New-York tribune., 1879-12-10
TIE RED MAN AND HIS RIGHTS.

IUrsf rOrICs LIKELY To BE DEBATED Ar MUCH
LENGTH THIS wINrEI-LAND TITLES TRANS
rpR OF THE INDIAN BUREAU, THE LANDS OF
THE UTts-liR. BEIFoRDs ARGUMENT
lBY TELEGRAPH To THE TRIBUNE
WASHINGTON Dec. 9.-It is probable that Indian
affairs will absorb large share of the attention of
Congress during the present session.
Chairman Scales, of the House Committee on In
dian Affairs. informed TRIBUNE correspondent to-
day that he has strong hopes OF the passage of the
hill to give Indians land titles seyeralty. and
70 reduce the number and area of the Indian reser-
vations. THIS bill has the approval of the Interior
Department. and IN most of its features of the
Roard of Indian Commissioners. 1t has been agreed
npon by the House Committee. and probably will be
reported at an early day.
The transfer of the Indian Bureau to the War
DEPARTMENT will also be agitated Appearances
Indicate that the measure has gained strength In
both branches of Congress within the last year.
Another subject which will cause debate
is tho fact shat tho people of Colorado
demand the removal Of the Ute Indians
beyopd the borders OF that State. This
morning Representative Beford. Of Colorado. ap-
peared before the House Committee on Indian At
fairs and advocated the passage of Joint resolution
proyding for immediate negotiations with the Utcs
looking to the extinction of the title to their
walton and their removal from the State. The
lution Mr.. Belford presented drafted in the In
terror Department and contained proposition for
the removal of the utcs to the Indian Territory.
The Southwestern Representatives on the COM
mittee objected To the latter proposition.
TWAS then suggested that the Indians be removed
10 the Northern part Of NewMexic0. which Mr..
Relford described as possessing the same climate
and advantages rs that part of Colorado where the
Utes now 1--we Another suggestion was that the
Utes be gwen 160 acres of land apiece on the pres
ent White River Reservation. This suggestion did
moi appear to be very favorably receiyed but Mr..
R,lforc said it would be acceptable 10 the people of
Colorado if nothing better could be done.
MIR. Belford explained 10 the committee that the
lite Reservation, winch contains 100000 acres,
comprises about 100000 acres of arabic land.
The remainder consists Of mountains which. being
believed 10 be very rich IN mineral deposits. will
swarm next Spring with miners and prospectors.
The eastern border of the reservation only thirty
five miles west of Leadville, which city. Mr..
Belford thinks. will number 10000 inhabitants
within twelve months. He says that the mountains
must be open TO the miners next Spring or there
Will he trouble Mr. Belford gave the Utes pretty
had name and called them an organized band OF
assossns and marauders. He says that they have
destroved 800 miles of forest in the State within
year that they are killing and driving out all the
s,ame and that they never VIII become latIlcrs III
anpears Also according TO Mr.. BeliOrds statement,
that The Utes are caipei-baggeis u tnav ndinc cnn
he apped to blanket Indians. for they formerly
inhabited New-Mexico. and tnat they brst inado
,I,a,r names IN Colorado about fifteen years ago.
One member Of the committee raised the question