New-York tribune., 1879-12-19
MR.. SCHURZ on INDIAN AFFAIRS.
lE SECRETARY REPLIES TO THE LETTER OF H. II
lBr TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIDuNE.l

IBr TELEGRAPH To THE TRIBUNE.l
WASHINGTON, Dec. Is.-Secretary Schurz had a
talk with a TRIBUNE correspondent che other day.
in the course OF which he referred at length to the
letter OF III. H." on the Indian question: in Mon
days TRBUNr.
First. said the Secretary. III. H. asks. How
many American people know that white men are
punishable by a fine of $500 ifthey trade with ln-
daus on reservation unless they arc licensed to
do soi" | say that this is a public law, and l
think 1t is generally known. In my opinion,
it is not bad law. for there is no
other way to keep bad men aud whlskcy and other
bad thing; out of the Indian reservations. " III.
H." goes TO state that the operation of this law
on the Omaha Reservation last Summer for IN
stance made it impossible for an Omaha Indian to
get more than 40 cents hushel for his wheat at
time when the open market price for wheat was 80
cents bushcl. 1t happens that the agent of the
Omahas is here in Washington and when he s1w
"H H's' letter in THE TRIBUNE he addressed to
q note in which ne says:
Tie Omaha Iudians were permitted sell their wheat
wherever they pleased and small percentage Of
crnp Inc first season cxceeded 10000 bushels was of
excellent quality and commanded the highest market
price. which they received for II IN cas al sioux ty,
Iowa and al the towns south OF their reservation.
] distinctly informed the trader rcfoie harvest
OF their wheat he would have to rely entirely their
honor to secure his no effort on my part would
be made 10 direct them tie disposal OF their crops.
ncemrnt Of my service as Indian Agent.
nearly eleven years ago, no Indian has been prevented
his own Industry whenever and Wherever he chose To
Tn;ed i States Indian Agent Tor omshas ana Whine
baRCes
can corroborate the evidence given by Friend
Howard White, with the statement that toward
the end of August l was in Sioux City myself and
at that time there were n number of Omahas and
Winnebagoes there selling wheat aud ether pro-
Secoad-"Il H." asks: How many American
people know that there is statute providing that
no Indian nation or tribe shall be acknowledged or
recognized as an independent nation tribe power,
with whom the United States may contract by
treatyf, have supposed that all those who wish
the Indians TO become civilized desire also that
tribal relations and dependence on tribal authority
should cease = soon as possible wonder whether
"II H. is of a different opiniOnf
Third" Ii. H." asks how many of the American
people believe that this statute is known and un-
derstood by the Indians who " cede lands TO the
United States. have found in general that lndi-
ans are very well acquainted with the laws of the
United States touching them particularly, and with
the treaties made with their tribes.
Fovrth-"H H." asks how many of the American
people know that Indians living OF reservations
have IN general the right to cut hay for the of
their live stock but are invested with proprietor
shin in such spontaneous products of the soil as
will authorize them TO charge and receive
CONDENSATION for hay cut and used by
white persons thereto duly empowered by the
Government of the United States. IL will scarcely
be considered q hardship when persons duly en-
p0wcrcd by the Government cut hay on Indian res
ervations or use tho products OF tic soil that are
not used by the Indians for the Use of the Indian
agencies or military posts. But II. H. further
states that under the operation OF this law tho
white man can land does cut wood and sell 1t to
steamboats, going up the Missouri River, for
instance This is true, but the white doing
this have 10 steal 1t IN order 10 get II.
The law does not authorize them to take it. "H.
H. further saws that under the operation of this
law 1 500 cords of wood were cut the Ponca
Reservation and sold TO army contractors by order
OF Mr. Hayt, Commissioner of Indian Affairs Mr.
Hayt informs Inc that he never gave any such order
OF permission In order to be entirely fair. " H. H."
quoted the recommendation made by the Commis
sioner of Indian Affairs in the report of 1878. 1t
is as follows: After having referred to the sale Of
wheat on Indian reservations, he says:
This state Of things should be Immediately renedied
by driving out the sqSaters ana sy ~ 5s1 i
seasoned agent In charge shOudfe to the steam
a Dnnev =" received should be dvci per capita
among tho Indians by whoee labor the wood was cut
nd hauled. 1t WILL however, require uCuOu py
ass ieeazine the curting OF wood for that particular
nrpose but the reform cannot be made day too soon
FInb-"H H." asks how many Of the American
peoplo know that If an Indian on reservation
raises q flock of sheep be cannot sell the WOOL
neither can the agent sell the wool and give the
money 90 the Indian. The agent must sell the wool
and turn the proceeds into the United States Treas
urvp ~ admit that not many of the American people
know this. Neither does II. H. for 1T is not true.
When q flock of sheep belongs to the agency
and the wool is sold, then the money received
is accounted for to the Government by the agent
under tbc head of miscellaneous receipts and