The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1873-11-29
PROPOSED INDIAN LEGISLATION

Representative Si,anks, Chairman Of the
House Committee on Antiian Affairs, who
has been visiting the West this season pro-
curing information on the Indian question
with view to legislation ut the ensuing
session "f Congress, has become imbued
with good many ideas concerning their
manage mcnt which will commend them
selves to frontier people. He has made the
following statement Of views which will
probably he drafted int" tho form Of bill
courts as the whites do; protect Indians in
their real and personal property from the
cncroachments Of tlrsspassers; protect the
persons Of Indians wives and daughters
from the pollution Of bad white men, the
same as white mems wives and daughters
are protected; make the personal property
Of Indians liable for their debts contracted
for the neccssaries Of life; protect their real
estate or reservation homes from liabilities
for debt; prevent, by severe law, pOlygamy
among them; compel, by law enforced by
order Of court, white men to provide for
the support Of their illegitimate Indian
children; lcgitimatizc the children Of white
men by Indian women, and let them take
by descent from both father and mother;
prohibit voluntary divorces Of Indians or
Of white men from Indian women with
whom they have been cohabiting; allow
Indians to procure divorce in court, after
full hearing, and then only for criminal
causes, u he set out in the law; require the
same restrictions in procuring divorce by
white men who have cohabited with Indian
women that shall bc required Of Indians;
declare the col,abitation Of white men with
Indian women marriage to all intents and
purposes, and enforce it by order Of court
when its duties arc violated or neglected;
If either the white man or the Indian wo-
man is married at tho time of colabitation,
punish both for adultery or fomication, and
make the punishment Of such white men
severe; protect by law informcrs Of viola
ton Of these laws; compel the Indians who
have not adopted the civilized mode Of dress
to do ~; compel Indians to have fixed
abode, and allow them the same privileges
Of trade and travel now possessed by the
whites; extend and enforce the criminal
law over Indians for offences against one
another, and also for offences against whites
extend and enforce the criminal law against
white men for offences against Indians
compel every white employe on reservations
to have continually in his service one o.
more Indian apprentices ut the work IL
charge on the reservation; employ only mar
ricd men on the reservation rs agents, far
mers, millcrs, etc, and make their employ
ment conditional upon their removing theil
families to and remaining with them on tn,
reservation. The presence Of white women
and white children among the Indians il
necessary to the hest interests Of whites ant
Indians: schools on the reservations to b
kept open as continuously rs practicable
There is now serious neglect in this impor
tant matter. Compel every agent to repor
under oath the respective violations "f Law
by Indians under his charge against Indian
or whites, and Of whites asains
Indians, giving names, dates, and facts
Provide by law for Furnishing agents AM
employees for violations Of their dutie
A. such. Prevent by law the trcspassin'
Of cattle On Indian farms, a. white men m
protected In their farms; provide by la'
against British Indians furnishing intoxi
eating liquors to Indians In the States an
Territories"