I believe it is but little short of robbery of the people there. whose children are going without the aid and benefit of taxation. I do not want to deceive Congress as to the meaning of this amendment. If it should be adopted. the Indian agents in that Territory will be prohibited thereafter from expelling the noncitizens of that Territory. and there will be no means for collecting these privileged taxes to which the Indians are not entitled. The amendment will simply have the effect of repealing an ancient statute enacted when that country was a reservation. Under a provision of the Government adopted at that time the right was exercised. which is now exercised on Indian reservations. of putting off a noncitizen. But at the present time such a person has a right to go to any of these towns and to carry on any legitimate business. he has the right to occupy land. But if a tax is demandedit may be a thousand dollarsand if the noncitizen disputes the demand and declines to pay it. the Indian agent is authorized to say. "You are a defaulter to the Indian tribe. you are ordered to vacate the Indian Territory without xegard to your property interests or your family interests." I have been. and am still. an advocate of a uniform system of taxation there. a system taxing privileges in that country for the benefit and education of all the children of the Indian Territory. Such a measure ought to be passed. It will never be passed as long as these tribes are encouraged by the collection of this iniquitous tax. Such a tax could not be imposed except by a strained construction of the law of Congress. It can not be collected without utter disregard of the rights of the noncitizens in that Territory. We are paying the salaries of four Federal judges and innumerable commissioners exercising full power to enforce the law in that country. and I say the appeal in this matter ought to go to the courts. that the rights of the people in that country ought not to be intrusted to the hands of a simple employee of the Government. With this statement I can only appeal to my distinguished friend from New York to withdraw his point of order. I concede that the proposition is subject to the point of order. but the great necessity of adopting such an amendment. its manifest justice. should. it seems to me. warrant Congress in adopting it. If its provisions are considered crude or in any way insufficient. I will join with anyone here most heartily in making the provision all that it should be in justice both to the Indians and the noncitizens. Allow me to say while on the floor that if this point of order is sustained I shall ask the privilege of offering at this point as an amendment a bill providing for taxation in that countrya measure which has the approval of the Indian Department. and which will give at least some measure of relief to the 50.000 children in that country who have for years and years been without any means of education. Not only the white children. but the great bulk of the negro children of that country are deprived of any benefit from the educational funds of these Indians.
Keywords matched
noncitizens noncitizen