The New York herald., 1875-01-18
osn.r-.r. necessarily the pioneers Of Indiau


l
The visit oy member o. the Board 20 the pres
ent location OF that portion OF the Modoc Indians
ton OF 1873 removed TO the Indian Territory. con-
| firms the general impression OF the good conduct
| OF these Indians In their present relations. The
transfer OF the remainder OF the tribe from the
Pacific coast 10 the same locality, as recommended.
would IT is believed, It's sanitary results amply
justify the small appropriation required LOT tnat
pIscoNrINuANcE OF RESERVATIONS.
Attention Is called to the special report OF two
tne lpdian service IN the extreme Norrhwes, in
the vicinity OF ruger sound and on the Pacidc
coast. The rapid diminutiop Ia numbers OF all
the tribes in this section iustnes comparative
reduction IN the expense incurred TOT tnelr care
as, Tor example, the CHINOOK, are without single
representatives, while In other instances the
Ing but a few Hundred in the aggregate, are
confederated at a single agency. The Commls.
no ns or
together IN their tribal capacity but are scattered
ss S chose @ Sow residing on ne
twelve reservations set apart tor their use would
peclay II the proceeds OF the sale of the nine re-
seryatlons proposed TO be vacated were invested
The plan recon mended involves dispensing with
the machinery OF two OF the present agencies, and
contempates the discontlnuance OF the others at
an early period, In the belief that neither the In
terests oil the indians nor those OF their white
neignoors Will require the further intervention OF
The Commissioners also suggest improvements
In tne conauct OF these agencies relative 10 com.
pulsOry education, labor and the selection and
conduct OF employees, which. in the judgment OF
the Board, would add materially to the efficiency
ol the service II made applicable to al other
agencies
cislon Of the Supreme Court OF the United States
n the case OF George Cook tIne United states VS.;
to Indians Occupying ' reserva lions containing what
are termed tlmbered lands the right TO dispose OF
timber standing on such reservations, or TO CUT
shall be al incident to the clearing OF the lands
for e q sna
Territory and elsewhere, the reservations set
apart ior lndian occupation consist exclusively.
or for the most part, of timbered lands the only
profitable occupation IN which the indians SO
located can engage Is that OF cutting and DIS
posing OF tue tlmner, and the only marketable
commodity within their reach IS the lumber stand
ing upon their reservations. In some instances,
located, killing the trees but from which liable
lumber may be obtained II disposed OF before Its
Is given Tor the cutting aud sale OF such timber
without delay 1t will cease to be valuable or
any purpose. The importance OF protecting
the timDered lands OF The United States lrom un-
necessary depreciation ana waste is fully recog-
when. in the Judgment OF the President or OF the
Secretary oil the Interior. necessary ior the sub
sistence OF the Indians, or to create iund Tor
tionary power should be given TO authorize the
cutting and disposng OF the timber upon reserva-
tions, under such restrictions as WILL prevent un.
necessary waste.
| ALASKA.
| Attention mas been invited in reports OF the
! Board OF commissioners, heretofore made, to the
condition o the inhabitants OF Alaska 1t has not
| been considered wise, Tor various reasons, TO ex-
! tend the jurisdiction OF The Indian Department or
! the government over these people, and, while no
! iurther recommendation in tnat direction is
! offered. 1t is suggested as very important that
| provision should now be made Tor obtaining au-
thentic Information OF the condition anu wants or
the bands and races occupying the interior. OF
which too little Is known to determine whether
any duty devolves upon the government in regard
| to them or not.
THE INDIAN TERRITORY.
The condition and wants or the civilized Indians
occupying the eastern portion OF the Indian Terri
tory has LOT considerable period been source OF
mucn sohcltude. The treaties made with the
Cherokee, Creek. Choctaw, Chickasaw and SEMI
mole nations on the event OF teeir removal west OF
! the Mississippi and subsequently, contemplate the
without interference, except as specified, by he
government Of the United States or any State
gard vary materially respect to the different
nations IN the provisions tney make ior local gov
pertinent OF Independent local governmen Is on the
part OF these Indians has been tried Tor sufficient
not proved satisfactory in It's results.
very considerable progress In education and In
but the governments estabshed nave not been
able to AFFORD proper protectlDn TO person and
property, and WITHIN the past ten years portons
OF tue Territory have become the resort OF thieves
aud outlaws to such an extent as 10 render essen
tiai the intervention OF some COVER with sufficient
strength t1 enforce order and sring to punish-
ment persons engaged IN Criminal acts. An
effort made within comparatively
themselves to organize more efficient govern
ment, ano a constitution applicable to the entire
! Territory framed. 1t JAILED receive the
sanction oil the proportion o the separate govern
nents required Ior its adoption, and 40 iurtner
| movement Tor the organization oil a general gov
| eminent occurred
Measures intended TO AFFORD remedy for this
unfortunate condition Oh affairs have from time TO
/ time been brought forward in Congress, but they
| have not received the assent OF the accredited
! delegations from these nations who nave visited
] n.
| The Board or commissioners, at Its meeting In
November OF the past year. directed decga.
ton OF Its members TO visit the Indian Territory
! for the purpose OF consultation with leading
men OF the more civilized Inolan nations
"touchln9 the condition OF the Territory,
and such legislation IN behalf thereon as might be
deemed necessary to give better securits 10 per-
son and property Ihey were met at Muscogec
on the l1th OF December oy a large ana influential
delegation from The CheroSees, Greeks, Cnoctaws
wnicn lasted two days. was Of most friendly ma
ture. After iul discussion, however, the dele-
CATION present adhered 10 the previous action OF
their respective national councils declining to
take the initiative or participate iii any move
ment leading TO a change IN their national cOndi-
ton or reiaLons with tue United states
The commissioners, after a lull consideration OF
ernment, not inconsistent with existing ,realies,
be estaol:sned oy tne United States, the Gov.
ernor na to .,. oe appointed by ,ne President
@ aae people OF ia ierftoYy rney % also is reeomneSa e
sac establishments OF United States courts within
SAID Territory, and the recognition OF the right OF
tue people to be represented in Congress Dy
/ Delegate 10 Ue elected by them.
1t IS believed tnat the measures recommended
In accordance VITA the spirit treaty obligations
entered INTO wltn the United States, are essential
10 the welfare OF these peopie Iney ofier the
assistance OF the general government ia the
preservation OF order and the establishment OF
more perfect municipal regulatlons while the
rignt oil sell-goyerDment is practically maintained.
The unsettled condition o. affairs coDse-
| quence OF movements made in Congress
and elsewhere. looking to the organization
OF Territorial government and change IN
the reiatlons OF the United states to those
/ Indians H.
part lor the Improvement OF their condition. and
IL is hoped that the legislation oil the present ses
sion OF Congress VIII not Oe completed without
some de1nte action on this subject.
| CLlNION B. FISK. st Louis. Chairman.
| II. Il. SHELLEY, ~. Paul, MINI.
t. A. HAYl, New YORK.
" J. IURNEN, ClrclevIle, Ohio.
JOHN ID. LANG. Vassalborough, Me.
B. X ROBERTS. sandy springs. Nd.