Speech #550012476

I regret exceedingly that the chairman of the committee has agreed to any such general proposition as is contained in the amendment prepared by the Secretary of the Interior. We agreed to the provision found in the bill because of the enmergency at the last session upon the urgent request of all the Senators from the States in which these reservations have been made by the order of the President of the United States. where they claimed and made a very strong case. indeed. that it would do a great injustice to their people. that it would retard immigration and do injustice to the settlers upon those lands. that the action of the Interior Department and of the President of the United States was hasty and ill considered. The.appeal came with such force that I think every member of the Committee on Appropriations agreed that some relief should be had. and they were content with doing the one thing that is contained in the appropriation bill as it passed at the last session and as is contained in it now. that is to say. to clear up the doubt as to the authority of the President of the United States to modify the order setting aside those great reservations. leaving it. as Congress has always left it. in the discretion of the Executive. It is claimed and held now that possibly there is a doubt as to the power of the President to modify that order. but the.bill as it comes now before the Senate and as it has passed the House gives unquestionably the right to the Executive to change or modify the order as he may see proper.