National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1880-01-19
TALK WITH CHIEF OURAY.
RiO Allegations Against the Indian
Bureau.
Their stipulated AnnuitIes Unpaid and the
Money Used by the Depnrtment-In.
dians Want to Handle Their Own
Money-No Complaint Against
the Miners-He VIII Not
sell His Lands.
His Complaints Against tho Gnvernment.

His Complaints Against the Government.
Tho negotiations with the Ute Indians now
in the city are not progressing very rapidly, as
Secretary SChurz Is directing his efforts iI Ell.
deavoring to make some arrangement for tho
surrender of those engaged in the White
river massacre. The further the talk pro-
| crosses, however, the more IL becomes apparent
that Secretary Schur2 is whistling against the
wind, and that if his negotiations are to hinge
upon their surrender, nothing will he obtained.
| The Congressional influences interested in tho
peaceful settlement of this question and in tho
removal Of the Utes to some other reservation
have become satisfied Of this fact, aud desire to
| find out whether some other arrangement can
not be made
With u Wow of asceriaining the cond tion
Of affairs, Senator Teller on Saturday called
upon Ouray and had quite lengthy and in
terestiug conversation with him. He asked
Ouray what his grievances were, to which
Ouray replied that there were a number of
them. In tho first place they had not been
paid their annuities under the Bruno treaty;
that they had received only $4,000, while
| they were charged bv the Interior Depart
ment some $4,000, the difference between
S24 900 and S63,0O0 probably having been ex-
pended ostensbly for the benefit Of the In-
dians, which benefit they never derived
Senator Teller explained TO Ouray that ho
had last gu miner cndeavored to induce the In
terror Department to pay them In silver dol
lars the amount mich was due them, and
that Secretary Schurz had objected to doing
SO on the ground that white men would get
it away from them and it would do them no
good.
To this Ouray replied promptly and with
some emphasis that that was their own busi'
ness that he thought his people knew how to
take care of their own money, and that If
they did not do it it was their own affair
Senator Teller then asked Ouray whether
he had any complaints to make against the
miners of Colorado.
Ouray said no, they had never had any
cause to complain of trespass on tho part Of
the people OF Colorado; that some miners did
come in on Elk river and work claims, but
the lands were sterile and peiectly useless for
other pursuits, aud they had no cause for
complaint
Senator Teller asked Ouray what his people
would accept from the Government to rein-
quish their present reservation. The willy
Indian replied that he was not here TO make
pro positions to tho Government or TO say what
no would or would not take but to be informed
what the wishes of the Government wero and
what they were willing to do for his people.
He feared, however, that if the Government
would agree to give them anything IL would
result as it did before IN their being paid out
of money that already belonged to them.
Senator Teller asked Ouray if he would be
willing to go into the Uintah reservation, to
which Ouray replied that the White River
Utes would go there, but his immediate peo-
pie would not consent to leave Colorado; that
they preferred to stay in about tho same lati-
tude they now were and to take 100 acres Of
| land apiece and try to make an honest living;
under no circumstances could the Government
beg or drive him or his people to the Indian
| Territory or out OF their present latitude.
Senator Teller did not allude to tho delicate
question of the surrender of the criminals,
but confined most of his talk to the points
above given. 1t will be seen from this talk
that Ouray is perfectly capable of taking care
of his own interests and those of his people,
aud that he rightfully looks with suspicion
upon the authority that has treated with him
SO many times and has universally failed to
keep its obligations.