Speech #470125455

I object to this conference report in tote. In the first place. the manner in which they get out of this controversy. it seems to me. is simply ridiculous. to useno stronger term .. The report abandons the amendment which required this fund to be charged to the Creek Indians. and this is the novel outcote of it : But nothing in this actcontained shall he construed to prevent the United States from asseoting its right to be reiabursed by the Creek Nation in any fotiro settlemets therewith. the further stun of $100.799.68 expended by thehUnted States out of the Creek orphan fund for the support of loyal Creek refugees. As a matter of course the conferees could not surrender the claim of the United States. nor is this such a proposition. as the Senator from Massachusetts says. it is not an authority to the Secretary of the Interior to present the claim to the Creek Nation and to insist on their paying it. It simply says that nothing in this act shall be construed to prevent the Unitedl States from asserting its right hereafter against the Creek Nation.