New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-05-03

Offices. that not a scrap Of paper comos To them ION
their indicating 10 any respect their manner
of disoharging official dntics"
Ia other wortis these agents, who nro paid Sl,oOo
q year apiece for which Commissioner Smith THINKS
good men cannot be hired. ara intrnstod with the
distribution Of goods amounting 10 NUMEROUS W
thousands of dollars but are not required to account
for them. Comment such system IL unnecessary
Two other recommendations of the Board remain to
be mentioned One of the most gigantic oil the lhd""
King swiudles was known as the Pine Land Con-
tract in Minnesota, made by the present commas
sioncr OF Indian Affairs with Weldon Il Co.. while
Smith was agent for the Chippewa Indians. The
timber was to be sold for about one-haf Its value
and there is circun5tantal evidence leading 10 the
conclusion that Secretary DelanOs family or mem
bers of IT, were interested in tho purchase. The
whole corrupt scheme has been timo and again oX-
posed and the letters of Commissioner smith, show
ing the active interest he took in behalf Of the sue
CO ,su contractor. have been printed, and no SALTS
factory reply has ever been made Bnt before any
of the timber cnt, the Supreme Court OF tn
United States put stop 10 il with AN opinion when
may bo fonnh in 10 Wallace, SOL, the United states
against Cook In this decision the Cont was una''-
imousy of opinion that Indians who only have the
light Of occupancy of the land they hold cannot cut
the timber upon ii except III the ~ tual Improvement
of the land. and its preparation for ngricn !,
tntnl purposes Timber while standing,
the Court says. lis part OF the really.
and can only bs sold rs the land could
be- The land cannot be sold by me
Indians aud cons squently the timber until right
fully severed. cannot b." This decision the new
Commission greatly deplores. and argues that dis
erstionary power should ho givon by Congress 10
authorize the emitting and dSposng of timber on
reservations When. ia tio Judgment OF the President
or Secretary of tho Interior is necessary for me
subsistence of the Indians, or to create ind Tor
educational other beneficial purposes. This steal
Was one against which the members OF the OLD Com
mission set their faces ike fnt the new Board IN
its first report alvooatcs legislation 10 ovor'urn y
decision of tn Slprrns Court in orlcr thu the Pino
Laud Ring may have The benefit of It's sHindhng
contract.
Finally, the new Commission clcscs its r'rort with
A recon nendaiion TINT a Territorial Government be
established in the Indian Territory. What this
means, thc readers of IuE TRIBUNE already know.
The adoption of their Recommendation would IN
N ,nsely enrich two railroad companies bnt would
involve tbs Untod States III The obligation To- pay
several III lions of dollars either to tho indhn VINO
now hold fe, simple title 10 tive land. or e. the
railroad companies. should the lIdian Title be re-
sected and the present occupants be allowed TO re-
taiu the land they own and have paid for. The ola
Board gained She cnnity of the Indian Ring both IN
and ont VI IN, Interior ppartmant by exposing lis
minus o. pluadrr and was forced to resign. After {"
o,rvful reading OF lis replr. II is impoSs bio to dis
cover ANY reason why any misundersi anding should
arise between the Ring AID the new Is ard. 1t ~
unfortunate for the reputation of two or three mem
bars of the present Comm S;iOn, wLo arc believed 10
be upright honest men. that they are found III such
company