New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-12-28
canal wonld interfere with the prosperity OF our
transoontinental railroads. On the contrary, be-
lieve it would add to their business"
INDIAN NEGOTIATIONS.

] THE SIOUX, CHkYFNNFS AND PoNtAs IN THE
| TrpIOR DvPARTMFNT-A MARKED CONTRAST
VIRTUAL END OF THE PONCA QUESTION.
lBY TELEGRAPH TO TRIBUSB.l
| WAsHIveTov Dec. 27.-The contrast presented by
| the appearance of the two bands Of savages who
| held pow-wows in different OF the Interior
Department to-day ia quite striking as the differ
ence IN their respectiv, missions. The Sioux and
| Cheyenues. who argued their before Assistant
Secretary Bell dressed in cheap and ill-htting
garments made OF the material and in the fashion
| of civilization and. in far their
| makeup" goes, present mean appearance.
Thew have, however. keen eyes and generally sharp
| and rather treacberous faces, and to be
possessed of much self-confidence They are fully
! aware that they have something of value to SELL
and in consequence are masters of the situation.
The language and gestculatIon of their spokesmen
and principal chiefs are energetic and somewhat die
| tatOrial.
When they were shown INTO the Office of the As
sstant-Secretary, and Informed that they might say
anything they wished they looked about for the
Secretary. and then asked for him. They were in
formed that he was absent. but that
Assistant-Secretary Bell would hear them. THIS
did not satisfy them, and they made some further
inquiry to the official qualification of the Assist
aut-Secretary 70 treat with them. Then they re-
mained for some minutes. while the railroad men
~
suatiOn. When at last the chief of the Brules took
the floor to talk he did not refer to the object for
which his band was invited to Washington. but in
energetic speech declared that tho thing that he
and his people wanted most was to have the bonn
daries of their reservation determined that both
th ev and all other Indians as well as the whites,
might know them and respect them
1t was explained that that would require time for
surveys and for consultation with other tribes, to
know what they claimed, but tho railroad matter
cOuld be settled at once. The chief could not be
made TO understand why the thing he wished should
require a long time. while that which The railroads
wanted might be done at once.
One chief lntimated that they would not sell the
right TO the railroads to pass through their reserva-
ton. If have horse" be said, and you want
10 bny it, but do not want to SELL do not sell"
Beyond this there was reference to the railroad
matter, the whole subject being postponed uDil
morrow, when the Secretary hims If viii near them
! he POnca chiefs are big. iubberlv, hODest-look
ing fellows, whom sharper would lns'inctivey
select promising victims OF his enterprise. They
were decked out with beads aGG feathers and such |
garments of civilized pattern as they did
or anented in ludicTOns and Outlandlsb manner |
and were worn with mistaken sense of propnety. |
TrOwsers were covered, IN some cases, with white |
cotton shirts, which formed the outer garment. the
whole being generally covered by a blanket gaudIly
Orndmented with coOred patches aud wOrsted work. |
No one wore coat, bat two or three chiefs exhib-
lted wastcoats OTnamented with of brass
headed trunk nails around the neck and HORIZON
tally across the breast. Their tone was that of beg
gars.
Their hearts were made glad by the words of the
great father SChurZ, and they would tell them to
their women and children and young men. lhIs
was often reiterated together with the statement
that they would do what they promised. TO leave
suspicion that they aid not intend to do it. They
asked for nearly everything which goes to make up
an Indians fOrnne-borses, houses of brick, work
ing tools, money, medals and commissions. White
Eagle limited pretty plainly that he wanted COM
a DOsl
but lost by getting drunk and committing several
acts If indscreton.
When they had made all their wants known, and
had been told by the Secretary respect to each
item what he could or could moi do, tney each ~ !
turn walked up aud signed the paper prepared for
them setting iofth the terms upon which their call
10 tner former homes is surrendered. If these
chiefs represent the sentiment Of the triae, the
Onca Question has been settled at last to their ell
ire satisfaction.
RATIFICATION OF THE CONTRACT.
GENERAL PRESS DIsPATCHl
WASHINGTON, Dec. Outstanding Buffalo
ma WuIte Eagle the principal spokesmeU OF The
Poncas. ard in making kLOwn their wants seemed
about scho0l-houses md educational facilities
or Their CHI dren Secretary Schurz in Ormed them that
he schoohOuses building at the reservation
would he pushed to completion as rapidly as possible. |
Ie also info med them that he hoped the pending Indian
everalty bill would Oe passed during The present
Congress and That as il became law. each
them would be a farm, the title which G
Ouid be valid as that of any white mans. l
Al the conclusion OF the speeches. and after ex
anatons by Secretary Sehurz. the chiefs signed a
aper that they hadrcquesed to be Grawn up, in which
Dey declared that they desire remain on the lands
coupled by the Poueas in the Indian Territory and
establish permau eDt homes there, also express
heir Willingness TO renqush all then and
all the lands formerly owned and occupied by the n
tribe in the State OF Nebraska and the Territory
Dakota In for the land as well as for Ii
le personal property. at the time OF their removal
the Indian Territory, in 1877 and for "
le depredations committed upon them by the Sioux
ldans they ask Congress TO appropriate the of q
las 900. the asked bl submit ted a
Interior Department about years ago. After Ii
purposes for which they desire to
this expended invested, paper AS
llowsi t.
We declare hs 20 be expression of our free-w viii
desire well IS that Of people, at present nj
ding the POnci reservation Ia the Indian Teri tory
I'd ask that this declaration and request be sub "
tted to the Congress OF the United States IL
DE consideration and action. n,
The paper bears the signature OF the PODca chiefs
esent and the certificates of the interpreters. The
les through their spOkesmen to-day reiterated that
ey had concluded to take this acton not upon their cT
yn motion. but upon full consultation with all the IN
MED go TO ork and be LETT undsUrOed by outside
reference Y
frJTDpFNT TOpINS AT TIE nIprvIr | d