Daily press and Dakotaian. [volume] (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1875-1880, 1879-12-23
GIVING FARMS TO INDIANS.

The bill introduced into the house of
representatives, by Mr.. Scales, 10 authorize
the secretary of the interior to allot lands in
severalty to Indians, is liable to attract q
large amount of comment before it passes
to Its iaal fate in either or both branches OF
congress. The bill is supposed to have
been drawn with the consent, and perhaps
the aid, of the secretary of the interior, as
1T represents the favorite idea of that indi-
vidual. 1t was introduced last April and
referred to the committee on Indian affairs,
where it has slumbered ever since. 1t is
o being talked about by western men,
who recognize in it many good features.
The bill provides that Indians belonging
to any of the tribes located on reservations
within any of the states or territories lex
cepting those living in the Indian territory
may receive individual vested rights in
lands, the same as white settlers on the pub
lie domain. The proposition is to give to
each Indian head ola family not more than
16O acres; to each single Indian over eigh-
teen years of age, not more than 80 acres of
laad; to each orphan child under eighteen
years Of age, Eot more than 80 acres Of
land; to each other person under eighteen
years of age, now living, or who may be
born prior 10 the issuance of the order of
allotment upon the particular reser.
walton to which they belong, not mere
than forty acres of land. All sllotmen,s
are to be made upon the selection
OF the Indians interested. When locations
are approved by the secretary OF the interio,
he will be required TO issue patents for the
tracts SELECTED 10 The names Of the Indians
who choose them, but the lends sO conveyed
will not be subjected TO transfer, lDcum-
brance or taxation for a period OF twenty
i've years. at the expiration Of which time
1t is supposed that the Indian owner will be
comp etent to Care for his own possessions
Lands which form = part Of any reservation
and which remain unlaken after the Indians
have received their proportion are to BIZ
placed upon the market for sale. after hav-
inK been sub ected to appraisement, and in
no cast is any land to be sold Tor less than
one dollar and twenty-five cents per acre
No more than q quarter section of sgricul-
tural land can be taken by one purchaser,
but of tlmber lands au indefinite quantity
Can be secured. The money realized from
such sales is To be invested in four per cent.
bonds Tor the benefit of the Indians.
These are, in brief, the PROVISIONS of the
measure ny which it is proposed to MAKE
self supporting citizens Of our Indiaus. Il
is lett to the secretary of the interior to d..
eide whether or not the members of q band
or tribe are competent to undertake the
management Of falms. The scheme is one
which will be received With many misgiv-
ings to those most familiar With Iudian
Character. But the necessity for some sort
OF an experiment for the bet!erment of the
government wards is so apparent that this
promised departure from the old style seems
worthy of trial. There are many Indians in
the Sioux nation of Dakota who would
profit BY the arrangement, and there are
many others who would starve to death IL
thrown upon their own resources. Citizen.
ship and property rights are the only meas.
ures which will civilize our Indians aud If
these prove of no avail it will be hardly
worth while to institute further expert
ments.
The west is settling up 80 rapidly that
some steps must be taken towards reducing
the size of existing Indian reservations, and
the bill promises to effect this much to b