian"
Mr. McCumber predicted Indian crisis in this
country within the fifteen years when, he
said every of Indian land would have passed
into the hands of the white man and the Indians
would be wandering bands OF beggars. Their only
hope would be TO get into Mexico.